Can You Spray Paint Fabric How to Do It?

Cans of spray paint are adaptable tools with a wide range of uses. To spray paint fabric, follow these simple instructions. The four top fabric spray paints can also be chosen; pick the one you like best.

A trend that is gaining popularity is painting fabric. Your home’s décor as well as your clothes can be revitalized with a fresh coat of paint. Particularly fast, simple, and enjoyable is spray painting. Can the two, however, be combined? Is fabric able to be sprayed?

Yes, there are many different ways to paint fabric, and each technique has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Spray paint is a common technique for painting fabric. So tell us how you do it and what kind of spray paint you use on fabric. This post includes the solutions to these and other questions.

Further Reading:

• How To Clean Sunbrella Fabric?
• How To Remove Hot Glue From Fabric? 5 Methods

Can You Spray Paint Fabric?

You might be perplexed as to why anyone would want to spray paint fabric when there are so many fabrics available in a wide range of colors.

The available colors evolve over time. New, vibrant color schemes and combinations are constantly being introduced to the market. So much so that what may have been fashionable a year ago will likely be making your décor look dated today.

Replacing all of your soft furnishings and clothing in order to stay in style can get pricey. What better way to stay current than to use paint to update your fabrics? In comparison to completely redecorating your home and wardrobe, it’s quick, simple, and reasonably affordable.

Some materials are better suited than others for spray painting. Before you begin your project for color rejuvenation, it is best to determine the material you will be painting. Spray painting, for instance, is difficult to do on leather. It cannot retain color because it is not porous. Which implies that it will gradually peel off. Using a leather-specific dye is the best way to change the color of the leather.

The texture of your fabric is an additional factor to take into account. Some paints have the ability to transform a supple, malleable, comfortable fabric into something that has the consistency of hard concrete. Make sure to read the spray can for coverage information if you want the fabric’s texture to remain the same after painting.

Natural fibers like cotton, linen, rayon, and silk are good choices for fabrics for spray painting. The color retention is better with a tighter weave. The outcome is typically less vibrant because looser weaves tend to allow the paint to seep through.

How to Spray Paint Fabric? Step-By-Step

Although spray painting fabric is a quick process, sometimes it can be challenging to achieve a good finish. Here are some pointers and advice for successful painting.

What Do You Need?

An old t-shirt or another piece of fabric to test on A plastic container A lid with a hole in the top for your spray nozzle Fabric paint of your choice Spray paint Acrylic craft sealer An iron

Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric & Cover Surfaces

Cover your work surface and spread out an old t-shirt or other fabric to test on.

Step 2: Prepare Your Spray Bottle

The plastic container’s top should have a hole cut out of it big enough to fit the paint can’s spray nozzle. Use whatever you happen to have lying around if you don’t want to use a container, but make sure it’s at least as big as the nozzle, or your paint will get all over the place.

Step 3: Mix Your Paint

Follow the instructions on the package when mixing your fabric paint. Make sure it is thoroughly combined and isn’t too watery or clumpy (if it is, add a little water and stir). Remember that you want the consistency to be thick enough so that it won’t run or drip after spraying, but if it’s too thick, your paint will come out in spurts, and you won’t get a smooth layer.

Step 4: Spray Paint Your Fabric

You should apply a light to medium coat of paint evenly to your fabric, holding the nozzle about an inch above your project (you don’t want too little paint so that it runs, but you also don’t want it to be see-through).

Step 5: Let Your Fabric Dry

10 minutes should pass before handling your fabric. Then, if you can, let it sit for 30 to 40 minutes (ideally, wait for an hour or more without interfering too much).

Step 6: Seal Your Spray Paint Fabric

Your fabric should be thoroughly coated in acrylic craft sealer by spraying a fine mist of the product over it. Being organized is not a concern for you. Just be sure to adequately cover every area of the surface.

After that, iron the area where your project is located using the iron’s lowest heat setting. To protect your project while ironing, place an old towel or piece of scrap fabric on top (watch out for the towel sticking to the spray paint!).

Step 7: Let Your Project Dry

If you’d rather, you can hang your project up to dry or let it dry flat. Before handling, let the item completely dry (this could require anywhere between 2 and 24 hours, depending on how thick your paint layers are).

Step 8: Enjoy Your New Spray Paint Fabric Project!

You can wear it or use it as you had intended once your project has fully dried. It will continue to sit the same way after washing, but you’ll be aware that it’s permanent (and you can try again if you’re not satisfied with the results).

You can stencil patterns and designs on your clothing using fabric spray paint if all of this seems like too much work for a one-time project. To avoid accidentally ruining your paint job, just be sure to wait to wash it (or dry clean it) until after you’ve finished your project.

What Fabrics Can Be Spray Painted?

Let’s talk about what fabrics can be spray painted before we get into the specifics of spray paint because not all fabrics are appropriate for this kind of paint job. Here are some guidelines:

Wear and Tear

Avoid using spray paint on upholstery and curtains because they experience a lot of wear and tear from regular use.

Opacity of Paint

Spray paint comes in various varieties with varying levels of opacity (how transparent or opaque the color is). We advise using opaque spray paints on the majority of fabrics. When painted onto fabric, opaque colors won’t be see-through, whereas semi-transparent and transparent sprays might let you see the color of the fabric on the other side.

Having said that, spray paint is a very efficient way to paint fabrics that aren’t usually painted with paints or dyes (like nylon, polyester, etc.)., some types of cloth napkins), so it’s worth a shot even if your fabric isn’t suitable for traditional painting techniques.

