How to Waterproof Fabric

My backpack is so old that the weather proofing has mostly worn away, leaving my books damp at best and waterlogged at worst whenever it rains. I've seen tips on using beeswax to waterproof canvas shoes and hoped it would work on my nylon fabric backpack - it did!

I bought my wax online, but it was wrapped in plastic, so I wouldn't recommend it as the best zero waste option, though the wax itself is wonderful.

It's as simple as rubbing the wax into the fabric, taking care to cover each section, and using a hairdryer to melt the wax into the fabric. After it cools, check for any spots that need touching up and test with water to make sure there aren't any gaps.