Waxed Canvas 101

Waxed Canvas 101

The first thing you notice about waxed canvas is the weight. It has a natural substance and heaviness that bags or clothing made from synthetic materials simply don’t have. When you pick up a waxed canvas bag, even when empty you’ll notice a little heft and when you rub the material through your fingers it feels sturdy. There are two reasons for this: the weight of the heavy gauge cotton used to make the canvas as well as the waterproofing wax itself. Waxed canvas is one of the oldest materials in the world. Centuries ago, sailors noticed their sails caught better wind when wet; but wet sails are heavy sails, so they figured out they could cure the fabric. This allowed the fabric to receive water on the surface but not soak in.

In those times, sailors cured their sails by rubbing linseed oil onto the canvas. The water repelling fabric grew in popularity to also include waterproof clothing for the sailors. Today, waxed canvas has found itself being used to make bags, backpacks, tents, outdoor gear to name a few, and let’s just say that it is here to stay, as it has become trendy among millennials, while still retaining its vintage appeal.

CARE AND CLEANING OF WAXED CANVAS:

You NEVER want to do this:

Never wash your bag in the washing machine.
Never use warm or hot water to clean it.
Never have it dry cleaned
Never use detergent, solvent or starch.

How to clean waxed canvas and leather bag:

Shake or brush off dirt, sand or any other abrasive material
For small spots, use cold water and mild soap, and a sponge or brush.
With a little soap, gently massage the spotted surface.
Rinse with a sponge and cold water. Let the bag air dry.

RE-WAXING YOUR BAG:

Depending on how much hard use your bag gets, at some time you may consider re-waxing it. This can be done professionally or at home.

Use Otter Wax or Martexin Wax, or an approved product, made for this purpose, only.
Messenger bag should be clean and dry.
Lay as flat as possible using a table or ironing board.
Using a soft cloth to apply the wax, rub down the entire bag as evenly as possible.
If the wax isn’t pliable enough, warm it slightly by submerging the container in warm water or wax the bag and then let it sit in the sun to soften and impregnate the canvas.