The Ways of Cleaning and Maintaining Canvas Tents

Canvas Tent Storage

Don't  pack your tent wet! 

Your tent, groundsheet and guy lines must be completely dry before you put it in the bag. If you must take down camp while damp, loosely fold up the tent for transport and then lay it out to dry within 24 hours. If outdoor drying isn’t a possibility, bring it inside to dry before packing it up.

Pack your tent clean

Vegetation and dirt hold moisture which will grow mold. Sweep or wipe down the tent inside and out before packing it up. 

Store it high and dry

Keep your packed tent in a cool, dry place and avoid storage in damp basements. Keep the tent off the floor in garages and storage units that can flood or puddle in the rain.

Long term storage

If you're storing your tent for a long period, or in an area where mice and bugs are a concern, consider storing the tent in a big clean plastic garbage can with a lid.

Canvas Tent Cleaning

Cleaning and re-treating your tent regularly improves the life of your tent and is a necessary component of maintenance. Environmental factors such as humidity, UV exposure, airborne particles from vegetation and mold spores can vary drastically in different locations. CanvasCamp recommends cleaning and retreating your tent after 3-6 months of use, however, depending on your environment you may need to clean it more or less often. Always spot clean and retreat problem areas as needed.

It is important to address any mold and mildew immediately to kill the spores and prevent it from spreading. Once canvas has mold, it is almost impossible to remove the stains.