How To Preserve Your Tent Forever: Keep a Clean Tent
A tent is your home away from home, your second skin. A clean tent with the right care will keep it reliable, and keep you protected.
First, clean your tent
Usually you can just shake out your tent, but occasionally it will need cleaning. NEVER PUT YOUR TENT IN THE WASHING MACHINE OR DRYER!
Here is what I do to clean my tent:
Photo by Laura Kennedy |
- Step One: I shake my tent (inside out) to get rid of
large debris. Then I wipe the outside of the tent floor with a damp cloth to
remove ground in dirt, and vacuum the zippers with the brush attachment.
- Step Two: I pitch my tent and clean the tent walls,
inside and out, with Down Soap (in any good sporting goods store). I
sponge-rinse the tent TWICE to ensure all soap is gone. I never submerge it
in water or rub waterproof coatings (like inside the tent floor and the
underside of the rain fly).
- Step Three: To remove sap from the tent, I scrape it
with a non-serrated butter knife being careful not to cut the fabric. DO NOT
USE SOLVENT. For gooey sap I use tissue and carefully pinch off the sap
(don’t rub or it will smear). A small spot is ok. Eventually it will collect
dust and won’t be sticky. If I need to pack the tent right away I stick
tissue to the sap and remove it later. To remove the sap completely, I mix
glycerin and water in equal parts and apply it to the sap, then let it sit.
The sap should rub off the tent fabric easily. (If not, let it sit longer).
- Step Four: A musty odor, and/or small cross-shaped spots on tent fabric indicates mildew formation. To get rid of mildew, I mix 1-cup salt, 1-cup lemon juice (concentrated), and 1-gallon hot water. I rub the solution into all visible mildew. Then I pitch the tent with affected areas facing the sun and allow the tent to dry.
Second, maintain your tent
Zipper sliders, the moving part of a zipper, wear from grit or sand, which causes failure over time. I use McNett's Zip Care to lubricate tent zipper teeth to reduce wear. You can also use paraffin wax or bar of soap if you're in a pinch. DO NOT USE PETROLEUM BASED LUBRICANTS. If the sliders on my tent zippers start to fail, I squeeze the slider head (from front to back) firmly but gently with a pair of pliers.
Third, store your clean tent properly
I never put my tent away damp. Damp tents will mildew, smell, and eventually
deteriorate. If you can’t pitch your tent outside to dry then use a guest room
or a basement, just as long as the clean tent is dry before you pack it. >
I pack my clean tent poles in old pillowcases or a canvas bag to prevent
accidental punctures to tent fabric. I pack my clean tent loosely.
An oversized bag or cardboard box gives it breathing room. I don’t store my tent
in a plastic bag or airtight container. Proper care of your tent will make it last forever. I clean mine once a year
after the camp season before long-term storage. Keep a clean tent. You will be
glad you did.
Kirby Kinkead is a camper, backpacker, and outdoor enthusiast. Save on tents
and other camping gear at his website
http://www.opentrees.com or call (866) 270-3062.
