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Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:56 am

has anyone ever cleaned a tent??? This one had moisture on the plastic floor and was put away still damp. Now it stinks. Kinda like mold and outdoors combined. Not offensive but musty. Don't want to use any cleaners that will ruin the canvas. Was thinking just dish soap and water but will this get rid of the mold smell??? Any idea's???

Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:14 am

I would carefully clean the plastic with bleach and water to kill the mold on that part of it, but carefully enough not to bleach the canvas. The canvas should be safe for dish soap, but there may be something better that won't hurt the colors, but would kill the mold/mildew...

It sure looks nice, though!

Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:21 am

monkey_69 wrote: I would carefully clean the plastic with bleach and water to kill the mold on that part of it, but carefully enough not to bleach the canvas. The canvas should be safe for dish soap, but there may be something better that won't hurt the colors, but would kill the mold/mildew...

It sure looks nice, though!

Thanks...it's in excellent condition. That's what I was thinking. Diluted bleach & water on the plastic and soap on the canvas. Was wondering if there's something else out on the market (grocery store or home depot) that would work better than dish soap.

Also, what should I use to reseal it???

Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:50 am

I cleaned our nearly flawless big top tent with oxy clean and hot water out in the driveway on a cloudy morning. Sprayed the oxy clean on there with a garden sprayer, let it sit, scrubbed lightly inside and out with a bristle brush and then sprayed it off with a hose. It is important to let it dry completely and air out. If it still stinks, you might spray the interior lightly with febreeze or something similar and letting that completely dry before putting the tent away again.

I went to REI and saw "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing." You just spray it on. I plan to use it or something like it to waterproof the tent before I use it the first time this summer.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:55 am

I would not get bleach near any westy tent myself.

OxyClean is magic...and very very safe.
I owned a vanagon westy that was stained with everything from split coffee and beer to dog urine and hair. The POs were total dirtballs....long short....the oxy clean cleaned up the enterior so it looked and SMELLED like new again. You could see the brown gunk actually coming out of the interior material...this stuff is worth its weight in gold.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:57 am

Good time for this thread. The wife and I are going camping in August and I'd like to clean and seal our tent before going camping. I wouldn't have thought dish soap for canvas, but cool.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:16 am

Major Woody wrote: I went to REI and saw "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing." You just spray it on. I plan to use it or something like it to waterproof the tent before I use it the first time this summer.

REI has all kinds of way kool stuff! 8)

I shop there quite a bit. For the last BYOB/Pismo trip I couldn't get a driver for the Jeep so I left the Dormy home. Not wanting to sleep on the floor at the Red Barn or Pismo for that matter, I bought a cot and a self inflatable mattress at REI. Slept on that just under that EZ-Up at the Red Barn but Stan F. offered the spare bed on his family's trailer at Pismo. Though the heater was on all night in the trailer, I actually slept warmer on the cot than in the trailer! :shock:

Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:27 am

I agree with bastardbus on the bleach. That would be my last resort, and I would make sure I was not drinking beer when using it. There are other antimicrobials that you can buy which don't attack dyed cotton.

If you do go the bleach route though, leave the tent up for a long time outside so the chlorine residue on the vinyl floor has a chance to dissipate into the air.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:29 am

Major Woody wrote: I cleaned our nearly flawless big top tent with oxy clean and hot water out in the driveway on a cloudy morning. Sprayed the oxy clean on there with a garden sprayer, let it sit, scrubbed lightly inside and out with a bristle brush and then sprayed it off with a hose. It is important to let it dry completely and air out. If it still stinks, you might spray the interior lightly with febreeze or something similar and letting that completely dry before putting the tent away again.

I went to REI and saw "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing." You just spray it on. I plan to use it or something like it to waterproof the tent before I use it the first time this summer.

bastardbus wrote: I would not get bleach near any westy tent myself.

