I wanted graphic beach towels for ages but painting fabric wasn’t working for me. Then I discovered a simple, effective technique: bleach stencils. I made a set of bold, playful towels and took them to the beach to test them out — and to try Vaseline’s Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer after a day in the sun. The towels turned out great and the moisturizer passed the test, too. Here’s how to make your own bleach-stenciled beach towels.
Supplies:
– Beach towels (choose bright, saturated colors for the best bleach contrast — I had the best result on a rich blue towel)
– Regular household bleach
– Water
– Spray bottle
– Rubber gloves
– Cardstock (one sheet per letter or stencil)
– Protective surface (cardboard or similar to protect your work area)
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Choose the phrase you want on your towel. On your computer, create large bold letters (a condensed bold font like Bebas works well) and print one letter per sheet of cardstock. Cut out the letters to make stencils, remembering to save any inner pieces from letters like A, D, O, or R.
2. Mix a solution of equal parts bleach and water in a spray bottle. Work in a well-ventilated area and lay the towel flat on cardboard or another protective surface.
3. Trim the cardstock around each letter so you can place them close together. Arrange the stencils on the towel and cover all exposed areas you don’t want bleached with extra cardboard or scrap cardstock. If you prefer a splattered, weathered look you can leave some areas exposed, but for crisp lettering cover everything around the stencils.
4. Put on rubber gloves and spray the bleach solution evenly over each letter. Let the bleach work for 10–15 minutes, or until the color reaches the shade you want. Keep an eye on it — bleaching can happen quickly on bright fabrics.
5. While still wearing gloves, remove the stencils and protective cardboard, then take the towel to a bathtub or laundry sink and rinse thoroughly under running water to remove all bleach.
6. Wash the towel in the washing machine with regular detergent, then dry as usual. Your custom graphic towel is ready to use.
After our beach day I tried the Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer. I have dry, fair skin and usually skip lotion because I find many creams slow to absorb. This spray- on lotion surprised me: it applied smoothly, absorbed quickly, and smelled wonderful. It’s easy enough to become part of a daily routine — a couple of friends even borrowed it after trying it and liked it enough to keep it.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Now get to the beach — beach, please.
This post was written on behalf of Vaseline; all opinions are my own.