How to Clean a Tent

If you’re a serious camper, you’ll eventually end up with a seriously dirty tent. Tents can pick up all sorts of grime, mud and plant matter over the course of a few days, especially if you run into rain or snow.

Of course, you can quickly spray out your tent with a hose, but if you paid good money for your camping supplies, you’ll want to take a slower, smarter approach. Here’s a quick guide to cleaning and reproofing your tent.

CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE CLEANING A TENT

Cleaning requires water, and water takes some time to dry out. Your tent is probably waterproof, so it’ll need a few days to recover from a good scrubbing.
Check your local weather forecast and try to pick a sunny day. If rain’s on the radar, you can still check your tent’s seams and repair damage with a thread and needle, but you’ll need to wait to clean.

COLLECT YOUR SUPPLIES

You don’t need a ton of fancy chemicals, although some manufacturers make specialized tent-cleaning sprays for especially tough stains.
In most cases, you can clean a tent with a bucket, a sponge, a hose and some mild soap free from strong detergents. Don’t use bleach or any other harsh chemicals unless you’ve got mold in your tent. Don’t use a pressure washer because you’ll end up putting too much pressure on the seams.

LOOK FOR PROBLEMS WHEN CLEANING YOUR TENT

Pitch your tent, checking each section for damage. Pay special attention to your tent flap and seams. If you notice fraying or excessive wear, make repairs before you go on to the next step. You should always keep your tent in good condition, and anything that you ignore will only get worse over time.

WASH OUT THE TENT

Work one area at a time, starting close to the flap. Sweep out dust and dirt clumps with a broom or a brush. Use the soap and sponge for spot treatment and use the hose for the outside of the tent. Make sure to spray off all of the soap before you dry out your tent, or you’ll end up with a grimy, unpleasant film.

LET EVERYTHING DRY AFTER CLEANING A TENT

Depending on where you live, you might be able to leave your tent flaps fully open, but you’ll usually want to keep it partially closed to prevent dust and leaves from blowing into your tent and ruining all of your hard work. Put the tent in the shade and let it dry.

Check your tent every 6-12 hours. After three days or so, your tent should be completely dry. Wait until the tent is 100 percent dry before packing it up; otherwise, you’ll deal with a funky smell if you’re lucky and mold if you’re unlucky.

After your tent is dry, you can reproof the tent if it needs extra protection from rain water and sunlight. Use a proof designed specifically for tents, hopefully with UV protectants. Read the instructions that come with the proof; some work with wet tents, and you’ll certainly need to know whether this is the case before you start. Wear old clothes and protective gloves.

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING HOW TO CLEAN A TENT

You should clean and re-proof your tent once every few months and immediately after dirty camping trips. Dirt will harden on your tent and cause staining, so try to wash out your tent as soon as you can. With regular care, your tent can last for years, but don’t put off cleaning and maintenance. For more helpful tips to protect your investment, check out or article covering all the basics of proper tent care.