Thank you to our partners for providing this post.
Need to protect and prolong the life of your best tote bag but don’t know where to start? Wax it! Yes I said wax it! Waxing your tote bags is a well known secret to DIY’ers and has many benefits! Not only is it a fun DIY project but also a very easy way to beautify your bag and ensure its life. Check out this easy DIY tutorial on how to waterproof all your canvas tote bags, especially your best tote bag, at home using wax.
Prepare
To set up the waxing process you will need to first set up the work area. It should be a roomy and well-ventilated space like you garage or yard since you the chemicals used in the waxing material does have a strong smell.
Next, collect the necessary materials:
- A chunk of wax made of a mix of bees wax and paraffin or even organic wax
- Two pots
- A paintbrush
- A cup of water and
- A hairdryer.
Make sure that you do a spot test first in an inconspicuous area on the bag to determine the compatibility of the wax and the material of the bag. This will save your best tote bag from any aesthetic, functional and structural damages. Clean any debris from the bag and make sure that there are no loose strings. Make sure that the bag is absolutely dry after washing before you start with the waxing process.
Process of waxing a tote bag
After the spot test confirmation, use the two pots to set up a double boiler. This is the process where you fill one pot with plain water and boil it and place the other pot inside it with the wax in it. This will melt the wax so make sure that you stir it occasionally with a stick. Let it cool off after it has melted down completely because boiling wax can damage the material. Spread the comparatively cool wax on the surface of the tote bag using a paint brush. Make sure each stroke so coats the surface and the fabric thoroughly and that the seams, folds, crevices, zippers and any embellishments are also covered and protected.
Last Steps
The last few steps of waxing involve working out the coating onto the fabric with your fingers to ensure complete bonding and protection of the material. At times you may need to heat the wax using a hairdryer to melt the wax for a second time and ensure deeper penetration into the material. If the coating is not sufficient enough you will need another coating. Lastly, allow time for the bag to completely dry by hanging it. Remember wax coating will not last forever so you will need to do it once a year so that your tote bag will always be stiffer, sturdier and last forever.
Leave a Reply