Learn how to bleach drop cloth to make it perfectly soft and white for DIY projects. 

Learn how to bleach drop cloth to make it soft and white in this tutorial

Learn how to bleach drop cloth to make it perfectly soft and white.

UPDATE MUST READ:  I have heard from several readers that the brand of drop cloth you buy makes all the difference. I did not know this, since I have only ever used this brand from Amazon. Other brands turns gray and off white.

UPDATE PART TWO: Thanks to Lori, a lovely reader of my blog, I now know why some other brands won’t turn white. The drop cloths I recommend from Amazon are 100% cotton, so bleachable. Some brands are made with 50% polyester, so unbleachable. I knew people were having trouble with other brands, but now I actually know why!

UPDATE PART THREE: It was brought to my attention by a reader that you should not use this large amount of bleach if you have a septic system.

Why I love drop cloth

You don’t have to hang around the Pinterest DIY scene for very long to find out that drop cloth is a star player in the upholstery, slipcover, curtain and pillow making game.

I have used a lot of drop cloth in our farmhouse and for good reason. It is durable, high quality and, best of all, super cheap.

I did the math once and it works out to about $2.50 a yard. Can’t beat it.

But how does drop cloth go from the rough and coarse tan fabric you find in the paint section at Lowe’s to the soft white beauty you see gracing wing back chairs and farmhouse pillows?

It’s quite simple really.

It all comes down to a whole lot of bleach and little bit of technique.

When you know hot bleach drop cloth, the possibilities are endless.

Video Tips and Tutorial

 

I start with this drop cloth from amazon.  It is the 6-7 oz weight in 9′ by 11′ size.

I buy it in bulk, because I use it (unbleached) for the backs on my farmhouse pillows.

It comes out of the package feeling pretty coarse and looking very tan.

I need it to be bright white, so I can bleach all the slipcovers, when my messy bunch of kiddos put their dirty feet all over the couch. ahem.

The Process

When it comes to bleaching drop cloths there are two methods.

Method 1:  Washer method

So, the first thing I do is cut the 9′ by 12′ piece right down the center where the seam is.

I wouldn’t be able to use the middle part where the seam is anyway, and if I shoved the whole thing in the washer, it would be overcrowded.

An overcrowded washer leaves the drop cloth splotchy, which is no bueno.

I put one half of the drop cloth piece into the washer, put it on hot, and set it on the largest size load setting.

I let the washer fill completely before adding any bleach.

Once the washer is full, I add a whoooooole lot of bleach, like about a third of the bottle.

At this point I open all the windows of the house and even the back door all the way. I don’t like to fill my house with all those bleach fumes.

I let it agitate a bit to stir all the bleach around. Then, I pull the knob out and let it sit to soak for several hours.

I go over to the washer every few hours and let it agitate for a minute or so, and then let it sit some more.

The main keys here are:

1. Don’t overfill the washer.

2. Use plenty of bleach

3. Agitate periodically to get the bleach into all the creases, so it doesn’t come out splotchy.

4. Don’t rush it. This should take several hours.

5. Although time is good, I have noticed things going a bit yellowy if I let it sit too long. I think 6-8 hours is a good rule of thumb.

After I have done all this, I pull the knob out and let it finish the cycle.

I throw the drop cloth into the dryer to make sure it is pre-shrunk and super soft.

No top loader?

Now, some of you have probably given up your white drop cloth dreams because you don’t have a top load washing machine.

Not so fast, my friends.

Read on, for there is still hope for you!

I too used to have a front loading washer and a deep desire for white drop cloths.

Method 2: The bathtub method

You basically follow the exact same method as above, with a few differences.

1. Instead of agitating the washer periodically, get yourself a big stick, or something to stir with. You still need to make sure every nook and cranny of that drop cloth has access to the bleach.

2. When you feel your drop cloth is white enough, drain the tub and squeeze out any excess water. Bring it over to your washer and run it through an entire wash cycle on hot.

If you take it out and notice there are splotches, just repeat the process.

Sometimes it takes a few tries to get all the splotches out and get it perfectly white, but enough bleach and time will do the trick every time!

Disclaimer

Double check that the finish on your tub is safe to interact with bleach. If your tub isn’t bleach safe, try to acquire a stainless steal tub, or find a friend who has a top loader you can use.

Woohoo! Now you are ready to make slipcovers for just about anything in your house.

Our couches are super ugly! They are green, ripped and old. They cost $80 for the pair. True story. But can you tell?

I wrote about my drop cloth bench makeover in this post. I found it for $20 on a buy, sell, trade site.

