Whether it’s dirt, mold, or just a bad smell, there are many reasons you may want to wash your tent. So what’s the best way to get it clean? Can you wash a tent in the washing machine? What are the other options for getting your tent clean? And what about drying your tent? These are just a few questions that are important to answer if you want your tent to last for many more camping trips to come!
Can you put a tent in the washing machine?
Returning home from an excessively dirty camping trip may make you want to clean your tent. So the question is, can you wash a tent in the washing machine? Surely this would be the easiest way to clean it. Just throw it in your washer with the dirty linen from your trip and set it on the gentle cycle and it’s as good as new, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case. A washing machine should never be used to wash a tent!
The same things that are desired in a good tent: breathability, lightweight and waterproof, are the tent’s downfall in a washing machine. Even on a washing machine’s gentle cycle, the fabric, coatings, seam taping, and mesh all have a high chance of being damaged. These simple lightweight materials are no match for being sloshed around in a stainless steel cylinder with soapy, hot water and an agitator.
Fabric:
Tents are designed with fabrics that all have one key component, portability. Nylon, Polyester, and Cuben Fiber are no match for the agitator in your washing machine. Machine washing will most likely lead to stretching or tearing of these fabrics.
Seams:
The seams of the tent, often called “seam taping”, are responsible for covering the small holes that were created while sewing up the different layers of the tent. If this taping is damaged or comes off in the washing machine, the tent will no longer be waterproof!
Mesh:
The mesh’s primary purpose is breathability. These are often the most fragile parts of the tent! This means they are susceptible to rips and tears which will allow easier access to insects and bugs.
Coating:
Upon purchase, your tent is already sprayed with a special coating. This coating plays an active role in the tent’s waterproofing. The rubbing your tent experiences inside the washing machine will quickly wear away sections of this coating. This breach allows the tent to soak up water during the next rainfall; transferring it into your tent.
With all of these factors, you can see why limiting any type of “washing” of your tent is important. Each wash, regardless of how gentle it may seem, will slowly weaken the integrity of the tent.
Take a minute to check out our article on the safety of sleeping in a moldy tent.
How do you wash your tent?
When your tent becomes too smelly, or muddy or the zippers stop functioning it will require a thorough cleaning. Now that we know the answer to the question, “Can you wash a tent in the washing machine?”, we focus on how to properly wash your tent. The best way to clean your tent will depend on the type of tent you own and the amount of cleaning that is required.
The first step before washing the tent is to prepare it for cleaning. Bring the tent outside and into a location with enough space to stretch it out. Start by unzipping all the doors and windows and then turn the tent inside out. Give the tent a gentle shake to remove all loose debris, paying special attention to the tent corners. The next step is to start washing. Three options work best for cleaning tents depending on the degree of cleaning required and the material of the tent.
Hose down Method
A tent made from synthetic material such as nylon or polyester is traditionally very easy to keep clean. The hosing method also works if your tent needs a gentle rinse. Begin by grabbing a hose and a microfiber cloth. While paying special attention to the water pressure, begin hosing down the tent to remove the accumulated dirt and dust. Use the microfiber cloth when required to facilitate the gentle removal of any persistent debris. I recommend using no attachment for the hose and not focusing the water in one place for too long.
Bucket and Sponge Method
This is the better option for muddy and moldy tents. First, start by selecting a container that is large enough to accommodate your tent with extra room. This will help limit the amount of rubbing that the fabric will experience. I suggest using a bathtub or utility sink, but a large bucket will most certainly work in a pinch. Next, select a cleaner specifically designed for washing tents or a very mild detergent such as baby soap. Never use abrasive or harsh cleaning products on your tent such as bleach, laundry pre-soaking products, or spot removers. These types of cleaners can strip away the weatherproofing from your tent and potentially wear down its fabric. A soft sponger and/or a microfiber cloth are also needed.
Begin by filling up the tub or container with cool to lukewarm water and add in the appropriate amount of cleaner. Slowly immerse your tent, which is still inside out, as well as your rainfly into the container of water. Ensure the washing solution reaches all corners of the tent by kneading and pushing down on the tent until all of the tent is saturated.
After letting the gear soak in the mixture you can use the soft sponge to gently massage away any stains or caked-on grime. Resist the urge to scrub deeply as this will wear down the fabric. When either the water is too dirty or you have successfully cleaned the tent you can let the water drain away. Give the tent a gentle hose off to ensure that all of the soap has been removed from the tent’s fabric. You may need to repeat this process multiple times depending on the severity of the stains, smells, or how dirty your tent was to begin with! Check out a helpful video here!
