12 Uses for Watershield

What is Selleys Water Shield, and what can you use it on?

Selleys Water Shield is a silicone-based water repellent in a 200 g aerosol, made for repelling water, snow and ice from a wide variety of fabrics. It is one of the quieter products in the Selleys range, and it has more uses around a house than most people realise — anything made of fabric or canvas that you would rather not have soak through is a candidate.

It is not a waterproofing membrane. It makes a surface water repellent, so rain beads and runs off instead of wetting through. That distinction sets the expectations: a treated tent sheds a shower far better, but the product does not turn ordinary fabric into a waterproof one.

12 handy uses for Selleys Water Shield

1. Spray on a tent when camping.
2. Waterproof your sneakers by spraying before heading outside — note the leather and suede exclusion below.
3. Give an umbrella an extra water shield barrier.
4. Protect a paper map with a light spray if you are navigating with one.
5. Protect outdoor furniture.
6. Spray a hat before going out in the rain to keep it water resistant.
7. Spray a backpack before heading out into the elements.
8. Spray gloves before exposing them to water.
9. Spray a jacket before going out in the rain.
10. Waterproof ski equipment so you are not left soggy after a day in the snow.
11. Spray over the canvas on a caravan canopy for optimal water resistance.
12. Use as a canvas tarp water repellent.

How to apply it properly

1. Make sure the item is clean and dry. Water Shield sits on the fibres, so anything on top of them — dirt, salt, old repellent — gets in the way.
2. Test for colourfastness first. Test the product on an inconspicuous area to check it does not affect the colour. Selleys recommends spraying light-coloured areas first, then moving to darker ones.
3. Hold the can upright, 100–150 mm (4–6 inches) from the item, and spray with an even sweeping motion until the surface is moist. "Moist" is the target, not saturated — the aim is to coat the fibres, not to soak the fabric.
4. Allow approximately 3 hours drying time before use.

One more instruction from the product documentation that is easy to overlook: do not spray areas of the article that do not require protection. The example Selleys gives is shoes — do not spray the soles. There is no benefit, and a repellent film on a sole is not what you want underfoot.

Limitations — what not to spray

• Not recommended for leather or suede articles. This is the exclusion that catches people out on footwear, since a great many sneakers have suede or leather panels. Check the shoe before you spray it.
• Do not apply to fabric that has already been treated with a water repellent (such as a factory DWR finish).
• Do not apply to waterproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex® or oilskins like Driza-Bone®. These already have their own systems, and adding a repellent over them serves no purpose.
• Always patch test a small area before spraying the whole surface, and make sure the material is colourfast.

Why the test patch matters more than it sounds

Two separate things can go wrong, and a patch test catches both. The first is colour: some dyes shift when a silicone-based repellent goes over them, and on a dark jacket that shows up as a patchy sheen rather than an obvious stain. Spraying light areas before dark ones, as Selleys recommends, means that if there is a problem you see it on the least conspicuous part first.

The second is compatibility. Coated fabrics, printed canvas and older synthetic materials do not all respond the same way. A ten-minute test on a hem or an inside seam is a small price next to a tent fly you have to replace.

Keeping the protection working

Water repellency is not permanent. When the article becomes soiled, launder or dry-clean it as usual and re-apply Selleys Water Shield as needed. That is the intended maintenance cycle rather than a sign the product has failed — washing removes the repellent along with the dirt, which is exactly why you reapply after cleaning rather than trying to avoid cleaning.

Judging when to reapply is straightforward: watch how water behaves on the surface. While the treatment is working, drops bead up and roll off. When they start to spread and darken the fabric instead, the repellency has worn and it is time to clean and re-treat.

Common questions about Selleys Water Shield

What is Water Shield made from?

It is a silicone-based water repellent, supplied in a 200 g aerosol for interior and exterior use.

How far from the item should I hold the can?

100–150 mm, or 4–6 inches, held upright, spraying with an even sweeping motion until the surface is moist.

How long before I can use the item?

Allow approximately 3 hours drying time.

Can I use it on leather or suede shoes?

No. Selleys Water Shield is not recommended for leather or suede articles.

Can I use it on a Gore-Tex jacket or an oilskin?

No. It should not be applied to waterproof fabrics such as Gore-Tex or oilskins like Driza-Bone, or to fabric already treated with a water repellent.

Will it change the colour of my fabric?

Test an inconspicuous area first to make sure the material is colourfast. Spray light-coloured areas before darker ones.

Does it make fabric fully waterproof?

It repels water, snow and ice from a wide variety of fabrics. It is a repellent treatment, not a waterproof membrane.

Do I need to spray the whole item?

No — do not spray areas that do not require protection. On shoes, for instance, do not spray the soles.

How often do I need to reapply it?

Re-apply as needed after the article has been laundered or dry-cleaned. A practical indicator is water no longer beading on the surface.

Can I use it on a tent or caravan canopy?

Yes — tents, caravan canopy canvas and canvas tarps are all listed uses.

Can I use it on outdoor furniture?

Yes, protecting outdoor furniture is one of the listed uses. Patch test first, as with any surface.

Does the item need to be dry before spraying?

Yes. Ensure the item to be treated is clean and dry.

How do I clean the item before treating it?

Launder or dry-clean the article as you normally would. For hard outdoor surfaces rather than fabric, Selleys Super Kleen is the heavy-duty cleaner in the range. Whatever you use, the surface has to be clean and dry before the repellent goes on.

What else can I do to keep water out of the house?

Water Shield treats fabric. For the building itself, sealing gaps around windows and doors is the equivalent job — see 4 ways to winterproof your home and the other guides in Other Projects.