How to Bleach Drop Cloth

How to Bleach Drop Cloth-
Find your panels here: amzn.to/2J4maiD
Find a no sew slipcover tutorial here: • No Sew Drop Cloth Slip...
Potential reasons your panels didn’t turn white:
- your panels aren’t 100% cotton
- not enough bleach (need about 1/2 a gallon)
- not enough soak time (but also, don’t over soak or you will risk damaging the structure of the fabric). 8-10 hours
-you may have water with high iron levels
Key Takeaways:
-Use 100% cotton panels
-4 foot wide panels won’t have seams across the middle
-bleach 1 panel at a time in a top loading machine
- hot water and half a gallon of linen scented bleach
-8 hours of soaking with several agitations
-run through a second cycle with detergent
Find more projects at www.thesimplefarmhouse.com and click the subscribe button to get the latest videos!

[@tarajames3547]

Yes I have used them in my home and love them as window treatments to my extremely Large windows 103”. I didn’t use hot water or a washing machine. I used extra large rubbermaid storage totes and did it in my garage so the smell would not be in my house. I transferred them to my front load washing machine after I left them in the bleach for a couple of days. Thanks for the information and a peek!

[@MarcyKMomBOSS]

I was just thinking about the same thing... I have a top loading washer (not working) in my barn & I could soak/agitate out there but I was thinking how hard it would be to boil massive amounts of hot water. So cold water worked ok for you? And you simply soaked/agitated manually for a full day?

[@stephanietom_md]

Other tips as well: 1) Drop cloth MUST by 100% cotton or else it will not bleach, trust me and learn from my mistakes 2) If you don't have a top load washing machine, you can use a plastic tub that you can find at any hardware store! I placed this tub with the lid in my bathtub and used it to soak my drop cloth. Results were perfect!

[@knottednape]

Thank you so much for confirming this worked! Can I ask: What kind of container did you use? Was it one of the shallow, thin plastic tubs or a big, tall, thick type? Did you leave the lid on the whole time? How long did you soak the cloths for, and what was your hot water to bleach ratio? Thank you so much!

[@stephanietom_md]

Hi! I used a big, thick tub (like a garage storage tub). I took the lid off only to stir occasionally to make sure the bleach was evenly distributed but just be careful because the fumes are awful. I would recommend wearing gloves and a respirator. I soaked the drop cloth between 15-18 hours (longer gives more white results). I honestly can't remember the ratio, but what I would recommend is that if you need to bleach multiple batches (ie if you have a smaller tub) then just keep it consist for all bleaching baths. @@knottednape

[@gjcinqmars]

I have washed and bleached drop cloth through several wash cycles with no soaking. The drop cloth is lighter but not white by any means but it is much softer and drapes well.

[@sharonjackson9994]

One thing I found with the drop cloth being able to take the bleach better was to actually wash the drop cloth first than do the soaking. I found the cloth seemed to bleach better than putting in a regular drop cloth.

[@LifeonGreenwoodwithCaron]

I'm going to give this a try. I did see someone use big Sterilite tubs to bleach drop cloths. I guess that's one way to go. Thanks so much!

[@knottednape]

Hi! Were they the thick heavy plastic ones or thin plastic?

[@esterixis]

Truthfully, I like the natural color better, as well as more body, at least for drapes & outdoor pillows. Thanks for sharing👍🏼

[@dinadavila]

I think you did a great job explaining the process of bleaching the drop cloths. Thank you

[@trishalivingston1051]

Outstanding video... love it. TY so much. Love drop cloths, have been thinking about this for years. Time to get going. Great project, Looking forward to doing this.

[@rachelpadilla9368]

Thank you so much, for all the information. This is my first time using drop cloth. I'm going to be making slip covers. (Fingers cross) I have fell in love with your channel.

[@marcistephenson275]

You do a fabulous job. Thank you!

[@JynuineMothering]

I am debating doing this in my large brand new metal stock tanks since they are outside (no fumes) and the weather is so nice and warm. I have a front loading washing machine so this would only really be my only course. Maybe I will do a video and show how it goes haha!

[@marynieder8264]

yes please do. i want to see it!!

[@randyw4984]

I have a drop cloth in now from the place you recommended. it has been in for at least 16 hours, first I used half a bottle of clorox I added more this morning...it is lighter but not white..I am expecting this test panel to fall apart LOL. I just ran out and bought a no-name dollar store bleach and added more of that! I just want t his to work before I throw in the piece of fabric i really want to use.the struggle is real ya all!

[@baileewaller3599]

Can I skip bleaching them? Will they still be soft after washing?

[@Kyojuro_rengoku_king22]

.if you just use the hot water and drop cloth and then bleach wouldn't it leave it blochey? shouldn't it be water , bleach, then agitate and put drop clothe in...?

[@judys5767]

Thanks for the great ideas.

[@1zelcat]

The husband came home from Lowe's with all the dropcloths they had that day because they were on closeout special. Now I have many dropcloths in assorted sizes. As it happens, they are not cotton as expected but Linen! They wash and dry beautifully. I have made several curtains and a slipcover. Can you bleach linen?