Steam Cleaning Method
If you have a canvas tent that is experiencing problems with mold or bacteria, then this is your best option. A steam cleaner will help loosen stains and dirt from the cotton so that it can be removed with a rag or sponge. There are even steam cleaner models that operate at a lower temperature. This decreases the chance of damage or shrinkage to your tent’s canvas! I recommend purchasing a machine that also has a built-in vacuum mode to help with the removal of dirt and dust from the canvas while steaming.
Can I put a tent in the dryer?
Now that you have successfully washed your tent, the next step is drying your tent. Drying a tent completely and thoroughly is an essential step in preventing the growth of mold and mildew. Is there a quick method to dry your tent? We have answered the question: “Can you wash a tent in the washing machine?”, but can a dryer be used for the next step?
The short answer to that question is no, never machine dry a tent! The high temperatures of a dryer will most assuredly cause heat damage to your tent’s fabrics. Even on a gentle cycle, with as low of a temperature as possible, the tent will still be rubbing against itself and the drum for the entire process. This causes unwanted wear.
How do you dry a tent?
The best way to dry a tent is to let it air dry. In fact, air drying your tent is just about the only way to dry it without damaging it. And the good thing is that there is no such thing as too much drying time!
For obvious reasons, the best place to dry your tent is outside. Save yourself the mess of your tent drip drying in the middle of your living room by taking it outdoors. The fresh air outside will also help dry the fabric faster than indoors. The only thing left is to decide on which of the two basic methods to dry your tent is right for you.
Pitch-Dry Method
The most obvious method for drying out your tent, and also the easiest, is to pitch your tent outdoors and allow it to air dry. Select a shaded outdoor spot that is out of the way. You simply set up the tent and allow it to dry out for several hours. This method is extremely effective for synthetic tents especially if it’s a windier day!
If you have a canvas tent, the “pitch-dry” method will also work but at a slower speed. Canvas tents are made from cotton which tends to hold water to a higher degree. This means that the entire process will most likely take two to three times longer than a synthetic tent.
Hang Dry Method
The next best method for drying your tent is to hang dry it. Don’t have the space, or motivation to pitch your tent? Hang it up in a windy area. If you hang it in the sun, be sure that your tent is UV protected to avoid any unnecessary damage to the tent. If hanging your tent, check the surroundings to make sure that the tent will not rub or flap onto any surface causing unwanted wear and tear.
Signs you need to wash your tent
If you have ever wondered when or how often to wash your tent you will be disappointed to find that there’s no set rule. In fact, you should really try to minimize the amount of washing that you do to your tent! Sure you can dust it off, gently hose it down and spot clean if required, but other than that it should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Of course, the cleaning criteria for your tent will largely depend on you, the fabric of your tent, your camping style, and how dirty the tent is after your camping adventure.
So what are the signs that mean you need to actually take the risk and wash your tent? Your tent will attract and collect random stains, dirt and dust, and possibly even a few foul smells over the years. These are not enough of a hindrance to warrant a washing. Instead, appropriate signs of washing should include foul smells that may be the result of a mold or mildew problem, copious amounts of mud smeared all over the tent, or improper zipper function. Again, this is your call and depends upon what you deem reasonable enough to wash your tent. Just remember the more you wash your tent, the quicker you will have to look for its replacement!
How To Best Care For Your Tent
Instead of regular washings, what I suggest is that you do a quick general cleaning at the end of every usage. This will help increase the lifespan of your tent by reducing the required amount of washing. General cleaning can be accomplished through a few very simple steps.
- Clear out everything from inside your tent before putting it away. This will prevent damage from any objects left inside the tent while packing it away.
- Clean out any sand, dirt, leaves, or other debris from inside your tent. Use either a small broom and dustpan or simply shake out the tent.
- Examine the bottom of the tent and try to remove any dirt, sap, or sticks that are caked on. Obviously, this will most likely be the dirtiest part of the tent and will help keep your tent clean when it is rolled up.
- When folding up the tent, try to keep the bottom from touching other parts of the tent. This will keep the rest of the tent clean when it’s all rolled up.
If your tent is well taken care of with these simple steps you may be able to go a couple years between thorough washings!
Final Thoughts
After a long exciting trip, don’t be foolish enough to throw your tent in the washing machine. When someone asks, “can you wash a tent in the washing machine?”, your answer should be a resounding NO! This will damage the tent’s fabric, mesh, seams, and coating. Instead, opt to either wash the tent outside with a hose or inside your bathtub with a very soft sponge! Just make sure you use the correct detergent and use gentle motions to avoid damaging the tent!
Try to limit the number of washings that you give your tent. They are designed to be used when a little dirty. Instead, try to include regular cleanings after each excursion. Minimizing the times you wash your tent and allowing it to dry properly before storage will greatly increase your tent’s lifespan! Follow the steps included in this article and your tent will last for many more adventures to come! Happy camping!
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