Skip to Content

How to Make Waterproof Placemats with Mod Podge

Does your little one make messes during meal time? Learn how to make waterproof placemats with Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge! It’s really easy.

Skills Required: Beginner. It helps to have some experience with Mod Podge since thinner materials and maps can wrinkle. Just have patience and smooth thoroughly.

How to Make Waterproof Placemats with Mod Podge

Hi friends! This is Megan from Homemade Ginger again! I’m back with another super easy DIY for you all today. When I discovered Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge, I couldn’t wait to give it a try!

My two-year-old makes huge messes at meal times and a placemat is a must. I decided to use some Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge to make a super cute DIY placemat that can easily be wiped off.

Before we get started, you need to know something – this placemat isn’t truly waterproof. But let me explain, because you’re still going to want to make it!

The thing is, no Mod Podge is waterproof. But some of the formulas are very highly water resistant, and Dishwasher Safe is one of them. You will be able to decoupage placemats and for the most part, will be able to remove water quite easily.

And you won’t have to wipe the water off the second it hits. Get some additional notes below.

Vinyl placemats, maps, Mod Podge, and a foam brush

Some important notes about this project:

  1. Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe needs to cure for 28 days before it’s washed. This is so the adhesives reach their maximum hardness before exposure to water.
  2. Don’t submerge these placemats in hot water. That is where Mod Podge is NOT waterproof. If it’s submerged in water for a long time, the adhesive will start to break down and the project will fall apart. You can hand wash or “dip and rinse.”
  3. Don’t put this in the dishwasher. The formula is top rack safe in the dishwasher but since they’re pretty big they probably wouldn’t fit, and you shouldn’t put them on the bottom rack.

Decoupage Placemats

Here’s what you will need:

  • Vinyl or rubber placemat
  • Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge
  • Maps (or book pages, wrapping paper etc)
  • Foam brush
  • Sandpaper (optional)
Maps laid out on a placemat

Begin by laying out your map on the placemat. You may need to cut them to piece it together. You can also use pages from a children’s book, fun wrapping paper, your child’s artwork or lots of other options!

Painting Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge on a map with a foam brush

Brush a layer of Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge on the placemat, lay your maps on top and smooth thoroughly. You can use a brayer or credit card if it helps. Let dry 15-20 minutes and then brush a layer layer on top of the maps.

Once it is fully dry, add another layer of Mod Podge. Continue doing this until you have about three layers on top of the maps.

DIY waterproof placemat

After the placemat is fully dcured (2i days)ry, you can put it to use! I can’t wait to come up with another Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge craft! Now that you know how to make waterproof placemats, what else will you waterproof?


For tons of modern crafts, home decor projects and recipes, visit me at my blog, Homemade Ginger. I’d also love for you to check out the following projects:

Peggy

Sunday 5th of December 2021

I have not done a project yet I have bought all of my mod podge… Just excited to start working with it… My first goal is placemats that I bought because they’re so beautifully white with beautiful flowers on them and I don’t with the white to get yucky.. looking forward to learning things from you.,

Amy

Monday 6th of December 2021

Thank you Peggy! I hope you have fun!!

Rosemary

Friday 31st of July 2015

can it be used as a write on/wipe off item? that way one could trace the route they just took (if you did a local city map) or if on a long trip part of your travel map which could be made ahead of time and take it with you

Madhu

Thursday 30th of July 2015

Hi I love the idea..cant wait to try it out!!!????????...I wanted to ask you..have you tested the placemat..can it be also cleaned under running water??i hear alot of people saying that it is better to use resin or polyurethanes to make decoupage items waterproof...so I am very confused!!..your response would really help clear it up.

Tiffany

Thursday 23rd of July 2015

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! I think this looks like a a great gift for my niece and nephew! I may try to personalize them somehow. I better get started now if I want to make sure they're done by Christmas!

https://theoilchangeblog.wordpress.com/