We live in a world where people look for things that seem impossible and in this journey, they create something which transforms the impossible into the possible. One such thing is the people’s search for waterproof fabrics. One thing to note here is that not a single fabric in this world can be claimed to be 100% waterproof however they can be water resistant where some are better than others. As it is popular that polypropylene is one of the best fabrics when it comes to water resistance or waterproofing, people tend to ask questions about it.
They usually know that olefin is a lightweight and extremely soft fabric that is widely used for outdoor conditions. Still, they wonder if olefin fabric is waterproof. Can olefin fabric get wet? Does olefin fabric absorb water? Well, this article is written to explore the answers to not only these questions but a lot more that are related to the main topic. Simply continue reading this article till the end and you will have all that you need to know or learn.
Is olefin fabric waterproof?
Without a doubt, olefin is one of the top fabrics that can be categorized as highly water resistant but still it is not 100% waterproof. Olefin fabric is made using polypropylene which has a great amount of popularity for its water resistance.
Olefin is great in terms of repelling water and this is the reason why it is preferred to be used for outdoor usage. The fabric doesn’t let water get through it which means that you can easily wipe off the liquid if something is spilled on it.
The fabric comes in a wide range of colors, patterns, textures, prints, and weaves. Apart from just resisting the water, it’s also effective in mold and fungi resistance.
Can olefin fabric get wet?
Not really. Olefin doesn’t get wet because it is manufactured in such a way that makes the fibers leakproof which directly means that the drops can simply not enter the fabric.
If you spill water on olefin fabric, you will notice that water is just on the fabric like it is spilled on a table. You can easily wipe the water off the fabric. When you touch it, you may feel that there was water on the fabric but the fabric will not be damp.
Also, the color of olefin fabric doesn’t fade away easily as the manufacturers blend the dyes with the polymer solutions at the time of manufacturing.
Does olefin absorb water?
No, olefin is popular for the reason that it doesn’t absorb water at all. This is why olefin fabric is used in outdoor conditions or where you need to tackle the liquid problem such as in front of the toilet door or the kitchen. As you know that olefin cannot absorb water, this thing brings other characteristics such as stain, mold, and mildew resistance as well.
What is olefin fabric used for?
Olefin fabric is made from a synthetic fiber mainly known as polyolefin. The major polyolefins include names like polyethylene and popular polypropylene.
Olefin fabric comes with a lot of attractive characteristics mainly including strength, colorfastness, and comfort.
The fabric also has great resistance to water, mold, mildew, UV rays, abrasion, and much more and for all these reasons, it is used in different applications and projects such as:
- Outdoor upholstery
- Outdoor cushions
- Chairs
- Covers for pillows
- Outdoor curtains
- Outdoor Drapes
- Indoor-outdoor carpets
- Automobile interiors
- Wallpaper
- Ropes
- Sofas
- Rugs
- Sheets
Can olefin cushions be left outdoors?
Yes, olefin cushions can be left outdoors or we can say that olefin is a fabric specifically manufactured to survive in outdoor conditions and it does that beautifully.
The fabric leaves every other fabric behind when it comes to being left outdoors because of its durability, comfort, colorfastness, and resistance to water which make it able to resist all other things as well.
Some fabrics are water resistant but they get affected by direct sunlight and olefin fabric has an edge in this factor as well.
Is olefin good for making umbrellas?
Yes, instead olefin is a great option to make umbrellas because of its high-level water resistance.
Apart from this, the fabric also doesn’t get affected by UV rays which means that you can use the umbrella on hot summer days as well.
Olefin also dries very quickly and as the dyes are blended directly with the polymers at the time of manufacturing, the colors don’t fade away easily.
Benefits of olefin fabric:
- Extremely powerful in water resistance.
- Doesn’t absorb more than 0.01% of its total weight if submerged in the water.
- High level of stain resistance.
- Mold and mildew resistant.
- Perfect for outdoor conditions especially for pools and stadiums.
- High resistance to chemicals, solvents, bleaches, and acids of many types.
- Colorfastness.
- Extremely lightweight and will float in water.
- Strong and durable.
Drawbacks of olefin fabric:
- Non-resilient fibers.
- Heat sensitive and can be damaged at higher temperatures.
- Fabric can be affected by friction because of the heat produced.
- Can easily get stains from oil-based materials and soils.
- Difficulty to dye because of its non-absorbent properties.
Which is better: polyester or olefin?
Both fabrics are superior in different aspects. Olefin is a great fabric when it comes to durability and fabric made of eco-friendly material.
While polyester is great because of its versatile applications and its extremely strong nature.
Polyester is a lot smoother than olefin while olefin is incredibly amazing in terms of water resistance.
Is olefin affected by UV rays?
No, and this is one of the major edges olefin fabric has over all other outdoor fabrics. You can put olefin rugs, sheets, or carpets in outdoor conditions and they will not be affected as easily as other fabrics do.
Also, as the color in this fabric is blended at the time of making fibers, UV rays even along with water cannot affect the color or shade. So, olefin is no doubt a great fabric for outdoor as well as indoor conditions.
How to protect olefin fabric?
There is no denying that olefin fabric is one of the best to keep it in outdoor condition but you need to protect them to increase their longevity while keeping their shine and attractiveness.
One of the great ways is to use fabric sealant on items made of olefin fabric such as cushions.
It will form a protective layer over the cushions or fabric that will be completely transparent or invisible. Doing so will give extra protection from UV rays, insects, water, and any other threat.
Best waterproof fabrics:
Below are the material, their sources, or the fabrics that are good at resisting water. The thing is that it doesn’t mean that all types of the names mentioned below are great at waterproofing but some of their types are better than all other fabrics in the market.
- Polyurethane Laminate (PUL)
- Microfiber
- Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
- Dyneema
- Extra-Long-Staple (ELS Cotton)
- Oilcloth
- Waxed cotton
- Wool
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Laminated cotton
- Polyester fleece
- Vinyl
- Pleather
Frequently Asked Questions
Can olefin be used outdoors?
Yes, olefin can be used outdoors in all conditions regardless of weather, moisture conditions, sunlight, or any other factors. It is positioned in one of the best fabrics’ lists of suitable fabrics for outdoors.
Is olefin a good fabric?
Yes, olefin is a great fabric in its applications and sewing projects. It has almost all the characteristics that a good fabric should have, mainly including durability, water resistance, UV rays protection, stain resistance, mold resistance, mildew resistance, and many more.
Does olefin float in water?
Yes, olefin is incredibly lightweight and floats in water. Although it has characteristics to stay on the water, the resistance is not enough that you can put something on it.
The floating factor is the point that makes olefin a good fabric to be used near swimming pools and related areas.
