When you’re travelling in the great outdoors, your tent is your home. It’s a place you know you can always go back to when the weather takes a turn for the worse or you just need some rest and relaxation. But, in order for it to serve you to the best of its abilities, it has to be stored probably.
I mean, what’s worse than pitching your tent only to find funky mould stains all over the place. Yuck! To prevent this happening to you, we’ve put together some useful info on how to clean and store your tent.
Cleaning your tent
When you get back home from a trip, it’s best to set up your tent in your garden or somewhere similar to remove all the dust and dirt. The best way to do this is to use lukewarm water and a mild cleaning product. Then, using a sponge or soft brush, remove all surface dirt. If you find some stains on the mesh fabric of the inner tent, you can remove them in the same way. If the stains are just downright stubborn, we recommend soaking the entire inner tent in lukewarm water and rinsing it by hand. Don’t even think about tossing it in the washing machine! For more stubborn stains, you can always use special cleaning products designed to be used on tents. You can also try turning the inner tent inside out and giving it a good shake. This will help you get rid of any traces left on the tent from your last outing quickly and easily.
Once your tent is clean, you need to give it time to dry completely. If you put your tent away damp, it’s very likely that mould and mildew will grow as a result. So, be sure to let it dry in a warm and well-ventilated place until it is completely free of moisture.
Any damage?
Before storing your tent, check for damage and make any necessary repairs. If there is more significant damage to your tent, we recommend taking it to a specialist and getting it repaired by either that specialist or the manufacturer, if necessary. Don’t forget to have a look at the poles as well and check for any cracks. If they are damaged, be sure to get them replaced.
If you had used your tent for an extended period of time on a long adventure, you can also reseal the seams using a seam sealer like Vaude Silicone Seam Sealer (for siliconised fabric) or SeamGrip (for PU fabric). Finally, you should make sure your tent is complete and that you’re not missing any pegs, poles or stuff sacks.
Where to store your tent
Once your tent has been cleaned and is completely dry and you’ve made sure all damage has been repaired and all parts are accounted for, you can start looking for the perfect place to store your tent. Your best option is a dry and well-ventilated area. Cellars are often great storage areas, but be sure to store your tent in a way that will protect it from any mice or other rodents. Nothing’s worse than finding out a mouse has gnawed its way through your tent right before you head out on a trip. Whether you store your tent in a stuff sack, box or bag is up to you. If you take care of your tent and store it properly, it’ll accompany you on your adventures for a long time to come.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask our experts in customer service. They are available during the week from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. and can be reached by phone at 03 33 33 67058 or via e-mail.
