a drop cloth includes : a sheet of material having a length substantially greater than its width ; and a series of panels , each panel being connected to sheet along the length of the sheet . the panels are generally identical to one another and are equally spaced along the length of the sheet such that , when the drop cloth is applied to a staircase , a first panel of a pair of adjacent panels covers a horizontal section of the stairs and the other panel of the pair of adjacent panels covers a vertical section of the stairs , with a fabric area extending between the pair of adjacent panels and over a nose of a stair . the drop cloth can be used for protection against drips and spills when painting along a staircase . the drop cloth also can be used when painting along a wall of a room .