4 Easy Ways to Clean and Store Your Tent

It does not take much effort to prolong the life of your tent and camping enjoyment. A little maintenance goes a long way. Learn the best way to clean and store your tent:

CLEAN YOUR TENT

It’s important to clean your tent thoroughly after each use. If you camp near the ocean always brush the salt off your fly as salt attracts moisture, even in dry areas. Clean stains off the fly material and sweep/vacuum the inner tent so no leaves, dead bugs or sand and mud are left. This way there are no ‘funny’ smells next time you use your tent. Only use soft brushes or cloths when cleaning. If you need to clean stains only use lukewarm water. If you need to use a (gentle) cleaning agent you probably will have to re-apply a waterproofing agent afterward. learning how to clean and store your tent will increase its life span.

WATERPROOF YOUR TENT

Applying a waterproofing compound will protect your tent against mould, damp and UV rays. Waterproofing compounds can be purchased in liquid as well as spray-on varieties. The liquid compounds can be applied with a brush or roller and are mainly used on canvas tents. Spray-on varieties are better used with polyester/nylon tents and can also be applied to clothing and footwear.

NEVER STORE A WET TENT

As silly as it may sound, many campers forget to dry their tent after their trip. This causes mould and mildew. If you do come home with a wet tent, always dry it as soon as possible. Try to move the wet sections around so all areas get to dry. Only when the tent is 100% dry, then you can pack it up and store it. Moisture can also corrode the zippers making them hard or impossible to move. Make sure all tent poles are dry and wipe down all steel poles with an oil impregnated rag before putting them away.

REPAIR BEFORE STORAGE

Make a list of things that need attention during your camping holiday and fix them as soon as you get home. If your tent has fibreglass poles check the elastic for excessive wear and replace if needed. It’s a very simple process but if you’re not sure how to do this ask a good camping store for assistance.