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Tent Care and Mildew
How do I prevent mildew?
One of the easiet ways to damage your tent is not drying it as quickly as possible wherever it gets wet. Storing a wet tent as short as 24 hours in warm water is likely to start the process of mildew forming on the fabric. Mildew can permanently damage the waterproof coatings by causing it to separate from the fabric, but mild to severe staining is more common. Mildew stains are permanent. They cannot be removed without potential harm to the fabric coatings and are not covered by warranty. Even when your tent appears to be dry after use, it is always best to unfold and assure it is completely dry before storing. Hanging it outside or even leaving loosely clumped it your house for a few days, turning inside and out to assure it has dried everywhere, can achieve this. Never machine dry your tent as the heat can melt the fabric.
What's the best way to clean my tent?
Cleaning your tent is not necessary unless it has an offensive odor or becomes heavily soiled. If heavily soiled, the pressure from a regular garden hose will remove most loose dirt. For more severe cleaning, set up your tent and hand wash it with warm water, a sponge and mild, non detergent soap (Ivory). Do not use dishwashing liquid, detergent, bleach, pre-soaking solutions, or spot removers. Rinse well. Dry your tent by pitching or line dry. Never dry clean, machine wash or machine dry your tent. Any of these methods can remove all the waterproof coatings from the fabric.
General Tent Care Tips
- Avoid excess sun exposure - Over time, the sun's ultra violet rays damage tent fabrics and coatings, so pitch your tent in a shady area whenever possible. Rainflies are cheaper to replace than tent bodies, so cover your tent with a rainfly as much as possible when in the sun.
- Never use insect sprays inside your tent. Their chemical characteristics create a breakdown in the tent's waterproofing.
Mildew Treatment Formula
This is a three step process.
- Step 1 - Mix 1/2 cup of Lysol in 1 gallon of hot water (not so hot you can't put your hand in it). Wash the fabric with a sponge and dry completely, without rinsing.
- Step 2 - Mix 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of lemon juice in 1 gallon of hot water (same "warning" as in Step 1). Wash the fabric with this solution and allow to dry, without rinsing.
- Step 3 - After the item is dry, rinse it with fresh water and allow to dry thoroughly before storing.
Hope this helps! But the best treatment is prevention. Always store your gear, after it has been thoroughly dried, in a dry, cool place.