Candles are one of the most common causes of house fires.
Lighting a candle can give you a lot of emotional and health benefits, but candles are also easy to forget about. If you walk away from a lit candle—or fall asleep while one’s still burning, the small flame can easily catch your curtains, bedding, upholstery, or other items on fire.
But this doesn’t mean you should cut candles out of your lifestyle.
Instead, you should upgrade your fire safety. We’ve put together this quick guide to teach you how to start fireproofing fabrics around your home.
So let’s dive in!
Fireproofing Fabric: A DIY Guide
There are a few different ways you can fireproof the fabric in your home. All of them involve treating your fabric with different chemicals that’ll help prevent or slow the spread of fire.
But don’t make this mistake of having fireproofing be your only form of fire safety. You should still install an optical smoke alarm in every room of your home.
Once you have your fire alarms set up, you can focus your attention on fireproofing.
Here are a few different formulas you can follow.
1. Borax Formula
For this formula, you’ll need 6 pounds of borax, 5 pounds of boric acid, and 12 gallons of water. Start by mixing them all together in a large container.
Then all you have to do is dip the fabric in the water and let it dry.
If the end result is too stiff for your liking, you can change the measurements of each ingredient somewhat.
Mixing 7 pounds of borax, 3 pounds of boric acid, and 12 gallons of water will make the fabric softer and more flexible.
2. Alum Formula
This method is similar to the borax formula. Just mix 1 pound of alum with 1 pint of hot water.
Dip the fabric in the mixture and swirl it around for a few moments to make sure it gets an even coat of alum. Then hang the fabric outside to dry.
The end result will be somewhat stiff. However, it will mold into your desired shape with some bending and use.
3. National Fire Protection Association Formula
The National Fire Protection Association formula also uses borax as the main ingredient.
Here’s what you have to do.
Combine 9 ounces borax powder with 4 ounces of boric acid and 1 gallon of water. Make sure the container has enough room to add the fabric as well.
Dip the fabric into the mixture and let it drip dry. If the fabric doesn’t fit in the container, you can also use a spray bottle to apply the formula.
Upgrade Your Home by Fireproofing Fabric
Fireproofing fabric can protect your home against candles, heaters, and other common causes of fires. The next time you light a candle, you can let yourself relax without worry resting in the back of your mind.
Want to do some other fun projects with fabric?
Take a look at these fun ideas you can make with old t-shirts!