So, at this point, we are talking $100 for all the furniture in our living room.

Oh the glory of humble painter’s drop cloth!

I made the pillow insert for the IKEA tea towel pillows with bleached drop cloth.

This stuff is seriously so versatile!

 

So, if you want to redecorate your home on the cheap, get your hands on some drop cloth and a couple bottles of bleach!

Pin it for later:

Post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.

How to Bleach Drop Cloth

4.47 from 66 votes
Learn how to bleach drop cloth to make it perfectly soft and white. Bleaching drop cloth is an inexpensive way to make slipcovers for couches and wingback chairs. At about $2 per yard, bleached drop cloth is also the perfect home decor weight fabric for diy curtains.
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours
Servings: 1 9 by 12' Piece of Bleached Drop Cloth

Video

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Equipment

  • Washing machine

Ingredients 

  • 9' by 12' foot canvas drop cloth
  • 1/2 gallon bleach

Instructions 

  • Cut the 9′ by 12′ piece right down the center where the seam is.
  • Put one half of the drop cloth piece into the washer, put it on hot, and set it on the largest size load setting.
  • Let the washer fill completely before adding any bleach.
  • Once the washer is full, add about a third of the bottle.
  • Let it agitate a bit to stir all the bleach around.  
  • Pull the knob out and let it sit to soak for several hours.
  • Go over to the washer every few hours and let it agitate for a minute or so, and then let it sit some more.
  • Finish the cycle.
  • Throw the drop cloth into the dryer to make sure it is pre-shrunk and super soft.

Notes

  • Don’t overfill the washer.
  • Use plenty of bleach.
  • Agitate periodically to get the bleach into all the creases, so it doesn’t come out splotchy.
  • Don’t rush it.  This should take several hours.
  • Although time is good, I have noticed things going a bit yellowy if I let it sit too long.  I think 6-8 hours is a good rule of thumb.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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139 Comments

  1. Teresa says:

    I am going to need three drop cloths to make sofa slipcover. Any tips on how to achieve the same color on all three? I am assuming need to bleach each individually in washer. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

    1. Lisa says:

      I have bleached them at many different times, and they all turn out looking the same. 🙂

  2. Mary says:

    The drop cloths in the link have seams through the middle. Do you have a source for seamless drop cloths?

  3. Tracy says:

    Hello! Is the Amazon link to the drop cloth the exact one you bleached? I have bleached one drop cloth and it turned out great! Now I’ve tried twice to bleach one I purchased at Menards and it will not turn (and I’ve used a lot of bleach). Thank you!

    1. Lisa says:

      I have heard this more than once now! I should totally add to my post the disclaimer that only the drop cloth I use will do it! Yes, the one linked is the exact one I use all the time and I know for a fact it turns white.

  4. Jeanie says:

    Do you still use the Chicago canvas drop cloths? I tried the bleaching method with another brand and they came out more grayish so I am wondering if it’s the type of drop cloth that can also make a difference in the bleaching process?

    1. Lisa says:

      Yes, that’s totally a thing I keep hearing! The one I linked is the one I always use, and it definitely turns white. I learn so much from you guys and your comments!

  5. U says:

    Hi
    I just did what you said and the wash cloth didn’t change the color a bit 🙁
    I used warm water. Do you think that might be the issue? Will try tomorrow again with hot water if that is the case. Also how much bleach should I use?
    I poured around half the bottle for 1/2 of the drop cloth previously.

    Thanks,
    U

    1. Lisa says:

      Did you use the drop cloth I linked? I have heard from several people that it makes all the difference.

  6. Tracy says:

    Thanks for the tip! You use a regular bleach, correct, not a non-chlorine bleach? I don’t use bleach and don’t really know the difference between the two.

    1. Lisa says:

      Yes, just regular! 🙂

  7. Jayme says:

    Where did you get the comforter in this photo I love it looks so soft and welcoming.

    1. Lisa says:

      Thank you! That is the linen duvet from IKEA. 🙂

  8. Lisa says:

    I want to yes the whole drop cloth can I wash it first add the wet cloth to a 10 gallon bucket than did hot water and the beach

  9. Linda says:

    Hi, Lisa!
    I love your end results, just lovely! I really hate to be a party pooper, but environmental is that I am, I feel compelled to point out that bleach is one of the most environmentaly harmful chemicals we can possibly add to our water systems!!!! It kills everything from plants, fish, crustations, good bacteria, etc. and changes forever the biological and chemical balance of the aquatic environment it enters. It never breaks down, so from the moment it enters the sewage system, it spreads it’s poison through every stream, gully, pond, wetland and river until it finds its way to the sea, killing everything in it’s path. Really, I’m not trying to lay a big guilt trip here, but that’s a lot of harmful chemical you’re dumping on a regular basis and instructing others to do the same.
    There’s got to be an alternative method here. I’m going to do a little research here and see what I come up with. If I find a good possibility, I’ll be sure to share it, so you can share, too! With creative people like us, where there’s a will, there’s a way!

