What is Selleys Water Shield, and where should you use it?

Selleys Water Shield is a silicone-based aerosol water repellent for natural and synthetic fabrics. You spray it onto a clean, dry item, let it dry, and the treated fabric repels water, snow and ice.

The characteristic that makes it useful on clothing rather than just gear is that it does not impair the comfort or breathability of the material. A parka that has been treated still behaves like a parka. That is the difference between a repellent finish applied to a fabric and a waterproof membrane — and it is also why the product is not recommended for fabrics that already have either of those, as covered below.

It comes in a 200 g aerosol can.

Where to use it

• Sportswear, including ski clothes such as parkas and gloves
• Sports shoes — sandshoes, jogging shoes and similar
• Camping gear — tents, sleeping bags
• Cloth and canvas bags
• Outdoor furniture, for example canvas chairs
• Paper maps and plans

That last one is easy to skim past and is genuinely useful: paper maps and plans are on the list, which makes this an option for documents that have to survive being out in weather.

What the 3-hour drying time means for your job

Selleys specifies approximately 3 hours drying time before use. That is the number to plan the job around, and it is longer than most people assume for an aerosol.

In practice it means treating gear the day before you need it, not the morning of. A tent sprayed at 6am is not ready for a 7am departure. It also means you need somewhere the item can sit undisturbed and spread out for that time — a sleeping bag or a tent fly needs floor space or a line, not a heap in the boot of the car.

The application itself is about even coverage rather than heavy coverage. 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 endpoint — you are not trying to soak the fabric. Sweeping at a consistent distance is what gets you an even finish, and an even finish is what avoids patchy repellency later.

The treatment is not permanent. Selleys' instruction is that when the article becomes soiled, you launder or dry-clean it as usual and then re-apply Water Shield. Treat it as a step that goes with each wash cycle of the item's life rather than a one-off.

How to apply it

1. Check colourfastness first. Test the product on an inconspicuous area to make sure the material is colourfast before you treat the whole item.
2. Make sure the item is clean and dry.
3. Mask off or avoid what you do not want treated. Do not spray areas of the article that do not require protection — when treating shoes, for example, do not spray the soles.
4. 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.
5. Work light to dark. Spray the light-coloured areas of the article first, then move to the darker areas.
6. Allow approximately 3 hours drying time before using the item.

Limitations — where it should NOT be used

• Not recommended for leather or suede articles.
• Not recommended for fabric that has already been treated with a water repellent such as DRW.
• Not recommended for waterproof fabrics such as Gore-tex®, or oilskins such as Driza-bone®.
• Do not spray it onto parts of the article that do not need protection — shoe soles being the example Selleys gives.
• Test for colourfastness in an inconspicuous area before treating the item.

The pattern in those exclusions is worth naming: this product is for fabrics that are not already engineered to handle water. If your jacket is already a waterproof shell, or already carries a repellent finish, Water Shield is not the right treatment for it — and the same goes for leather and suede, which need products made for them.

Hazard classification

Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Danger.

• Aerosols — Category 1. H222: extremely flammable aerosol. H229: pressurised container — may burst if heated.
• Skin corrosion/irritation — Category 2. H315: causes skin irritation.
• Serious eye damage/eye irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
• Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure — Category 2. H373: may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.

Classified as Dangerous Goods under the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail and New Zealand NZS 5433, and under the IMDG Code and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. UN 1950, Class 2.1, proper shipping name AEROSOLS (AEROSOLS, FLAMMABLE by air), no packing group. Limited quantity 1,000 mL by road and rail.

What is in it

Chemical entity	CAS number	Proportion (w/w)
Butane	106-97-8	30–60%
Propane	74-98-6	30–60%
Naphtha, petroleum, hydrotreated light	64742-49-0	30–60%
Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl	95-63-6	1–10%
Ethyl benzene	100-41-4	1–10%
1,3-Hexanediol, 2-ethyl	94-96-2	1–10%
2-Propanol, titanium(4+) salt	546-68-9	1–10%

The proportions are the broad disclosure bands used on the Safety Data Sheet rather than a recipe, so they do not add to exactly 100%.

Almost everything in the can is flammable, and that is the single most important thing this page has not so far told you. Butane and propane are the propellant; hydrotreated light naphtha is the carrier solvent that puts the silicone onto the fabric. Between them they are the great majority of the contents, which is why the classification is extremely flammable aerosol and not merely flammable. The silicone that actually does the repelling is a small part of what leaves the nozzle. Spray it away from any ignition source — not near a heater, a pilot light, a barbecue or a cigarette — and do not spray it towards an open flame.

