How to Clean a Tent

Have you ever opened up a tent bag, only to be overcome by the smell of mildew? Have you taken off your socks inside of a tent and realized that the floor was covered in sand? A dirty tent is not only an eyesore, it can even be harmful to your health.

One of the most important parts about taking care of a tent is keeping it clean. Keeping your tent clean will help you to eliminate dirt and avoid the transmission of fungal infections.

Excessive dirt can damage the floor of the tent, and reduce the life of your tent greatly. In addition, preventing the accumulation of dust reduces the need for hard and labor intensive cleaning.

There are two key components to keeping your tent nice and clean. First, you need to clean the tent thoroughly. Then, you need to keep more dirt from entering the tent.

These tips will help you do both of these tasks:

• Use a ground cloth to keep dirt away from the floor. A ground cloth is, essentially, a doormat. Keeping dirt away from the floor in this way will also help protect the tent floor from corrosion.
• Bring a dust pan and broom with you when you camp. Hand brooms are especially useful for smaller tents, while a full-size broom may be better for larger tents.
• Take off your shoes outside the tent before you enter the tent. If that is not possible, use a wire bristle brush to get the dirt and mud off your shoes before you get into the tent.
• Clean off your camping gear and clothing before entering the tent, as well.
• When the tent gets dirty, sponge the tent with soapy. Use a wet cloth or sponge to wipe down the soapy tent. If you have manufacturer’s recommendation or instructions on cleaning, follow those carefully.
• Brush the dirt off and away from the tent when you pack it up.

Let the tent completely dry before you pack and store it. If you must break camp in the rain, make sure to air the tent out when you get home.