    Cheers!
    Linda.

    1. Lisa says:

      You know, honestly..I hate bleach, but as far as making tan fabric turn white, there is just so substitute. It is the only reason I ever use bleach in my home..EVER. And everything else I do is very environmentally friendly. I wish there was an alternative that would turn fabric white, but I don’t think thats the case. 🙁

      1. Mary Powell says:

        HI! I know it sucks…but the alternative is to not decorate with things that cause harm to our planet. Truly, it’s the only way. I love this idea so much, but I can make different choices to decorate and come close to the same aesthetic. Certainly, I wouldn’t encourage an entire group of folks to put so much bleach into our water systems. I may love the look…and the price, but it’s not the best choice if you care about your footprint. It sounds like you do this more often than most, so I guess that’s why I feel like posting a message highlighting the damage to our enviorment sort of balances the idea that pouring copious anounts of bleach into out water systems is ok as long as we are responsible otherwise. Just my thoughts.

        1. Lisa says:

          I mean I could go buy white canvas at the store, but didn’t someone somewhere bleach it?

        2. Laura says:

          CHLORINE is what they use to make our water safe to drink. Honestly? Virtue signaling over nothing… please think before you pontificate. You should care more about the women on so many hormones, birth control pills and tranquilizers (XANAX, etc…) urinating into that *same water system* that is in turn pumped back to us as “safe” drinking water. Now THAT is pollution in your drinking water! You want to virtue signal? Do your homework. Chlorine? Notsomuch. 😉 (But I still use a BIG BERKEY to filter ALL that stuff!)

          Additionally, chlorine may not be what you want to use if you have a SEPTIC TANK because it will kill your flora. But even then, throw some yeast packets in there for last flush before a holiday or at night for few days of low flushing…you’re good again in no time.

          1. Ann says:

            I have to say that I agree with the above writers that encouraging a lot of people to use that much chlorine bleach is perhaps not the best thing for our environment. I do love the look, but when I read the method do it, I had to decide that it was not worth the environmental impact. You say that you are environmental in so many other ways. I think a focus on Environmental ways of managing and decorating a house would be far more beneficial and appreciated.

          2. Chantal says:

            First, Lisa, your stuff is gorgeous. However, I agree with Mary. Laura, you are comparing people on necessary meds to harsh chemicals for the sake of esthetics. We should be concerned about both, frankly. Just because one thing is worse, it doesn’t make the other okay. If you commit a crime you don’t get away with it just because someone did something wouthat day.

    2. Cheryl says:

      Chlorine evaporates into the air. Water treatment plants use much more than,that amount of bleach. We allow our water to sit over night to allow all of the chlorine to evaporate to make it safe to drink as chlorine is a metal. If you are going to harp about this small amount of bleach, then go after all of the swimming pool owners, find a better way to treat potable water…

    3. Marcus says:

      If people are really worried about the bleach in the water supply, there is a simple and cheap way to neutralize it before you let it go down the drain. You can get a lifetime supply on amazon for $5-10. An entire bathtub or washer full costs under 10 cents. So… no need to virtue signal for all the Karen’s

      you need only one teaspoon, or 2.2 grams, of Anti-chlor (sodium metabisulfite) per 2.5 gallons of water, or less than half a teaspoon per gallon of water. That works out to 18 grams per twenty-gallon washing machine load, if you like to use it there. Cost per gallon of bleach neutralizing bath, three-quarters of 1¢. Very, very inexpensive. Cheap enough even to use in the washer, if you’re lazy about carrying buckets around, or if you want to use it as a regular laundry additive to reduce unwanted bleaching from chloramine in your water supply.

      1. Deborah says:

        Thank you, Marcus. A truly useful tip.

  10. Laura says:

    Love what you did with your dropcloths.. You can come to my house, have a class and we’ll slipcover anything that moves!
    Plus, you know we will eat-a lot to keep our strengths h up!
    I really need to get a handle on how to do this and I am sure your guidance will be a big help.Thank you for your time.
    Blessings to you and your family,
    Laura

    1. farmhouse_lisab says:

      Good food?! I’m there! 😉