OxyClean is magic...and very very safe.
I owned a vanagon westy that was stained with everything from split coffee and beer to dog urine and hair. The POs were total dirtballs....long short....the oxy clean cleaned up the enterior so it looked and SMELLED like new again. You could see the brown gunk actually coming out of the interior material...this stuff is worth its weight in gold.

you're right...I shouldn't use bleach. Just thinking it would neutralize the mold smell but I think I'll use the oxy clean. I think this will be the safest way to go.

how expensive is the "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing"??? Has anyone used this yet???

Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:33 am

when did you get a tent? from Justin?

Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:45 am

truckersmike wrote: when did you get a tent? from Justin?

we actually have two.... :lol: . The one for our son is the dirty one. We got the other one the night of the meeting and yes it's new. :wink:

Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:44 am

Everyone of these tents I have seen smell the same......BAD. :twisted:

Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:20 am

spkncarl wrote: Major Woody wrote: I cleaned our nearly flawless big top tent with oxy clean and hot water out in the driveway on a cloudy morning. Sprayed the oxy clean on there with a garden sprayer, let it sit, scrubbed lightly inside and out with a bristle brush and then sprayed it off with a hose. It is important to let it dry completely and air out. If it still stinks, you might spray the interior lightly with febreeze or something similar and letting that completely dry before putting the tent away again.

I went to REI and saw "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing." You just spray it on. I plan to use it or something like it to waterproof the tent before I use it the first time this summer.

bastardbus wrote: I would not get bleach near any westy tent myself.

OxyClean is magic...and very very safe.
I owned a vanagon westy that was stained with everything from split coffee and beer to dog urine and hair. The POs were total dirtballs....long short....the oxy clean cleaned up the enterior so it looked and SMELLED like new again. You could see the brown gunk actually coming out of the interior material...this stuff is worth its weight in gold.

you're right...I shouldn't use bleach. Just thinking it would neutralize the mold smell but I think I'll use the oxy clean. I think this will be the safest way to go.

how expensive is the "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing"??? Has anyone used this yet???

The bottle is $12.50, it would probably take 2 bottles, and it says it does not smell at all. I have not used it as I was not ready to use the tent (bus is in the paint shop).

Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:54 am

also, when you clean the tent do you have it set up on the poles or lay it on the ground. It seems that laying it on the ground would take forever to dry and setting it on the poles would be aweful heavy when wet. Which way would be best???

Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:17 pm

On the poles, in the driveway, in the sun, with cinder blocks helping keep the main corner posts in place.
The tent is meant to stay up in the rain so it can handle its own weight as long as the posts don't shift around bending the poles.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:17 pm

Major Woody wrote: On the poles, in the driveway, in the sun, with cinder blocks helping keep the main corner posts in place.
The tent is meant to stay up in the rain so it can handle its own weight as long as the posts don't shift around bending the poles.

perfect.....thank you! :lol:

Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:13 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1440584&highlight=#1440584

Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:58 pm

I'm not so sure I would use anything on the tent after cleaning. The og german duck cloth seals it's self when wet by the fibers swelling. My tent has never been treated after I washed it and no leaks even in a 6" down pore on the cape.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 6:44 pm

I used Woolite on my tent when I cleaned it. Got rid of that musty smell leaving the fresh sent of SPRING :lol: Woolite is very safe for fabric.

Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:33 pm

Major Woody wrote: I cleaned our nearly flawless big top tent with oxy clean and hot water out in the driveway on a cloudy morning. Sprayed the oxy clean on there with a garden sprayer, let it sit, scrubbed lightly inside and out with a bristle brush and then sprayed it off with a hose. It is important to let it dry completely and air out. If it still stinks, you might spray the interior lightly with febreeze or something similar and letting that completely dry before putting the tent away again.

I went to REI and saw "Granger's G-Line Tent and Gear UV Waterproofing." You just spray it on. I plan to use it or something like it to waterproof the tent before I use it the first time this summer.

Woody,

As jmp said, you might want to just try using the big top first. My big top and the couple that jmp use have always been very watertight with no additional waterproofing necessary. And we DO use them in whatever weather we encounter when camping.

I have used a few bay window Westy tents that leak though. I've got one now that has a spot on the roof that leaks. That spot is slightly discolored and I need to try something to waterproof it.