100% Cotton

Not suitable for 100% cotton is not recommended (however, it is possible if you use a darker color and let it dry overnight)

Polycotton

One of the best ways to decorate fabrics you want to wash is with spray paint on fabrics made of polycotton blends. Always mix acrylic paint with water (e.g., either FolkArt Home Decor Chalk or Jacquard Airbrush Colors). Your project can then be washed normally in this manner.

Wool

Wool is not a good surface for spray paint. If you want to test it out, do so on a small, out-of-sight piece of fabric before applying it to your project.

Silk

Do not attempt to paint silk; we know you’ve seen those incredible projects on Pinterest and Instagram. The outcomes won’t ever fully dry and will be terrible. And we love to play around with spray paint!

4 Best Spray Paint for Fabric

These are the top four spray paints currently on the market. All are appropriate for the fabric.

Tulip ColorShot Instant Fabric Color

Tulip Colorshot Instant Fabric Color, which comes in a variety of colors, adheres to both natural and artificial materials with equal success. For perfectly even coverage, it is available as a 3 oz aerosol spray. The paint is perfect for stenciling or an all-over color because it is splatter- and drip-proof by design.

This paint is perfect for clothing because it dries quickly and leaves fabrics soft. Even better, the color can be washed off and is both washable and permanent.

Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric Coating

Vinyl and fabric are given a flexible and long-lasting finish by Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric paint. The paint works well on carpets as well as vinyl seats to restore them to their former splendor.

supplying you with paint that is adaptable and suitable for both softer and harder surface finishes. It has the flexibility to flex with the fabric and is designed to be resistant to cracking, chipping, and peeling.

No additional primers are required, nor is there a need to wait for them to set, because an adhesion promoter is already built into the primer. In 30 minutes the paint will be touch dry, and in an hour the item will be usable.

Tulip ColorShot Upholstery Fabric Spray Paint

Tulip ColorShot upholstery paint is simple to use and quick to dry, making it perfect for enhancing the color scheme of your home’s interior design. The paint takes no time at all to dry and is suitable for both natural and synthetic materials. your furniture’s fabrics will have a soft, opulent finish. For a more natural appearance, the fabric’s weave is still visible after painting.

One benefit of using this paint is that when you sit on painted upholstery, the rich, vibrant colors won’t smear onto your clothes. The wide range of colors available will complement any style and go well with your current decorative style. They are durable and colorfast.

Rust-Oleum Vinyl and Fabric Paint

No products were discovered. Vinyl and fake leather-compatible products were not discovered. this spray paint gives a flexible finish to your home’s heavy-use areas. The paint has exceptional adhesive properties, so it won’t rub off, crack, or peel. Seat covers, mats, and other interior surfaces are given a durable pop of color.

Utilizable at any angle, including upside down, this spray paint has a cutting-edge spraying system. This spray paint is simple to use because it has a wide finger pad and a comfortable spray tip.

How Do You Care for Spray Painted Fabrics?

The permanent nature of the spray paint will be apparent once it has had sufficient time to dry. Before putting the fabric in contact with water, some manufacturers advise waiting three days. Care for your clothing shouldn’t be impacted aside from avoiding products that bleach or remove the color from fabric.

Making sure you use the right paint for the fabric is the most important thing. This will guarantee a vibrant outcome that lasts for a long time and is both safe and colorfast.

Can You Spray Paint Clothes?

Spray paint can be used on clothing, yes. After spraying, all that’s left to do is heat-seal it.

Although there isn’t a specific type of spray paint designed for clothing, using acrylic fabric paint and a heat-sealing iron will yield the best results. Regular spray paint and iron can also be used.

What Type of Spray Paint Can You Use on Clothes?

The best type of spray paint to use on fabric is fabric spray paint. The paint formula for these spray paints is very straightforward. The typical components of fabric spray paint are color, a solvent (typically water), and acrylic polymer.

All of these substances are safe to use on even clothing because they cannot etch or harm the fabric. Krylon paints and dyes can also be applied to the fabric. Because the dye is typically made only of colorants, it has a naturally colorful appearance.

However, there are a few preparations that must be made before you can spray dye on fabric. To make the dye as light as possible, you must properly thin it. After that, you must spray the fabric with the thinned dye.

What Not to Do When Spray Painting Clothes?

Let’s talk about some mistakes people frequently make before we get into the how-to.

Don’t Iron It!

Don’t ever iron your painted fabric before washing it; this is a big no-no. Your paint will start to peel off and leave a mess due to the heat from the iron.

Don’t Use Regular Spray Paint

This is something you should avoid doing. It won’t hold up to daily use, it won’t stick to your fabric without scorching it, and it’s just a huge time waster. Simply skip this step because it requires more effort than it is worth.

Don’t Wash It Until After You’re Done Painting

While it’s important to give your paint some time to dry on the fabric, you don’t want to let it sit for too long because then it won’t be able to go in the washer because it will be completely dry. Your project will be ruined if this takes place. Even if you wash something right away after painting it, the paint may still smear.

Additionally, it might not even come out if your fabric isn’t cotton. To avoid this issue, you can always turn it inside out. Before washing your project, try again if you see that your stencil isn’t adhering to the fabric’s surface properly after letting it dry.

FAQs

Conclusion: Paint Your Fabric Now

Generally, the fabric can be sprayed with paint. It’s an excellent way to give different fabric materials color and a fresh look. Make sure to only use fabric-safe spray paint. You can quickly and effectively paint your clothing and upholstery. It’s a fantastic way to make your house and wardrobe more cheerful.

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends if it really helps you spray-paint your fabrics perfectly.