That has a consequence for the three-hour drying time described above. Drying is not just the silicone setting; it is a solvent evaporating off the item. A tent fly or a sleeping bag sprayed until the surface is moist is a large area of fabric wet with hydrocarbon solvent, and it goes on releasing vapour for as long as it takes to dry. The Safety Data Sheet does not spell this consequence out, but it follows from the composition: treat gear outdoors or in a genuinely well-ventilated space, and leave it to dry there rather than in a closed garage, laundry or car.

H373 is a repeated-exposure classification, not a single-use one. It says that prolonged or repeated exposure may damage organs — which matters less for treating one pair of shoes than for someone who works through a pile of camping gear each season in a small shed, or who treats items regularly. The precautionary statement that goes with it is P260: do not breathe the spray or vapour. Standing upwind and out of the mist is the whole of the technique.

Do not pierce or burn the can, even after it is empty (P251), and do not let it sit above 50 °C or in direct sunlight (P410+P412). A car parked in the sun in an Australian summer exceeds that comfortably, so the can does not live in the boot with the camping gear.

Protection

• Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Natural ventilation is adequate under normal use conditions; if it is not, wear suitable respiratory protection.
• Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces. No smoking (P210). Do not spray on an open flame or other ignition source (P211).
• Do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapour or spray (P260).
• Wear protective gloves and protective clothing, including eye and face protection (P280). Nitrile rubber gloves are suitable for intermittent contact.
• Wash hands, face and all exposed skin thoroughly after handling (P264). Take off contaminated clothing and wash it before reuse (P362+P364).
• Keep out of reach of children (P102).
• Storage — a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight, away from foodstuffs, incompatible materials and sources of heat or ignition. Do not expose to temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F). Keep the can upright.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Eyes	Hold the eyelids apart and flush the eyes continuously with running water. Continue flushing until advised to stop by the Poisons Information Centre or a doctor, or for at least 15 minutes, then transport to a doctor or hospital.
Skin	Remove contaminated clothing immediately and flush the skin and hair with running water, continuing for at least 15 minutes, then transport to a doctor or hospital. For gross contamination, drench immediately with water and remove clothing; keep flushing with plenty of water and soap. Cover skin burns with a clean dry dressing until medical help arrives, and do not break blisters.
Inhalation	Remove the person from exposure without becoming a casualty yourself. Remove contaminated clothing and loosen the rest. Let them rest in the most comfortable position and keep them warm until fully recovered. Seek medical advice if effects persist.
Swallowed	Rinse the mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Give a glass of water to drink. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If vomiting occurs, give further water. Seek medical advice.

Get medical advice or attention if you feel unwell (P314).

If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.

Common questions about Selleys Water Shield

How long does it take to dry?

Approximately 3 hours before the item is used.

How far away should I hold the can?

100–150 mm (4–6 inches), with the can held upright, using an even sweeping motion until the surface is moist.

Will it make my jacket stiff or stop it breathing?

No. Selleys states it does not impair the comfort and breathability of the material.

Can I use it on a Gore-tex jacket or a Driza-bone?

No. It is not recommended for waterproof fabrics such as Gore-tex® or oilskins such as Driza-bone®, nor for fabric already treated with a water repellent such as DRW.

Can I use it on leather boots or suede shoes?

No. It is not recommended for leather or suede articles. It is suitable for sports shoes such as sandshoes and jogging shoes — and when you treat shoes, keep the spray off the soles.

Does it work on tents and sleeping bags?

Yes, camping gear including tents and sleeping bags is a listed use.

Can I use it on paper?

Paper maps and plans are a listed use.

Do I need to reapply it?

Yes. When the article becomes soiled, launder or dry-clean it as usual and then re-apply Water Shield.

Will it change the colour of the fabric?

Test an inconspicuous area for colourfastness before treating the item. Selleys also advises spraying light-coloured areas first, then moving on to darker areas.

What size is the can?

200 g aerosol.

Is it suitable for outdoor furniture?

Yes — canvas outdoor furniture such as canvas chairs is a listed use.

Where can I see more ways to use it?

Selleys publishes a guide covering 12 uses for Water Shield.