What could be better in this summer period than making small practical accessories? Coated cotton with Renegade Plastics for example and oilcloth will be your best allies for creating tablecloths, kits, small pouches, placemats, and bibs. Here is a short guide to learning how to differentiate, sew and maintain these two superb materials.
The Coated Fabric
This is usually a classic cotton or linen coated on the face with a polyurethane coating. This treatment gives it water-repellent properties that make it easy to clean.
There are two different finishes:
- a varnish that gives it a shiny appearance
- a matte which, as its name suggests, does not give reflections
In both cases, if the coated fabrics are suitable for the exterior, they are not treated to resist UV rays or too long exposure to humidity. It is, therefore, advisable to keep them indoors and dry them well.
The Oilcloth
Waxed canvas is stiffer and thicker than coated fabrics because it is a cotton canvas covered with PVC. This material is more resistant than coated cotton and, therefore, perfect as an outdoor fabric.
Washing
There is nothing easier than cleaning a coated cotton or oilcloth! A wipe and your fabric are like new. Never use abrasive products or scraping sponges which would alter the coating. If you have to rub a stain, do it with a scraping but soft sponge and without forcing it; otherwise, with a soft brush (an old toothbrush).
You can put your coating in the washing machine with a traditional detergent at 30°C or 40°C degrees, without fabric softener, with a light spin-dry. However, we do not recommend machine washing for varnish finish coats as marks may form. Also, avoid too frequent washing, which, in the long run, alters the coating of the fabric.
Special Stains
While caring for waxed and coated fabrics is quite simple, it still requires removing the stain quickly before it dries and marks your fabric and eliminate toxic plastics. If it’s too late and the stain has haloed your fabric, here are our tips for each type of stain.
Turpentine oil is effective in cleaning stains from:
- oil painting
- sludge, mechanical oil, and soot
- tree resin and bird droppings
- grass, grape, and raspberry
- make-up (foundation and nail polish as well)
Use lemon for stains of:
- rust (for stubborn stains, add diluted glycerine)
- tea
- ballpoint pen
- cigarettes and nicotine
- White vinegar will remove stains from:
- mud and bird droppings
- gasoline (add a universal detergent and dilute everything in hot water)
- humidity, urine (heat the vinegar first)
- red wine, sparkling, tenacious tomato, Asian sauce, beetroot, beer
- chewing gum (beforehand, soften the chewing gum with a bag of ice cubes)
- glue, shoe polish, and blanco (mix vinegar with dish soap and ammonia)
- Use soda crystals to clean stains from:
- Curry, vinaigrette, or mayonnaise
- 90° alcohol is ideal for removing traces of:
- carbon paper
- neon highlighters and markers
- perfume, eosin
- Honey
- Marseille soap is recommended to treat stains from:
- fix paste, modeling paste
- mustard and edible oil
- softener
- Classic soap is effective on stains like:
- crushed insects
- grape, vinegar, milk, raspberry, strawberry, edible fat (butter), blueberry, cherry, coffee
- acrylic paint
- caramel (used with hot water)