Making your Decoupage project waterproof is important if you know that the surface is likely to come into contact with water after drying.
For certain projects such as Decoupaged coasters, glassware, wood, or flowerpots. You may need them to be waterproof, durable when cleaning, or resistant to the weather when left outdoors.
So how do you make Decoupage waterproof? To make Decoupage waterproof you can use a Gloss Varnish or waterproof sealant on the final coat. Simply glue your paper to the surface using a Decoupage Glue or Mod Podge, then once it is dry, apply a waterproof sealer or varnish to the top coat to seal your project.
Even though most regular Decoupage glues or Mod Podge will have some water resistance once it has dried or fully cured. They are not usually waterproof unless this is specified within your chosen glue, formula, or sealer.
Most Decoupage glues and Mod Podge can resist small amounts of water or cleaning as this won’t hurt the surface. However, if your Decoupaged items come into contact with a lot of water this can soften the glued surface and lead to problems.
So you should seal the finish of your Decoupage once it has dried and make it waterproof by applying a few coats of waterproof sealer to the final surface. Then allow it to dry for 24 hours before letting it come into contact with any water.
A clear Gloss Varnish, Liquid Epoxy, or highly water-resistant Decoupage glue can work well on most small to medium surfaces.
But if you are sealing Decoupage on Wood or other large surfaces. A heavy-duty clear waterproof sealer will be better as it will provide better protection from water on larger surfaces.
Is Decoupage Water-Resistant?
The short answer is no, even though most Decoupage glues do have some water resistance and can survive small amounts of water. Decoupage is not fully water-resistant unless it’s sealed using a waterproof sealer. You can seal Decoupage using Varnish or Waterproof Sealer to make it water-resistant and waterproof.
When you are working on your Decoupage projects, most of the time they will only be sealed using Decoupage glue or Mod Podge. This means they will have some water resistance, but may still soften, wrinkle or bubble when exposed to a lot of water.
In most cases, this is fine as most Decoupage items won’t need much water resistance because they will rarely come into contact with water while they are on display.
However, for some Decoupaged items such as Coasters, Flowerpots, Furniture, or outdoor surfaces. They may need to be highly water-resistant or waterproof to stop the Decoupage design from getting damaged when it gets wet.
So to make your Decoupage more water-resistant, you should seal your project using a waterproof sealer or varnish.
If you use a Gloss Varnish, water-resistant Decoupage glue, or Liquid Epoxy, you can get a water-resistant surface with a smooth and even finish.
Ideally, any water-resistant glue, sealer, varnish, or finish that dries clear and smooth is fine to use for Decoupage. Just be sure to test anything that you use on a scrap piece of your project before applying it to the main surface.
What Should You Use to Make Decoupage Waterproof?
You can use many things to seal your Decoupage and make it waterproof. But for most surfaces, we recommend using Gloss Varnish to seal Decoupage and make it waterproof. Simply because it’s multipurpose, waterproof, and works on most materials and surfaces for Decoupage to get a clear glossy finish.
However, there are many things you can use if you don’t want to use a Gloss Varnish to make your Decoupage waterproof. The sealer that you choose to use may sometimes be decided by the finish you are looking for.
You can use a Liquid Epoxy, Clear Wood Sealer, Acrylic Spray, or a highly water-resistant Decoupage glue such as Mod Podge Outdoor if this suits the surface you are Decoupaging.
In most cases, how waterproof you need your Decoupage project to be will depend on how wet you expect it to get in the future. This can also dictate how many coats of waterproof sealer you apply to your project.
If you only need your Decoupaged items to be waterproof because you may need to clean or wipe them in the future. Regular Decoupage glue or Mod Podge should offer enough water resistance and protection from small amounts of water.
But for dishwashing your Decoupage items, or displaying them outdoors. They will need extra protection from water or heat.
So it’s a good idea to find a specific sealer, varnish, or glue that can withstand the elements, wet conditions, or a lot of water. You should test different sealers with water before using them on your Decoupage projects, such as Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Gloss.
