How To Keep Your Tent Forever

One in a Series of Five Camping Gear Care Articles

A tent is your home away from home, your second skin. The right care will keep it reliable, and keep you protected.

First, clean your tent:

Usually you can just shake your tent, but occasionally it will need cleaning.

NEVER PUT YOUR TENT IN THE WASHINGMACHINE OR DRYER!

Here is what I do:

First, 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.

Second, I pitch my tent and clean the tent walls, inside and out, with Downe 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).

Third, 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).

Fourth, A musty odor, and/or small cross-shaped spots on tent fabric indicate 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 my tent zipper to reduce wear. You can also use paraffin wax or bar of soap if you're in a pinch. Do not use petroleum based lubericants.

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.

Tent seams are not always waterproof. I seam seal them if I know I will be out in the heavy rain.

Third, store your 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 tent is dry before you pack it.

I pack my tent poles in old pillowcases or a canvas bag to prevent accidental punctures to tent fabric.

I pack my 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 your tent clean. You'll 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/catalog/idx1.htm or call (866) 270-3062. Contact him by email: kirbykinkead@opentrees.com.