Making Small Fabric Items Water Resistant
Some items are better when they are at least water resistant. Kids’ shoes, for example! Luckily, this is a quick project that uses materials most people already have.
There are several ways to make fabrics water resistant, but for this method you only need a white or cream candle, and a hair dryer, or the sun on a warm sunny day! If you do not already have a plain wax candle, you can buy them at the dollar store.
This works best on natural fabrics. I recommend testing on a small inconspicuous area first.
Start by rubbing the wax over all of the fabric.
It is hard to tell in pictures, but the fabric will be a little lighter where the wax has been rubbed in. Coat it really well.
Next, melt the wax into the fabric with the hot setting on a hair dryer, or leave it out in direct sun for a bit. The fabric will get darker as the wax melts, but will return to it’s normal color as the wax cools.
I repeated this whole process to make sure all fabric was well coated. When you are finished, water will bead off the surface instead of soaking in. This also helps keep the cloth clean, as mud and dirt will not stick to the fabric.
Several months later, the shoes are well worn and the soles are scuffed, but the fabric remains clean!
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Wow this is so smart!