Is Mod Podge Waterproof?
The short answer is no, Mod Podge is not waterproof it’s water-resistant. Meaning that for most craft projects such as Decoupage, it has enough water resistance to stop small amounts of water from harming the surface. Mod Podge Outdoor is a more highly water-resistant formula than regular Mod Podge.
If you want to make your Mod Podge completely waterproof, you will need to add an additional coat of waterproof sealer to the final surface. You can use Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer if this suits the project and materials you are using.
Regular Mod Podge is a non-toxic water-based glue, sealer, and finish with a reasonable level of water resistance. But there are highly water-resistant formulas of Mod Podge, such as Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Gloss & Mod Podge Outdoor which offer a water-resistant, streak-free Decoupage finish.
Can Decoupage Items Be Washed?
To wash Decoupage items you should seal your project using a waterproof or dishwasher-safe sealer to protect the surface from water. If you have used regular Decoupage glue or Mod Podge to seal, you should avoid washing it because using a lot of water will damage and soften the Decoupaged surface.
It’s not usually recommended to wash Decoupage items sealed with regular Decoupage glues or Mod Podge. Simply because they may have some water resistance to small amounts of water, but are not waterproof.
So if you want to wash, wipe, clean, or put your Decoupage items in the dishwasher. You need to seal your Decoupage items using a waterproof or dishwasher-safe sealer to give them extra protection from water damage.
The sealer that you choose to use to protect your Decoupage items from the water will depend on how you plan to clean or wash your items.
Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe is a good sealer and finish to use if you are planning to wash your Decoupaged items in the dishwasher. But if you are planning to wash your items using a cloth and water, there are many options available for waterproof Decoupage sealers.
These include Gloss Varnish, Enamel, Liquid Epoxy, Mod Podge Outdoor, and many other sealers that can provide a waterproof or highly water-resistant smooth wipeable surface.
However, when choosing the right sealer to use on your Decoupage items to wash and clean them. It’s a good idea to test your chosen Decoupage sealer on a scrap piece of your project before using it on the main surface. This will allow you to see how it holds up to cleaning using water once it has dried.
Does Rain Damage Decoupage?
The short answer is yes, rain can damage Decoupage if the sealer you have used was not highly water-resistant or waterproof. So if you are using Decoupage on flower pots, furniture, or outdoor items, you should seal your project using a waterproof or highly water-resistant sealer such as Mod Podge Outdoor.
Rain can be very damaging to Decoupage if you don’t use the right kind of finish or sealer. As many regular Decoupage glues will only have a small amount of water resistance and are not waterproof.
So if you are planning to leave your Decoupaged items outdoors and want them to survive the elements or the rain. You should use a protective waterproof or highly water-resistant sealer to finish your project.
Mod Podge Outdoor is a highly water-resistant glue, sealer, and finish that holds up well to the rain and elements. So you can use this on a wide variety of outdoor projects and surfaces.
But any waterproof or highly water-resistant sealer or varnish will be fine to use providing it dries clear, transparent, and still gives you the finish that you’re looking for.
What Happens if Decoupage Gets Wet?
If Decoupage gets wet and you have used a regular Decoupage glue or Mod Podge to seal your project. It will eventually soften, but you can wipe away small amounts of water with ease without damaging the surface. Seal your project using a highly water-resistant or waterproof sealer to avoid water damage.
When your Decoupage is in danger of getting wet, it’s always a good idea to seal the surface using a waterproof or highly water-resistant sealer.
Sealing and finishing your Decoupage using a sealer that protects it from the water will stop your project from having problems on the surface. Such as wrinkles, softening or stickiness on the surface of the Decoupage.
Most Decoupage glues are water-based and only have a small amount of water resistance. This means getting them wet can make some glues soften or reactivate when they come in contact with moisture or water.
So if your Decoupage gets wet, you should gently wipe away any water and dry the surface. You should then apply a coat of highly water-resistant or waterproof sealer to protect it from water damage.
