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Is your tent looking or smelling a bit... funky? We've all been there. If that’s you, I know what you’re thinking: can you wash a tent in a washing machine? Sadly, washing a tent isn’t as simple as just being able to pop it in the washing machine. But this article is going to help you out! In this article, you’ll learn how to wash your tent including what material and soap you need, how to dry it, and how to care for it and keep it clean for years to come. Let’s dive in. Can You Wash A Tent In A Washing Machine? No, Here's Why No, you should never wash a tent in a washing machine. It’s physically possible, of course, but doing so could ruin your tent entirely. Even on a gentle cycle, a washing machine is not the best way to clean your tent. The aggressive agitation of a washing machine can pull at the tent seams and zipper. Even if it’s on a gentle cycle, a washing machine just isn’t a good idea for a tent - especially if you shelled out a few hundred bucks for the tent. The best way to clean your tent is by hand using warm water and soap designed specifically for your gear. This will ensure that no damage occurs while preserving any existing waterproof coating on the material so it remains effective long-term. What Type Of Soap And Gear You Need To Wash Your Tent To wash your tent, you’re going to need soap, water, and a cloth or sponge. Avoid bleach or other harsh chemicals as these can discolor and damage your tent material. Some people might think vinegar is a good choice - but it’s not recommended for tent cleaning. Vinegar is caustic and can damage your tent. Soap: mild dish soap, Dr Bronners, or Tech Soap A cloth or gentle sponge A hose A tub (optional) Pro tip: if there's sap on your tent or rainfly, you can use regular rubbing alcohol to remove it. How To Clean Your Tent Step By Step https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzDQecIg84Q Cleaning your tent might feel daunting, but just follow this step by step outline and you’ll be good. We've also included a brief video from REI that follows much of the same process if you prefer a visual. 1. Remove Dirt and Debris Inside and Outside The first step in cleaning your tent is to remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated on the outside. If parts of the tent are particularly dirty or caked in dry mud, use a dry bristle brush to brush it away. 2. Wash Your Tent For this step, you can either spot clean your tent in areas that are particularly dirty. Or if you would rather just wash the whole thing, you can - a tub might be better for this. Spot Cleaning Your Tent It might be helpful to have your tent set up for spot cleaning. With a bucket of lightly soapy water and a cloth or sponge, go around your tent and clean up the dirty areas. Once you’ve wiped your tent clean, go back through and use plain water and a clean cloth to wipe up any soap residue. Do this on the inside and the outside of your tent. Fully Washing Your Tent If you need to fully wash your tent - either it’s really dirty or smells weird or both - you can either submerge it in a tub of lightly soapy water, or use a bucket and sponge to clean the entire thing. If using the tub method, fill the tub with mildly soapy water and add your tent. Agitate the tent and water gently with your hands for a bit to get a thorough cleaning. Turn the tent inside out and repeat. Rinse a couple times in a tub of clean water and be sure to turn the tent inside out to get it all rinsed. Or, you can use a garden hose. For larger tents using the sponge and bucket method, first wet down the inside and outside of your tent with a hose. Then, use a bucket of soapy water and a soft sponge and clean the entire inside and outside of your tent. Next, rinse the tent well with a garden hose and be sure to remove any soap residue. How To Remove Funky Odors From Your Tent If you have a stinky tent, fully washing it either with a garden hose and bucket method or the tub method is the best idea. This ensures you get the full inside and outside of the tent clean. For tents with odors, add this Gear Aid Odor Eliminator to your wash water. This additive uses enzymes to help neutralize any odor causing bacteria that might be lurking deep within the seams of your tent. A clean tent shouldn’t have any lingering odors, but it might still smell weird while it’s wet. After you’ve washed your tent and fully rinsed it, set it up to dry and see if it still smells. If it does, you may need to wash it again. Chances are it won’t smell after it’s fully dry. How To Clean A Tent With Mold A moldy tent can be intimidating. But if you have a bit of mold on or inside your tent, no worries! Your tent can still be cleaned and you can get rid of the mold, too. To get rid of mold, we recommend using the Gear Aid Pro Cleaner in addition with the Gear Aid Odor Eliminator in your wash water. The method for cleaning a tent with mold is the same as above. If it’s a smaller tent, the tub cleaning method will work great. If it’s a big tent, you can use a bucket of soapy water to clean the inside and outside of the tent, then rinse with a garden hose. When it comes to tent