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My outdoor chair cushions got soaked in a light sprinkle and took forever to dry. Can Thompson’s WaterSeal aerosol fabric seal help?
I bought chairs that came with cushions, and after some light rain the cushions were totally soaked and took forever to dry inside. I don’t expect a spray to make them completely waterproof, but repelling the bulk of the water would help prevent water damage, mildew and that musty smell. So I cut a T-shirt in half, sprayed one half and kept the other as a control, then hit both with a hose. The button goes to the Thompson’s Fabric Seal aerosol on Amazon.
- Easy to apply; you can see where it is going on
- A light coat went a long way
- Treated half let less water through than the untreated half
- Water beaded slightly on the treated side
- One light coat gave only modest water resistance
- Not much beading; more like a Scotchgard-type effect
- For real waterproofing you would likely need several coats
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Why I tried it
My chair cushions are definitely not waterproof. They’re probably a bit weather resistant, but they got totally soaked in light rain. There are plenty of times when there’s a little light precipitation, so I wanted something that repels the bulk of the water and helps prevent mildew and musty smells.
The test setup
I cut a T-shirt right down the middle. One half is the control and the other is the test. I put the test half on cardboard and sprayed it with Thompson’s WaterSeal.
The can says to hold it upright, spray liberally and evenly over the entire surface, avoid heavy saturation, and apply two coats with four hours of drying between them. I did one light coat, about three quick passes, and let it dry for a few hours. You can see where it’s going on, which is nice.
The hose test
I laid both halves on cardboard and gave them a spray with the hose without trying to soak them, then checked what came through to the back.
The untreated shirt had water coming through, with dark spots underneath. The treated half was drier underneath, with some water spots, but not as wet as the untreated side. Water beaded ever so slightly on the treated half.
My take
It’s definitely working a little bit. I was surprised there wasn’t more beading. With one light coat it creates a slightly hydrophobic surface, more like a Scotchgard than a waterproof coating. To get a really waterproof surface you’d probably need to apply a lot more, likely the two coats the can recommends or more. Hopefully this helps you decide how much to apply, or whether it fits your project.
FAQ
Does Thompson’s WaterSeal make fabric waterproof?
With one light coat in my test, it added some water resistance, not true waterproofing. The can recommends two coats.
How long between coats?
The can says four hours of drying between coats.
How far away should you spray?
Hold the can upright about six inches from the fabric, spray evenly and avoid heavy saturation.
Does water bead on it?
Slightly, after one light coat. More coats should help.
What is it good for?
Outdoor cushions and other fabrics that get caught in light rain, to repel the bulk of the water and help prevent mildew.
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