De-Funk Your Tent
Is there something funky growing on your tent fly? Does your old tent smell like barf? Well, don’t break down and buy a new tent just yet (although with the Backcountry.com Semi-Annual Sale going on, it’s quite tempting). There are a few things you can do to rejuvenate your home away from home.
Moldy Tents
If there are little dark spots on your tent or tent fly, sorry but you have mold spores. Even when you’re just out for an over-nighter, moisture builds up inside and on your tent. If you pack your tent away before it’s dry, and mold will have a field day. Completely drying out your tent is extremely important and harder than you might think. The tiniest bit of moisture can cause mildew, stain and stink.
- After camping, set up your tent indoors or someplace that’s dry
- Clean every surface with a gentle cleaner like Grangers Tent Cleaner
- If you have the space indoors, use a fan to speed along the process
- Outside, set it up on a deck, raised off the ground with adequate airflow around and through the tent.
- DON’T set up your tent in direct sunlight; it can damage your tent
Set up your tent indoors with a fan
When you’re camping you can cut down on condensation build-up by maximizing airflow. Leave space between the fly and the ground to allow air to circulate. Besides opening any vents, leave the door(s) slightly open at the top to allow even more airflow—you want air moving around. Warmth comes from your sleeping pad and sleeping bag, not the tent, so let it flow.
Barf Smell
Sometimes old tents not only stink, but there’s a distinct vomit-like smell. This is not from mildew but from the breakdown of the waterproof coating on the tent—on the fly, tent floor, etc. The only way to get rid of the smell is to remove the old coating and re-apply a new one.
Option 1
- Soak your tent, fly, and footprint in water for 24-36 hours. You can add a dash of mild detergent like Nikwax Techwash
- Set up the tent as above and then treat the fly, footprint and tent floor with a waterproofer like Grangers or Nikwax
- Finish off with Nikwax Tent and Gear Proof
Option 2
- Wash your tent/fly/footprint a few times with Nikwax Techwash
- Set up and let dry
- Finish off with Nikwax Tent and Gear Proof
The offensive odor will probably never 100% go away, but this will at least get you through another season.
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Tags: backpacking, camping, tent cleaning, tents