Drop Cloths: Canvas vs Plastic| What’s Practical?

As a paintbrush and paint can, a quality drop cloth is indispensable to any painter’s arsenal. Drop cloths protect the floors and furniture from paint spills and drips. Drop cloths can be made from various materials, but canvas and plastic are the most popular options. Which type of painters drop cloth will best protect your furniture while you paint? We compare and contrast canvas drop cloths with their plastic counterparts.

Drop Cloth Absorbency Factors

Canvas is a material that can be handled and can absorb a lot of colors. Plastic won’t absorb or release moisture as paper will. In contrast to paper or canvas drop cloths, paint spills will bead up and run off a plastic one. Even though paint won’t seep through plastic, it will make a huge mess if you don’t lay down a drop cloth over your furniture and the floor.

Drop Cloth Prices

Prices for drop cloths can vary widely, depending on several factors, including the type of fabric and the retailer. The cost of a plastic drop cloth is often far lower than that of a canvas one. Canvas Painters Tarps are the costliest choice. While cost should be considered, quality should be prioritized when looking for a tarp drop cloth.

Environmental Benefits

Conscientious shoppers can learn more about the ecological impact of various drop cloth materials to reduce their carbon footprint. Because of its durability and repeated uses, canvas drop cloth has a much smaller ecological footprint than disposable plastic.

Since it is made from natural fiber, most recycling facilities should accept your canvas. Since cotton is biodegradable, the drop cloth can be thrown away in a landfill and eventually broken down. The same cannot be said about plastic, however. If choosing a drop cloth with environmental consciousness is important, the canvas is better than plastic.

Reusability of Drop Cloths are a Huge Plus

For professional painters, canvas drop cloths are the standard because of their longevity and adaptability. A canvas drop cloth can be washed and used over and over again. However, plastic drop cloths typically can’t be reused after being used. Homeowners who require a drop cloth for a single project, as opposed to those who hire painters regularly, may find it more economical to buy a plastic one.

Durability of your Drop Cloth is Important

The durability of the drop cloth is also an important factor to consider. The canvas lives up to its reputation of being nearly indestructible in the eyes of the world’s greatest artists. Plastic is not ideal for covering a sharp object that could puncture other materials because it shreds readily.

Nonetheless, you needn’t worry about holes or tears in your canvas drop cloth. If properly maintained, a canvas drop cloth can be used repeatedly without displaying indications of wear and tear, making it a good investment.

Beware of Slippery Surfaces

Drop cloths must be non-slip because of their frequent use on the ground. Most modern canvas drop cloths feature a rubberized butyl backing that grips objects like furniture and carpeting to prevent them from shifting while painting. A canvas drop cloth won’t shift around when you walk on it, thanks to the non-slip backing.

A plastic drop cloth may not stay in place because it is not designed for this purpose. When painting outside, having your plastic drop cloth blown all over the yard by a strong breeze is a major problem.

A plastic drop cloth’s lack of grip is dangerous indoors or out. If you’re laying flooring with a plastic drop cloth, you should wear slip-resistant shoes and pay great attention to where you put each foot. To prevent the plastic drop cloth from blowing away, you can either attach it to the floor or weigh the edges.

Drop Cloth Material Density

Because of its lightweight nature, plastic is an excellent choice for this application. Plastic’s small size and light weight make it a great choice for covering oddly shaped furniture. While plastic has many advantages, the material’s lightweight can be a hindrance in some applications. Skilled painters know that thicker fabrics are better for drop cloths since they last longer and are less likely to tear. Thinner paint easily seeps through porous materials, but thicker materials absorb much more paint.

Even though it might be difficult to toss a large piece of canvas over a piece of furniture by yourself, this should encourage you to use canvas. Get a friend to help you put up the drop cloths so you don’t have to resort to a more controllable material. Various canvas weights are available to alleviate concerns about the material being overly heavy.