I used to buy cheap plastic drop cloths to protect the floor from paint spatters. At the end of the job, I’d just roll up the paint-smeared sheets and toss them out. Then I noticed that pro painters always use canvas drop cloths. When I found out why, I made the switch. Here are just a few of the benefits of canvas:
Canvas drop cloths are durable, and rip- and puncture-resistant. They lay flat as you walk across them, presenting less of a tripping hazard; seldom, if ever, must you tape canvas to the floor. Canvas also absorbs paint drips, unlike plastic drop cloths that become slippery when spattered with wet paint. You’re much less likely to pick up paint on your shoe soles from canvas. Canvas drop cloths can easily be folded around corners and doorways–something that’s virtually impossible to do with plastic sheeting. Plus, canvas can be reused countless times. I always felt bad about discarding plastic drop cloths after just one use, but reusing them was messy because the dried paint drips and splatters would flake off and get all over the room. Several years ago I bought a 10-oz canvas “runner” that measures 4 ft wide x 15 ft long for about $16. It’s perfect for lying on the floor against the wall or spreading outdoors over shrubs and flower beds along a foundation wall. Now, I’ve never had paint soak through my drop cloth, but you can buy plastic-lined canvas drop cloths that offer better soak-through protection.
From: Painting Tips – Pro Painting and Primer Tips for Walls – Popular Mechanics