[@marybradley168]

Thank you Laura this was very helpful. I have not used drop cloth before but heard of others using it in the same applications. I will try it soon. Take care. Mary

[@patyeaman]

I have an energy efficient washer that doesn't allow me to choose to actually fill the tub. It does the water amount selection without my input? Can I still use your method?

[@personalpersonal9202]

Do you have a video showing how you used drop clothes on your sofas?

[@oheyjennymay1699]

You can NEVER have too much drop cloth 😂

[@beckyleavitt3861]

Only 100% cotton drop cloths will turn white. For some reason no one includes this in their tutorial. Any drop cloth with poly in it will not tun out white not matter how long you bleach it.

[@ceciliaviacava]

Hola! Excelentes tus ideas! Estaría buenísimo que mostraras el "paso paso" en tus videos. Saludos desde Montevideo (Uruguay)

[@jenniferschneider6979]

how do you dry the drop cloths once that have been bleached and washed? Dryer or line dry? and do they need ironing?

[@ammerslo2632]

Much easier than the 3 different tubs... endless soaking and dragging wet cloth around. TFS... No demo?

[@summerethridge1695]

This is probably a dumb question... When you say “add hot water to the washing machine”, do you mean from the sink/stove? Or just starting the machine on hot?

[@stephanietom_md]

When I bleached my drop cloth, I added boiling hot water from the stove to the plastic tub I was using because I didn't have a top loader

[@colleenchiles426]

Any difference in using regular bleach VS splash free concentrated bleach? Am I still using 1/2 gallon?

[@alejandrasantiago4230]

Can I put the whole 9ft x 12 ft cloth in the washer ? I’m making one big drape for my backyard wedding to cover the walls and I don’t want to cut them in half , would I have to add more bleach or still half of it is fine ?

[@colleenzuren6399]

Did first drop cloth without washing and it bleached. Threw second one in that had been previously washed and used 1 1/2 gal of bleach soaked for 14 hrs. cloth did not bleach.

[@judichristopher4604]

I'm confused ... I thought this was a "How To" video. Your ideas are great... it just would have been nice if you could have shown How To do this... Without seeing how it is done, I don't feel comfortable trying this.

[@WellnessWizdom]

Seriously? You don't feel comfortable throwing something in the washing machine with some bleach!? That's literally all it is.

[@jenniferhayden9054]

I don’t see where to buy the drop clothes from? Can you direct me?

[@AWanderingEye]

See Description under video before comments

[@marshak6459]

how much is a panel? what if i want to use the whole 9 x 12

[@danielc.1169]

Does it have to be HOT water

[@dianeh5770]

Is it normal for them to come out looking fuzzy and wrinkly?

[@deborahbigler2434]

Where are good places to get the drop cloths from?

[@TRoth858]

Walmart has good prices!

[@allisonreece2520]

The fumes of the bleach were so strong doing the method in my washer, I couldn't stand it, gave me a headache. Not good to breathe in bleach fumes. Not sure how you all survived doing it in your washer. I should have done it outside.

[@margaretparkinson9280]

What is Drop cloth? I am from the UK , never heard of it

[@susannau.3535]

Drop Cloths are used by painters when painting to protect floors or furniture.... make sure they are 100% cotton. She gives a link to purchase on Amazon. I have found at most hardware stores that sell paint

[@TRoth858]

It's a type of canvas fabric used by painters to cover floors and furniture.

[@theemmaireland]

100% cotton canvas fabric

[@carolanderson3935]

A drop cloth is a canvas cloth that painters use when painting walls in a home they would drop the canvas on the floor to catch any paint so it wouldn’t get on your floor. You can buy drop cloth at hardware stores or a store that sells paint should carry it or Home Depot or Lowe’s stores I do not know if you have a Walmart store they also carry it.

[@ctaylor364]

Can you dye the drop clothes after bleaching?

[@swabubin]

grrrrr........I've bleached my drop cloths twice now and zero color difference. I bought my canvas drop cloth at Lowes, medium weight. ANY SUGGESTIONS form ANYONE at this point would be awesome!

[@thesimplefarmhouse]

Hmm. Have you tried using regular bleach? Not the scented or spill resistant kind?

[@swabubin]

@@thesimplefarmhouse .no, only the scented. Is the scented less potent? I honestly forget what the first bleach was, but I'm thinking it was NOT scented. Second wash I soaked for 24 hours, lemon-scented bleach and Oxi_clean laundry whitener. Slight difference, not much.

[@celinereid9136]

@@swabubin Hi. I know this is a few months late but I have found using cheap thick bleach worked best for me. I live in Ireland and the bleach I used is the thick bleach from ALDI. The non scented type. It comes in a navy blue bottle. I used three 1litre bottles for each cloth and soaked the drop cloth for 24 hours in a plastic tub in the garden. I then put in a washing machine for a 60 degree cycle with normal washing detergent and no softener. As we usually have front door washing machines in Ireland, I washed each cloth separately. Hope this helps you....

[@pattmmay1]

Kkkk