Cleaning Mould from a Tent:
An age old issue with tents or awnings, mould develops because the tent has been packaged away and stored wet or damp. This pretty much can ruin a tent, and affect the future performance of the tent. Mould and mildew can leave a bad smell, as well as marking the tent with unsightly black marks, and causing issues to the waterproofing of the tent.
If the tent smells strongly of a cat wee type smell, it may well be too late to salvage. Many people buy a second hand tent, with no warranty, and may not realise the tent has accumulated mould from poor care of the tent. Not all is lost, try reading through this article and repairing your tent.
Always Pack Your Tent Away Dry
Firstly, no manufacturer will cover mould on their warranty, it simply isn’t a manufacturing issue. Your best solution is to clean the tent to remove mould, there are several solutions to do so. The tent will need to be erected before cleaning and reproofing.
- You need to purchase Milton Sterilising Solution.
- Pitch your tent on a clear, dry day.
- Make the Milton Solution, 1 part Milton, 10 parts water usually - follow instruction carefully.
- Use the solution with a clean cloth, to clean off the mould and mildew from the tent.
- Check the taped seams, to ensure they have not been compromised by mould, as this will essentially negate the waterproofing of the tent, as taped seams are not easily repaired.
- Once you are happy the tent is clean, and free of mould, it is important to re-proof the tent so that the water beads off with Nikwax Tent Waterproofer or Fabsil Gold.
It is important to note that using any type of cleaner, will reduce the waterproofing of the tent , as it will affect the waterproof treatment the tent underwent during manufacturing. This is why it is important to re-treat the tent after cleaning.
Things to Avoid / Things to Do:
- Do not use any off the shelf chemical / soapy water to clean the tent such as washing up liquid, as it can damage the waterproofing of the tent.
- Try and clean a small area of the tent, in an area that might be less noticable, in case the solution affects the tent in a way you may not realise.
- Check the taped seams have not blackened with mould, as if they have, you are wasting your own time, and money reproofing the fabric. The taped seams run between each panel of the tent, and should be clear tapes.