The GO Outdoors Guide To Caring For Your Tent

Your tent is the most important part of your camping kit, where you will sleep, socialise, and eat. Keeping it clean and dry is essential if you want to use it season after season.

Mould can easily form on a tent that has moisture in it, either from poor storage or from a rushed drying process.

To avoid stains and molding, your tent should be looked after as much as possible after your camping trip.

What To Buy Before You GO

A footprint

Sometimes called a 'groundsheet protector', this is placed under the tent to provide a barrier against abrasion and dirt. Similarly, any kind of mat, carpet or groundsheet can be used as a preventative measure against walking boot dirt and general stains and spillages.

Gaffer/Duct tape

This can be used to make repairs in an emergency situation.

Reproofer

With a reproofer you can ensure your tent stays waterproof

Cleaning sponge/bucket

So you can wash your tent after camping

A cloth

For dry cleaning on delicate areas such as the zips and pole

A dustpan/brush set

So you can sweep away dirt and stones from your groundsheet and tent

Packing Away Your Tent - How To Pack Up

When you pack away your tent it is important to ensure that it is scrupulously clean.

Sweep away inner debris and dirt. Ensure all food crumbs, stones and any other items are removed.
The inner should then be packed away bone dry so that mould doesn’t form. The best way to do this is to let the tent fully air hours before your departure from the campsite. Hopefully this should be done on a hot, or warm day to get the quickest and best results. (Even if your tent hasn't been rained on, it may still be beneficial to thoroughly clean and dry it.)
Use a soap or a technical tent wash mixed with water to clean your tent. Do not use a harsh detergent, which can strip the protective qualities from your tent and make it fade quicker.
Tackle the bulk of the tent with a thick sponge and pay attention to poles and footprints which can also pick up debris.
Ensure that any stains or spills are taken off the tent, before opening up any compartments of windows and the flysheet in order to allow fresh air to circulate.
Clean the tent poles, zips and any thicker areas by using a dry cloth. This should be enough to remove any built on debris or caked on mud, without causing the metal in the zips or the poles to rust or errode.
Ideally, your tent should dry off at the site, but if it’s raining you will need to do this at home.
Pack it away in a storage bag, ensuring you have all the poles and pegs.

Drying Off A Tent In The Rain

If there is no option of drying your tent at the campsite, then make sure your tent is cleaned off with the soapy water, and the bulk of the moisture if off the tent before taking it home to be thoroughly dried.

Take it home, but then ensure it is dried as soon as possible. Do not keep it in the bag for more than a few days as this will be a sufficient time for mould to form.
Similarly, do not put your tent on a heat source such as a drier or on a radiator is it could melt or the fabric coatings may be damaged.
Usually a washing line, or repitching in a cool place such as a garage or in the garden will allow your tent to dry sufficiently so it can be repacked into the bag.

Where To Store Your Tent

In a dry garage or shed (as long as it doesn't get too hot)
Away from sunlight
Away from dampness
Packed loosely when fully dried

Reproofing A Tent - When and Why?

Reproofing can be undertaken to extend your tent’s life, allowing your tent to revive it’s waterproofing abilities.

Reproofer gives superb protection, not only does it waterproof, it also protects against stains from dirt, grease and oil.

Like most preventative measures, reproofing should be undertaken periodically for the best results.

You can tell when a reproofing treatment may be needed as:

Water may have started to penetrate the tent
There may be more condensation than usual within your tent
You have had your tent and used it for more than 2 seasons - it may be time to take preventative measures
Water doesn’t form in a droplet against the tent skin, but appears patchy or splotch like.

What Tent Reproofer To Use

Non water based proofers must be used on a dry tent, whilst water based proofers are used whilst the tent is still damp, before being dried off.

Apply your reproofer as instructed, whilst allowing sufficient time for it to dry off afterwards.

(For this reason a tent reproofing job should be undertaken on a sunny day if possible, or with access to a covered, dry area.)

Most proofers for tents are designed with a pump to allow easy spraying and an even coverage.

Allow your tent to dry thrououghly afterwards