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How Can Beginners Properly Maintain Their Tent?
Tents can resist harsh weather and natural elements, but they can also be irreparably ruined by excessive wear and tear.
Just because you're roughing it doesn't mean you won't look after your camping gear. Knowing how to maintain and repair the tent can help it last longer. We've put together this beginner's guide to tent maintenance to show you how to care for your camping gear before, during, and after use.
Setting-Up
The setup phase has the potential to make or break the maintenance game. Understand how and where you may set up to avoid unnecessary damage.
Examine the Equipment
Before traveling out into the wilderness, make it a habit to practice pitching your equipment at home. Check to ensure that you have a complete gear set, including attachments, man lines, and stakes. Thoroughly test the equipment, and under no circumstances, at home or at the campsite, whip the poles around. We'll discuss it later.
Set Up in a Good Spot
Camping at established sites frequently means prolonging the life of your tent, especially if you adhere to the Leave No Trace concept. When looking for a suitable location, seek for smooth, level, and clean ground. Remove any pinecones, twigs, or small things that may damage the material where the gear will be mounted. Avoid places near bodies of water and keep at least a few hundred feet away from the nearest source.
Take Good Care of Your Equipment
Set up with caution. Unfold and assemble the pole components one at a time. You run the risk of weakening and shattering the poles if you don't. Aluminum poles are fragile and rust when exposed to sea air and the ocean. A clever solution is to rinse and dry the poles.
Utilize a Footprint
To minimize having to clean the tent as regularly, prevent ripping as soon as you set it up. A footprint is designed to protect your tent from the elements. A groundsheet that has been trimmed to fit the curve of the item can also be used. At the bottom, this is utilized to protect against gravel and puddles.
When in Use
Avoid prying anything to the point of wear and tear when using it. Avoid both water and direct sunlight.
Take Particular Care of the Zippers
When coming in and out, make sure the zippers don't sag when you pull them. Not only does this degrade the fabric, but it also causes the zippers to detach. As you pull the zippers open, use your other hand to keep the track in place.
If your zipper does split, you can try to repair it by locking it together again. Pliers can also be used to repair them.
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Bringing dirt and soil inside may cause corrosion and tear holes in the bottom. Another consideration is to avoid eating indoors because the meal may attract rodents who will munch on the cloth.
Keep Away From Water
Water exposure might cause the material to eventually deteriorate. Avoid pitching in areas where water may collect around you, as this may wreak havoc with the waterproofing. When using the tent, make sure the air within is vented properly to avoid moisture.
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Keep Out of Direct Sunlight
The sun's UV rays are harmful to camping equipment. UV light exposure can cause fading, softening, and degradation.
Although UV-resistant camping gear is available, the same synthetic fabric can degrade with prolonged exposure. When enough UV damage occurs, the material becomes unrepairable. If you want to dry your clothes outside, make sure the sun isn't too bright; otherwise, hang them in the shadow.
Maintenance
Taking the time to care for your tent before, during, and after use will help it live longer.
Washing
As much as feasible, handwash the material. Place a bucket half full of lukewarm water and soap in the bath. Using a smooth sponge or a piece of white cloth, scrub the contaminated areas. Take care not to rub too vigorously in the areas where the floor and seams are waterproofed. The cloth should be washed, rinsed, and dried thoroughly.
Use gentle soaps that are free of detergents and perfumes. Detergents may contain chemicals that damage the DWR coating and smells nearly always attract insects.
Allow Your Tent to Dry Naturally
Install a drying rack outside, preferably in the shade, to dry your camping gear after a weekend trip. If the cloth is stored in a moist setting, mildew might grow on it. You'll be able to tell by the smell. Remember to dry your tent after use, as it can get flaky and tacky.
Mold Elimination
It is unusual to see mold or mildew in the fabric of a tent after a day of camping. Condensation or the weather could have caused it. Before removing any stains, place them outside in the sunlight to kill any mold.
Using a delicate brush, remove the mold from the material. The garment should be washed in hot water, vinegar, and dish soap solution. As alternatives, you can use Lysol or lemon juice and salt in hot water. When dealing with persistent molds, avoid using too much force. Use a bristle brush instead. Allow the fabric to dry completely in the sun after gently rinsing it.
To remove mildew, bleach the discoloration. To clean the affected area, use non-chlorine bleach. Colored clothing necessitates a gallon of hot water mixed with a cup of lemon juice and salt, whereas color-safe materials necessitate a quart of water mixed with two tablespoons of bleach. To avoid bringing mold spores inside the house, do as much of this outside as feasible.
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Prevention
Maintain the Dryness of Your Tent
Try to do as much as you can. It is your responsibility to become careful about its maintenance.
Tents can collect moisture, which allows mold and mildew to grow, especially in high humidity, which allows mold and mildew to grow inside when dampness is trapped. While mold and mildew are unavoidable, they can be avoided during storage.
Your Tent Must Be Waterproof
Two applications of waterproofing will be required. These will eventually wear off, so be careful to reapply as needed. To waterproof the equipment, get a tube of seam sealant. It is also useful for repairing holes in textiles.
To begin, urethane is the material to prevent moisture infiltration. As the second layer, the water-repellent DWR solution is applied.
Storage
Remember to store it in a cool, dry place once you've finished using it.
Before Storing, Shake
After you've taken it apart, give it a good shake to make sure nothing is inside before repacking it. Remove the footprint.
Gently Push
Poles are easier to remove than you may think, so there's no need to be rough with them. They travel through outer sheaths to make removal easier, so simply press them through and they'll pop out. Then, cut them in half and divide them into halves.
Allow Drying After Use
You're used to the routine. Dry the tent as much as possible. If the inside is even slightly damp, mildew will grow. Make sure there is no moisture left inside after a day spent outside because you will be storing it for a while. Roll it up before putting it inside. Simply crowding it will cause it to lose its shape and put undue strain on the materials. At home, dry it again, and then store it in a loose sack somewhere dry and cool.
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