My Honest Attempt at DIY White Curtains from Drop Cloths

After moving into my new farmhouse style home, I was eager to decorate on a budget. With large windows in the living room looking out over the countryside, I knew I wanted pretty, breezy curtains to complement the view. However, tailored curtains can be shockingly expensive, especially with large window spans. That's when I had the idea to try transforming basic canvas drop cloths into DIY white curtains. I'd seen beautiful "shabby chic" window treatments on Pinterest made from repurposed sheets and tablecloths, so how hard could it be to whiten some drop cloths and turn them into dreamy, textured curtains?

Doing an online search for "white drop cloth curtains", I found lots of inspiring photos but very little step-by-step guidance. Apparently it's tricky to get drop cloths bright white through bleaching. However, I was up for the challenge! Here is the story of my honest attempt at creating white drop cloth curtains for a fraction of the store-bought cost.

Choosing Drop Cloths for DIY Curtains

Based on recommendations from veteran DIY bloggers, I purchased medium weight canvas drop cloths between 10-12 oz. Anything too lightweight would be too thin and potentially show through. But heavy canvas over 14 oz can become challenging to gather and hang on a standard curtain rod.

I chose unprimed, undyed canvas cloths without any acrylic backing. This would allow the bleach to really penetrate the natural fibers. After a bit of searching, I found suitable natural cloths for around $10 per 9x12 foot sheet. While not as dirt cheap as plastic paint cloths, 100% cotton canvas seemed like the best bet for bleachability. I figured I could make 2-3 curtain panels from each large sheet.

Preparing Drop Cloths for Bleaching

Before attempting to bleach the drop cloths white, it was important to pre-wash them since new unprimed canvas can have manufacturing oils or dirt that could impede the bleaching. I ran my drop cloth sheets through a hot wash cycle and then let them air dry fully before starting the bleaching process.

Many DIY'ers also recommend soaking the drop cloths overnight before bleaching. This allows the fabric to fully absorb and distribute the bleach rather than it just sitting on top. For best results, the canvas needs to be dampened completely so I filled up some large tubs for presoaking.

As an initial test, I bleached some fabric swatches first. This helped me evaluate how much bleach would be needed to reach my desired level of white. It also let me assess whether the bleach compromised the integrity of the canvas at all. The test strips came out perfectly white without damaging the cloth, so I was optimistic!

Bleaching Techniques to Whiten Drop Cloths

For safety and proper ventilation, I did the bleaching process outdoors. Based on advice from cleaning experts, I opted for a high quality, concentrated chlorine bleach. Following the directions, I diluted the bleach in cool water at about a 1:4 ratio.

Working in manageable sections, I used a large sponge brush to evenly apply the bleaching mixture to the drop cloths. Once saturated, I let the bleach solution sit for 5-10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing.

After the first bleaching, I was surprised how much darker the "white" drop cloths still looked. I repeated the process twice more until I was finally pleased with the brightened color. While not pure white, they had lightened significantly to an attractive natural canvas hue.

Achieving an Even Color

I did notice some minor blotchiness in the bleached sections, with slight variances in light and dark areas. For a more uniform white, I spot treated these uneven patches with another light bleach application.

If you want pristine white drop cloth curtains, using commercial whitening products instead of standard bleach could help. Hydrogen peroxide is another alternative for those unsatisfied with their bleaching results.

Sewing DIY Curtains from Drop Cloths

Next came the fun part - transforming my bleached canvas into curtains! I carefully measured each window and cut the drop cloth sheets to size, leaving ample length for bottom hems and overlaps.

After watching some online sewing tutorials, I was able to stitch simple rod pocket tops, side hems and bottom hems to create a basic curtain panel shape. Sturdy back tabs sewn on top made for easy hanging. For a finished look, I added clip rings too.

Hanging and Styling Drop Cloth Curtains

Once on my wood rods, the DIY drop cloth curtains filtered the light beautifully and had such a fresh, breezy look. Layering them with sheer white panels completed the farmhouse vibe I was going for.

There are so many ways to style drop cloth curtains - try grommets or pom pom ties for a cottage look, ombre dyeing for a modern twist, lace overlays for romance. I may eventually embellish mine with embroidery, but for now I'm loving their rustic simplicity.

While I'm thrilled with my finished product, this project did teach me some valuable lessons for next time. Be prepared for bleaching sessions to take longer and use more bleach than expected. Protect all surfaces and skin to avoid drips and splashes. And test, test, test for color before acting on large batches.

All in all, I'm so glad I took the plunge and gave "white drop cloth curtains" a try. For under $50 dollars in supplies, I was able to customize elegant window treatments that would have cost 10x more purchased retail. If you're up for a little DIY trial and error, I highly recommend this budget home decor project!