BWCA How do you clean your tent? Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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offroadjeeper
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06/27/2017 08:40AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Just got back from a 6 day trip on Lake One. Didn't venture very far considering I forgot my map in the Jeep. It rained 5 of 6 days. Nothing real bad just scattered showers all week. Still caught plenty of fish to eat in the mornings. Our last night was a wet one & we had to pack out wet & dirty. My tent was so dirty inside & out I seriously considered just hosing it off. But instead, I find myself on my hands & knees scrubbing with shop rags & a spray bottle of dish soap & water. How do yall clean your tents after a messy trip?
 
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offroadjeeper
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06/27/2017 09:02AM  
 
QueticoMike
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06/27/2017 09:36AM  
I have used the car wash before to brush it and spray it off when things were bad.
 
OldFingers57
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06/27/2017 09:57AM  
It all depends on how dirty the tent is. I have done both the ways you did. I have had mine so dirty and muddy that I had to scrub it with a soft brush and some soap and use a garden hose to rinse it off well. Other times I have just needed to spot clean with a soft rag and a bucket of water.
 
06/27/2017 10:51AM  
Sometimes I'll set it up and hit it with the hose and then use rags or sponge on the really bad areas. Then I let it dry and shake it all out well.

If its just sand and light dirt I'll often times just hang it up to let it all dry and then shake it out good. Once the dirt and sand is dry its fairly easy to shake it off and then maybe brush any stubborn spots with a small brush (the kind you use to remove snow from your car works good).

 
Grandma L
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06/27/2017 10:58AM  
Like the othere - - I put it up, hose it down, do a little spot wash with a soft cloth (NO dish soap-especially Dawn-it can harm the waterproofing and de-laminating can start) rinse again and leave it up or put it on the line to dry.

Then for the final drying, I bring it into the house and the A/C which pulls out the last moisture and it finishes drying. The final step is to vacum out any remaining dirt with the hand held.
Often I have a tent up in the living room. The grandkids refer to it as "Grandma's Camp-in" as opposed to "camp-out". It will be interesting to see what they remember me for the most - tents and BWCA or cookies and hand-knit socks?
 
Savage Voyageur
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06/27/2017 11:39AM  
Just set it up in the yard and hose it off. Use a rag or brush if needed. I don't use soap or cleaners.
 
ZaraSp00k
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06/27/2017 11:45AM  
When I get home I just yell to Sophia that the tent needs cleanin', I'm not sure how she does it, but she does a good job
 
HowardSprague
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06/27/2017 12:51PM  
I don't think mine have ever been dirty to the point that I needed any water to clean it. After a trip, I set it up in the backyard, minus the rainfly - I hang that on a clothesline - and let it air out for the day. I pick the whole thing up and shake out any sand and dirt. Might wipe off some smashed bugs with a slightly damp paper towel. I never bring my muddy shoes into the tent, so that's never been a problem. I suppose if I brought my dog I'd have a couple extra towels spread out on the tent floor to protect it (or, -- gasp - maybe even an innie). But that's about it - set it up, let it dry and air out, and shake/sweep out.
 
offroadjeeper
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06/27/2017 01:22PM  
quote HowardSprague: "I don't think mine have ever been dirty to the point that I needed any water to clean it. After a trip, I set it up in the backyard, minus the rainfly - I hang that on a clothesline - and let it air out for the day. I pick the whole thing up and shake out any sand and dirt. Might wipe off some smashed bugs with a slightly damp paper towel. I never bring my muddy shoes into the tent, so that's never been a problem. I suppose if I brought my dog I'd have a couple extra towels spread out on the tent floor to protect it (or, -- gasp - maybe even an innie). But that's about it - set it up, let it dry and air out, and shake/sweep out.
"
I set both up in my machine shed for a couple days to dry out then shook them out good. It rained pretty hard the last night so mud was spattered on outside all around tent. Had to scrub unfortunately.
 
offroadjeeper
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06/27/2017 01:27PM  
quote Grandma L: "Like the othere - - I put it up, hose it down, do a little spot wash with a soft cloth (NO dish soap-especially Dawn-it can harm the waterproofing and de-laminating can start) rinse again and leave it up or put it on the line to dry.


Then for the final drying, I bring it into the house and the A/C which pulls out the last moisture and it finishes drying. The final step is to vacum out any remaining dirt with the hand held.
Often I have a tent up in the living room. The grandkids refer to it as "Grandma's Camp-in" as opposed to "camp-out". It will be interesting to see what they remember me for the most - tents and BWCA or cookies and hand-knit socks?"
Exactly what I was wondering as I was scrubbing them down. I was hoping I wouldn't ruin the waterproofing. I suppose I should spray it down with some waterproofing.
 
OldFingers57
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06/27/2017 02:22PM  
quote offroadjeeper: "
quote Grandma L: "Like the othere - - I put it up, hose it down, do a little spot wash with a soft cloth (NO dish soap-especially Dawn-it can harm the waterproofing and de-laminating can start) rinse again and leave it up or put it on the line to dry.



Then for the final drying, I bring it into the house and the A/C which pulls out the last moisture and it finishes drying. The final step is to vacum out any remaining dirt with the hand held.
Often I have a tent up in the living room. The grandkids refer to it as "Grandma's Camp-in" as opposed to "camp-out". It will be interesting to see what they remember me for the most - tents and BWCA or cookies and hand-knit socks?"
Exactly what I was wondering as I was scrubbing them down. I was hoping I wouldn't ruin the waterproofing. I suppose I should spray it down with some waterproofing. "


I usually use a little bit of Nikwax Tech Wash on the tents.
 
QueticoMike
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06/27/2017 02:36PM  
quote ZaraSp00k: "When I get home I just yell to Sophia that the tent needs cleanin', I'm not sure how she does it, but she does a good job"


I need a tent cleaner at my house :)
 
WHendrix
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06/27/2017 03:25PM  
I too had a very dirty tent after my trip week before last. I just put it (the main part of the tent, not the fly) in the washing machine with a little laundry soap and it came out very clean. I then hung it out on the deck in the sun and it appears to be as good as new.

Bill
 
06/27/2017 03:37PM  
I make it a point to always go when weather is perfect for a week or more. Then, i just sweep it out. This always works except when God decides to allow otherwise. Then I just set it up and hose it off. Inside has no issues as long as I set up tent in a good drainage area (using a cot allows me to use locations I could not use without a cot to keep me off the ground and roots/rocks) and use the green mat to leave shoes worn in mud on the outside. Clothes in dirty condition stay out too. Bug zapper takes care of insects that may enter while I do the backward dance to keep tent clear of mud and debris.
 
DrBobDg
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06/27/2017 06:39PM  
it has been raining so darn much that it gets washed on its own. We are innie and outie folk so the tent doesn't get too bad... for car camping we often have a rug outside the door..

dr bob
 
h20
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06/27/2017 07:57PM  
I don't....
 
offroadjeeper
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06/27/2017 09:25PM  
quote bwcadan: "I make it a point to always go when weather is perfect for a week or more. Then, i just sweep it out. This always works except when God decides to allow otherwise. Then I just set it up and hose it off. Inside has no issues as long as I set up tent in a good drainage area (using a cot allows me to use locations I could not use without a cot to keep me off the ground and roots/rocks) and use the green mat to leave shoes worn in mud on the outside. Clothes in dirty condition stay out too. Bug zapper takes care of insects that may enter while I do the backward dance to keep tent clear of mud and debris. "
Funny, I've been pretty good at planning trips when the weather is perfect. 3 trips & only been rained on once. I guess God had different plans for me this year. ;-)
 
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