The London Tradesman (1747) comments on floorcloth-painting:

In the Turner’s Shop we generally meet with Floor-Cloths, painted in Oil Colours, which is performed by a Claſs of Painters who do little elſe. It requires no great Ingenuity, and the Wages of Journeymen is the same as in other Branches of Painting.

Instructions for cleaning floorcloths:

“Having well swept your floor-cloth, wipe it carefully with a flannel, and when all dust and spots are removed, rub it fist with a flannel slightly waxed, and then with a plain dry one. Or washing occasionally with milk, and dry rubbing may suffice without the use of the wax, and the floor-cloth will be less slippery.” (The Universal Cook and City and Country Housekeeper, 1806)

“The sides of stairs or passages on which are carpets or floor-cloth should be washed with sponge instead of linen or flannel, and the edges will not be soiled. Different sponges should be kept for the above two uses; and these and the brushes should be well washed when done with, and kept in dry places.” (The New London Family Cook, 1808; A New System of Domestic Cookery, 1808)

Floorcloth painters’ trade cards often feature images of floorcloths, perhaps illustrating some of the designs that were available. These include Joseph Barnes, The Hat & Floor Cloth Warehouse By James Cox, Gatfield & Co., B. Philpott, James Theebridge, Thomas Tillinghast, Joseph Weston, Alexander Wetherstone, and John White.