I have a rip stop nylon tarp that has a very strong smokey odor. Can I wash it without ruining the water proofing? hanging it up outside hasn't helped much. Do you think camp dry would maybe replace the waterproofing?

Febreze?

Baking soda?

Wash it with dawn dish soap on your grass. Use a push broom then rinse off the soap. Take the tarp inside and put in a big wash tub or bathtub. Fill the tub with enough water to cover. Pour a gallon of white vinegar over it and let it soak overnight. Bring outside and rinse off good again on both sides. Let dry in the sun. The vinegar will break down anything that is organic, the sun also helps break down things.

I wouldn’t try it because I’m lazy and wouldn’t want to risk it.

All of my tents/tarps smell like a campfire when I take them out of the storage bins but I become nose blind to it while using them.

Whatever you end up doing, good luck!

Savage Voyageur: "Wash it with dawn dish soap on your grass. Use a push broom then rinse off the soap. Take the tarp inside and put in a big wash tub or bathtub. Fill the tub with enough water to cover. Pour a gallon of white vinegar over it and let it soak overnight. Bring outside and rinse off good again on both sides. Let dry in the sun. The vinegar will break down anything that is organic, the sun also helps break down things. "

Agree with the use of vinegar. On a trip with a group of nieces and nephews we were caught on the water by a sudden drenching downpour. While I was out of the campsite some of the kids decided to dry their clothing and a few sleeping bags over the fire. Once home one of the moms found that using vinegar while the the tainted items were being washed helped remove the smoke odor.

Thanks all! I laid the tarp out on the grass and made a baking soda solution and sponged the tarp down with it. It helped enough that I'm going to call it good for now. My main concern with the tarp was transferring the odor to the rest of the pack, will use a waterproof stuff sack for the tarp as a further precaution.

I have been doing it all wrong ??? I thought that is why we went to the woods, to bring home some smoke and other happy smells, to linger in the gear room so we can make it to the next trip?

Why is it even a problem?

Boppasteveg: "Why is it even a problem? "

The smell of the tarp is not the problem but the transfer of the smell to other gear while in the pack, down bag, coat, pillow etc. Years ago we had a ceremonial "burning of the sox" at the end of the trip, some smells bring back memories others just make you gag!