• Manufactured by KS International
• 888-578-5573; www.dropcloth.com
• Cost per square foot: about 30¢
Drop cloths drive me nuts. Canvas cloths leak when I drip glue or spill paint; rosin paper has to be taped down to prevent the edges from curling and sometimes stains surfaces when it gets wet; and plastic sheeting shifts around under my feet and can be as slippery as ice when covered with sawdust. Luckily, KS International has developed a better drop cloth.
Clean & Safe Pro is a thin, fiber-based material that can be used to protect flooring, stairs, cabinetry, or countertops. It has a nontacky, leakproof backing that protects against accidental spills, but the cloth doesn’t need to be taped down to prevent it from sliding underfoot. The surface of the cloth is covered with a smooth membrane (also skid-resistant) that allows dust and debris to be swept up or vacuumed so that you don’t have to clean the cloth by rolling it up, taking it outside, and shaking it out. Each 150-ft. roll is available in 32-in., 40-in., or 48-in. widths, and the manufacturer also sells 12-ft.-long drop cloths in 40-in. and 80-in. widths. KS International also makes a vaporpermeable drop cloth called SurfacePro (about 47¢ per sq. ft.) for use over newly finished hardwood flooring that is dry to the touch but needs to breathe as it cures fully.
Click to watch a demo of the Clean & Safe Pro from the 2007 International Builders’ Show.
