what is cotton/canvas?

Cotton canvas is a dense cotton weave. The weave is tight enough to add some water repelency. This is what cotton tents and other military gear is made from.

It is sometimes made waterproof with a coating referred to as DWC (durable waterproof coating). If it has been treated with something like that, you should wash it with a detergent that is compatible with that type of coating (like Nikwax tech wash). There are treatments to improve/restore the DWC. If you see water beading off of it it was probably treated with something at some point.

Another alternative if you want to waterproof it is to treat it with a tent waterproofing treatment for canvas tents. You can get it by the litre and by the gallon at crap tire and outdoorsy shops. It is parrafin wax dissolved in Naptha (coleman/camping fuel). you can make your own, there are recipes kicking around.

All that said, I wouldn't worry about the waterproofness of it. Just pack stuff that needs to be kept dry in plastic bags inside. Don't store it wet and it will not rot.
 
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