Vinyl Floor Cloths - How to Make

by Mary Ruthven
(Palm Coast, FL.)

Some years ago, I wanted a floor cloth for my dining room. After much hunting, I found that not only were they hard to find, the few I came across were VERY expensive! We had laid linoleum down in our laundry room and had a good size piece leftover. Hm-m-m... My mind went into "creative mode" and I made my own vinyl floor cloth!


Who did you make it for?

I made the Paris one for some dear friends whose anniversary is on Valentines Day. I combined both holidays into one gift. I have included a few pictures of others I have made.


What materials did you use?

Piece of vinyl/linoleum (cut to size and shape desired), primer (I use water based "KILZ"), paintbrushes, and paints (I use acrylics), and clear varnish.


How did you make it?

With pencil, draw out size and shape you want on white back side. Linoleum cuts very easily with a good pair of scissors. The white back side is now your canvas and will be what you paint on.

Prime entire surface and allow to dry throughly. Give a second coat if needed. Once dried, you are ready to paint. Let your imagination run wild! Allow picture to dry completely, then coat with clear varnish. I give mine 3 coats, allowing each coat to dry throughly.

Once dried, the floor cloth can be walked on. You can use them in any room with hard surface floors. I put a piece of sticky tac (otherwise known as poster putty) under each corner and press gently to adhere to floor. This is removable, repositionable, and leaves no residue.

Although they are sealed, I suggest that you don't place them anywhere that gets direct weather such as rain or snow. I do have one on my screened in porch and it does fine out there. If the wind blows the rain in occasionally, I just wipe up the water. You can even roll (always roll picture side in) the floor cloth and put it aside if expecting severe weather or such. If, when you unroll it and it tends to stay curled, just leave it in warm sunshine and it will flatten back out.


Anything else you'd like to share about your project?

This is a fun and rewarding project. I purchase 8' remnant rolls at home stores for $15.00 and can make many cloths from it. The design is not important since it becomes the bottom that you won't see. Just make sure it's not a deep grooved design that shows through the back. Most of them do not.

Here are just a few projects you can make:

I cut 4" squares for my granddaughter one year when she wanted to give presents for Christmas. I primed and painted each one a bright color. Then she painted a picture on every one. Ours had a picture of our truck. So cute! They became coasters and the family members loved them! We still have ours, three years later.

The chef was made for a friend who couldn't find a mat for the floor in front of her sink because her counters were an odd shape. I just made hers to fit!

My grandson recieved the cow town and road one for a birthday, along with some match box cars. He loved it! You can just roll it up and take it to keep them amused on road trips!

The largest one I have made measures 12' x 12'. I painted comical insects and dragonflys for my porch. They are very durable and will last for years. The possibilities are endless!

Other great things about making vinyl floor cloths:

• They make great entry way runners (they clean right up with a spray of windex and paper toweling).


• A good project for kids. Just pre-prime pieces and let the artist in them create! (Makes a great keepsake!).


• Great for sleepover activities or school projects.


• Makes a wonderful and personal gift.


• Try making your own placemats and coasters.

This project has also been featured by Mary on www.thriftyfun.com.

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