maintenance, mold is a common issue that needs to be addressed. It's important to take steps to clean the mold as soon as possible before it becomes even more of an issue. How To Dry A Tent There are a few methods for drying your tent depending on your situation. You ca: Set it up in your backyard on a dry sunny day (if you have a yard). Set it up in your garage to dry if you have one. Set it up inside your house to dry if space allows. Hang it on a clothesline. Hang it over your shower rod. I used to live in a tiny cabin in the woods with no real yard, and I would dry my tent by hanging it over the small balcony railing. Drying your tent might be the most important step of the entire process. The biggest reason tents can develop mold and odors is because they were put away wet. After all, it doesn't matter how much you've scrubbed the fabric if the moisture remains! Even if it doesn’t get rained on, tents get wet from morning dew and condensation. And if you’re on a rainy camping trip and it’s time to pack up, you have no way to dry your tent off. No matter what your situation is like, make it a priority to dry your tent, even if you have to put it in your car wet after a trip to take it home. Here are some tips to help speed up the tent drying process. Leave the rainfly off. Open all windows and vents to allow airflow. If drying it inside, point some fans at your tent to speed up the drying process. Be sure the inside, outside, seams, and underneath of your tent are dry before putting it away. How To Waterproof Your Tent Seams And Walls After Cleaning Waterproofing your tent seams and walls after cleaning is an important step to keep your tent in good condition. While tents are designed to repel water, they can become less effective over time if not properly maintained. To ensure that your tent remains waterproof, it's essential to treat the seams and walls with a waterproof sealant every few months or when you notice any signs of wear and tear. What You’ll Need: Tent Waterproofing Spray Tent Seam Sealer Tent UV Solar Shield Spray Pro tip: you can also use these items on other camping gear, like your jackets, backpacks, and even some shoes. To seal your tent seams, you will need to inspect the interior seams of your entire tent. On any seam where it appears like the sealant has worn off, apply a tent seam sealer. Follow the instructions on the package for application and drying times. We recommend this tent seam sealer from Gear Aid. To apply the waterproofing and solar-shield sprays to your tent, simply spray them on after your tent is dry. Be sure to get your rainfly, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiLeIv7y0KE Tips For Caring For Your Tent To Help It Last Longer Caring for your tent is essential if you want to make sure it lasts a long time. As with any other piece of outdoor equipment, regular maintenance and cleaning helps keep the fabric strong and prevents damage from mold or mildew. Here are some tips to help ensure your tent stays in top condition. Clean Off After Each Use First, be sure to clean off dirt and debris before storing away at the end of each season. Make sure all zippers are closed tightly so water does not get inside during storage. Additionally, carefully inspect seams and walls for signs of wear or tear after each use. Apply seam sealer regularly to prevent leaks when camping in wet weather. Get a Tent Footprint Also invest in an appropriate footprint - this can provide extra insulation against cold ground while also protecting the floor from sharp stones or sticks that could puncture through it. While a tarp will work in a pinch, a tent footprint will help protect and keep the bottom of your tent dry better than a tarp will. Store Your Tent Properly Finally, keep your tent stored somewhere dry and cool between trips. A shed or garage works well as a place to hang up the tent until you need it again; never store it damp or rolled up tight for extended periods of time – this can result in mold growth which is difficult to remove later on! How Often Should I Wash My Tent? You should dust off and shake out your tent after each and every use. How often you should deep clean your tent depends on how dirty it gets. If your tent gets too dirty to spot clean or if it develops mold or mildew, it’s time for a wash. With some simple maintenance practices like regularly cleaning your tent and properly storing it after each outing, you can ensure that your trusty shelter remains in top shape all season long! Wrapping Up: No, You Shouldn’t Wash Your Tent in a Washing Machine Although you might feel bummed to not be able to wash your tent in a washing machine, actually cleaning it yourself isn’t that much harder. The hardest part of cleaning a tent is getting it fully dry - and that’s especially true if you live in a wet climate and don’t have anywhere to set or hang it up. But I know you’re creative and resourceful and you’ll find a way - because now you know that putting away a tent while it’s wet is one of the worst things you could do to it. Happy camping!

hike more. camp more. worry less!

hike more. camp more. worry less!

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