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Before embarking on your next adventure, it’s essential to learn the basics of canvas tent maintenance, including how to prevent dirt buildup and how to clean mold from a tent if it appears. Even the most durable, high-quality tents require regular care to stay in great condition. Don’t overlook these essential tips. Here’s everything you need to know.
It’s important that a person knows how to clean their canvas tent properly. Most importantly, cleaning a tent will increase its lifespan. A well-maintained and clean tent will typically last 15-30 years, depending on its usage. Knowing how to clean a canvas tent after each camping trip will save you money in the long run, and it’ll help you avoid unnecessary headaches.
You must use the correct cleaning materials and procedures, as improper cleaning could potentially damage the tent’s waterproofing and fire treatment. You can do more harm than good by cleaning your tent incorrectly.
Proper cleaning reduces mold and mildew, which can cause the canvas to rot. Most tent companies have a 1-year guarantee. If the tent has mold or mildew after the first year, the manufacturer will not cover the guarantee. While we offer a generous 2-year guarantee for workmanship and materials, it’s essential to know how to clean a canvas tent so you can enjoy it for much longer.
You should know how to clean mold from a tent, but knowing how to prevent it from growing in the first place is even better. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the old saying goes. Additionally, keeping mold and mildew at bay and taking steps to prevent your tent from getting dirty will save a significant amount of time and hassle when the trip is over.
Camping underneath a tree is a common mistake. When it rains or the wind blows strongly, all of the dirt, dust, debris, and even tar from branches above will rain down all over the tent. Even though you know how to clean a canvas tent, you’re still going to have to put in a lot of work to remove it. A tent fly is a great accessory that protects the roof.
If you’re not setting up your tent on a dedicated platform, then you’ll have to choose your campsite location carefully. Look for a level area that is protected from the wind. Once you’ve decided on your ideal site, you’ll have to make sure the ground doesn’t have rocks or sticks in the area where you’re going to place your canvas tent. Using a vinyl tent floor is a great option for helping your tent stay cleaner during setup and teardown. It’ll also help keep out dirt, water, and reduce the number of bugs that enter your tent.
Additionally, we recommend placing a sod cloth underneath your tent floor to help keep out air and to prevent water from getting onto your tent floor.
After a long day of exploring, your shoes or boots will probably be dirty. Part of knowing how to clean a canvas tent is knowing how to prevent it from getting dirty. When possible, remove shoes before entering, or at least thoroughly shake them together to remove as much dirt as possible. You may want to set up a welcome mat in front of the tent as a reminder.
Spray the tent with water to remove any dust. The tent must be 100% dry before storage, or you’re going to learn firsthand how to clean mold from a tent. This includes any eave ropes attached to the tent. Wet ropes will cause the tent to grow mold and mildew wherever the ropes touch the canvas. As you learn how to clean a canvas tent, remember that prolonged exposure to moisture is your worst enemy.
Clean the sod cloth and sidewalls prior to removing the tent from the frame. When folding the tent, keep the inside folded to keep the dirty outside walls from making contact with the clean inside walls.
Use a normal broom, whisk broom, or brush to remove loose or flaked-on dirt, bugs, pine needles, grass, and other debris.
“Even if you’re extremely careful, tents naturally get dirty. That’s unavoidable. You’re going to need to know how to clean a canvas tent. Here are the cleaning procedures that I use on my personal tents.” — Rich, Owner.
First, decide what is best for your cleaning: setting up the tent or placing it flat on a clean area. Setting up the tent is recommended if it’s very dirty.
For basic cleaning, use a sponge or washcloth with warm water. If you need extra cleaning power, use a tent cleaning solution or a mild dishwashing detergent with water. Never use harsh treatments or a power washer on canvas. When the dirt is scrubbed away, spray the tent again with water to remove any soapy residue. The next step is letting your tent dry completely.
If you purchase a tent from Wall Tent Shop, we make our tents with the best grade of cotton duck available and treat them with high-quality water repellent and mildew-resistant treatments. However, even on mildew-treated canvas, mold or mildew can grow if you do not properly clean your tent. This usually happens when dirt accumulates on the tent and isn’t cleaned off or when tents are put away wet and not properly dried.
If mold and/or mildew grow, you must know how to clean a canvas tent.
Even after cleaning, small black spots may still be visible on the canvas. In that case, the tent may no longer be waterproof due to the mold and mildew. At Wall Tent Shop, we offer Iosso, a mold and mildew stain remover, and carry a variety of waterproofing sprays for your convenience.
Now that you know how to clean a canvas tent, here are a few final tips.
If you have any questions about how to clean mold from a tent or anything else concerning canvas wall tents, please get in touch. We can provide personalized guidance on how to clean a canvas tent.
If you’re looking for a replacement tent or additional tents, browse our selection of canvas tents and glamping tents. Don’t forget to consider accessories like tent stoves, frame kits, and other camping gear. Shop now.
