Proper tent care: What you need to consider when cleaning, waterproofing & storing your tent

The care of a tent covers various aspects from cleaning and waterproofing to correct storage. If you want to enjoy your camping tent for a long time, you need to take care of it properly and handle your mobile home with care. 

We reveal important and simple care tips that will contribute to the longevity of your tent.

Clean the tent after every use or at the end of the camping season at the latest to keep it clean and prevent dirt and stains from accumulating.

But it is also worth checking the tent again before the camping season. This will ensure that the tent is ready for your next camping adventure and that there are no surprises waiting for you when you get to the campsite.

Any dirt that you can remove with clean water and a soft sponge or cloth should always be removed without the use of tent cleaners. This protects the tent material, the coating and the waterproofing.

Clean both the outer and inner tent from the inside and outside. In addition to the tent walls and floor pan, also pay attention to the pockets and corners, as dirt tends to accumulate here. Don't forget the packing bag in which you transport and store the tent.

An old toothbrush and water are ideal for cleaning the zips. As soon as the zips are dry and clean again, you can also maintain them. For plastic zips, use a small amount of a special silicone spray or cotton buds with Vaseline, while rubbing metal zips with wax. This will help to ensure that the zips work perfectly again.

Don't forget the pegs and poles and always clean them after use. Simply wipe them with a damp cloth. Then pack the pegs in a separate bag for transport and storage so that they cannot damage the tent material.

Note: Never apply too much pressure** when cleaning the tent. This will damage the coating and make it permeable to water. Also bear in mind that sponges and brushes can stain. To prevent the colours from transferring to the tent material, always use the same or neutral colours. To avoid new stains, you can make sure that you spread out the tent on a clean surface or underlay when setting up the tent.

If the stains cannot be removed with water despite your best efforts, you can use a cleaning agent. When cleaning your tent, only use very mild cleaning agents to protect the coating or waterproofing. Also bear in mind that each tent material has its own requirements, which should be taken into account when making your choice.

Allow tree resin and candle wax to harden and then scrape it off with a blunt object - such as a spoon. Then clean the area with a gentle tent cleaner and a cloth or soft brush.

Wipe away coffee and berry stains as quickly as possible with lukewarm water and a cloth or sponge.

Treat so-called "weather stains" from mould and algae with a special mould or algae spray and then rinse the tent fabric thoroughly with plenty of water. Please note in particular that aggressive agents can impair the tear resistance.

For mould stains, you can treat the affected area with either a mixture of spirit and water or orange acid. However, use these products with caution. You can prevent such stains by ensuring that the tent is completely dry during storage, for example.

** Grease stains** are difficult to remove. The best way to avoid such stains is to leave sufficient space between the cooking area and your tent. If the tent does become stained, dab the area gently and quickly with a mild soap without rubbing or smearing.

Never put the tent in the washing machine or tumble dryer**! Detergents, softeners and heat attack the coating of the tent fabric and encourage mould. Spinning also puts a lot of strain on the material, while zips can damage the delicate tent fabric. This results in tears or loose seams that make the tent leaky.

The impregnation protects the tent material from moisture, mould, dirt and UV rays. When you buy a tent from us, it is already impregnated and therefore ready for immediate use. However, due to the weather, handling and environmental influences, it makes sense to re-impregnate the tent after a certain period of time to ensure optimum protection.

This depends on various factors. One of these is the frequency and intensity of use. A tent that you only use once a year on a dry and shady campsite is naturally exposed to far fewer environmental influences than a tent that you use several times a year in constant sunlight and heat. You should also consider the storage conditions and the use of cleaning agents to clean stains.

In principle, we recommend that you re-impregnate your tent every three years at the latest. A good time to do this is before storage, when you are cleaning the tent anyway. However, you can also waterproof the tent before your camping trip.

If you have used cleaning agents against stubborn stains, you should re-impregnate the tent after each use of cleaning agents.

The tent must be clean before you start impregnating. Make sure that the impregnating agent is specifically suitable for the tent material.

Fill a large bucket or tub with waterproofing agent and water in the ratio recommended by the manufacturer. Place the tent inside and leave the waterproofing agent to work for the specified time. The tent should then either be set up to dry or hung on a line.

You can also impregnate the tent while it is erected. In this case, apply the product with a soft brush, a brush or a spray.

To check whether the tent has been properly impregnated, simply carry out the "watering can test". Take a watering can or garden hose and spray the pitched tent with water. Does the water roll off in small drops as desired or does a film of water form? Does the water even penetrate the inside of the tent? If the water does not roll off, waterproof the tent again.

Correct storage is also important so that you can enjoy your tent for a long time.

Remove dirt and stains from the tent before each storage. If you have used cleaning agents, impregnate the tent again to restore the protection.

Make sure that the tent is completely dry to avoid mould and mildew stains. Cotton tents in particular are very susceptible in this respect. However, PU-coated tents can also be damaged by this.

Sometimes it is unavoidable to pack the tent when wet at your holiday destination. In this case, roll it up as loosely as possible to allow it to breathe. Once you arrive home, you should set it up to dry, lay it out or hang it up. Allow it to dry thoroughly on all sides, as this is the only way it can be stored properly.

Always pack nails and pegs separately from the outer and inner tent to protect the tent walls and mosquito nets. It is also best to keep fibreglass poles tied together in a bag. This prevents them from breaking and getting mixed up. Metal poles can be greased with Vaseline to protect them from rust.

Store your tent in a dry, cool place with good ventilation. This prevents mould or mildew stains from forming. It is also important to keep rodents and vermin away. If you have plenty of space available, you can also store the tent outside the pack sack. This helps to ensure that the air can circulate optimally.

As you can see, proper tent care is actually quite simple. If you follow these tips, you will be able to enjoy your tent for a long time to come.