washing a tent

[Mace]

I've got a Cabelas SUV tent ( http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...=52707317471&gclid=CMTZ9oKWnLgCFW1yQgodpl8Awg ) that has seen quite a bit of use. After the Rubithon tho, I figure it's time for it to get a thorough cleaning and seam sealing.

I've read online to use:
Automotive soap
Hand soap
Palmolive
And nixwax tent soap.

The tent is set up so that the boys can sleep in it tonight and I'm planning on washing it out tomorrow. Any suggestions on what to use? Woolite has always been my goto cleaner for when I care about something, but if it's not the best choice, I'd like to know.

Thanks

 

[MANUCHAO]

I have used the Nikwax Tech Wash and MiraZyme for tent care....
The Tech wash is a non detergent soap that helps retain the durable water repellent in your tent...

 

[NorCalDoug]

bah...just ball it up and throw it in the washing machine...

 

[NorCalDoug]

^^^

of course you realize that I was just joking...
nikwax makes good products. I've never used their tent soap, but their waterproofing waxes and leather conditioning oils are very good.

 

[Romer]

The instructions on my Kimberley kamper say to use a brush and water only, no soap of any kind. Its probably because the canvas is treated differently

 

[rusty_tlc]

It's nylon, hose it down.

If it leaks let it dry and re- treat it with tent sealer.

 

[titanpat57]

I'm not sure what to use..but I know what NOT to use...and that's Clorox.

Last time I cleaned the tent, the mildew was pretty bad, so hell, a little clorox ought to do the trick...

Hung it up to dry and and the next day all the threads disintegrated and fell apart

 

[Mace]

Lol, i pitched it in the back yard for the kids to sleep in last night. And it just rained. Not so surprising everywhere else but the desert lol


It does look better now tho.

 

[Enigma]

From: http://www.pangaea-expeditions.com/resources/tentcare/index.html

"One problem inherent with rooftop tents is that in wet or damp conditions, you frequently have to put the tent away wet. The combination of a damp tent and water-proof travel cover makes a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. If the mildew takes hold, it can stain the tent and giving it a maliferous odor!

In some cases, the stains can get so bad, that it may seem as though the tent is a lost cause. But fear not, there is a simple way to recover from this situation.


First open the tent up and brush it with a stiff bristled brush or vacuum to get the loose dirt off. Then wash the tent with a solution of 1 cup Lysol general purpose cleaner to 1 gallon of hot water. Sponge this solution on to wet the tent and then brush in with a stiff brush (as listed above).

Then, rinse the tent off with a solution of 1 cup lemon juice and 1 cup salt to a gallon of hot water. Use enough salt/lemon solution to get all the Lysol out. Leave the tent to air dry in the sun. This last step is very important, as it will promote the loss of mildew stains. Once the tent is completely dry you will be amazed at how new it looks!"

Seems to work. Need to add a little extra elbow grease to scrub out the more resistant portions of mildew.

 

[aaronrules]

What do you think of this tent?

 

[Mace]

It's big, heavy and works perfectly for my family.

 

[aaronrules]

I've been eyeballing it for a little while. We need something else for the family when camping. And the fact this would fit the Honda Odyssey easily is nice. I'm a little worried my LX470 sits too high for this to connect to it very well. Especially with the dual swing Slee rear bumper on it.

 

[BMThiker]

I recently washed my Kelty 4-man in the washing machine with a little Nikwax. I used the gentle cycle. It didn't do much for the ground in mud we picked up at GSMTR this year. Wound up deploying it and washing the tough areas by hand with plain water. Still need to rework some of my seams with sealer.

If I had a yard and garden hose, I'd use that approach first. Maybe use the washing machine to soak it in Nikwax surface treatment. Then air dry and apply seam sealer as needed.

 

[Brentbba]

Eezi-Awn in there info says:

Do not wash TENT with detergent. ONLY wipe with CLEAN CLOTH.

 

[Mace]

I've been eyeballing it for a little while. We need something else for the family when camping. And the fact this would fit the Honda Odyssey easily is nice. I'm a little worried my LX470 sits too high for this to connect to it very well. Especially with the dual swing Slee rear bumper on it.

Truthfully, I have almost never connected it to the car. No real need with as much room as it has. Course, might be nice for movie night while camping

 

[Trollhole]

I've used Nikwax tent soap and then treat it after. No problems with the tent other than damage done by me. It's a 20yr old Mountain Hardware Winter Light