Top Canvas Tent Care Tips.

As with anything, if you don’t take care of it, it won’t last. Tents are no different, and when you are paying $ 400 - $ 500 dollars for a tent you need to make sure it lasts. This article is going to take a closer look at a few basic tips in Canvas Tent Care, what you should and shouldn’t do to preserve your tents lifespan.

First off you need to realize that canvas is a natural material made primarily from cotton and therefore if care is not taken, decay and degradation can occur quickly. My best advice for Canvas care is to remain ahead of the game with preventative care. What I mean by this is that you need to maintain and clean your tent regularly.

Whenever you use you tent you need to ensure that you brush the tent inside and out. This needs to be done with a soft bristle brush as to not damage the materials protective coating.

Brushing will ensure that all plants and insects are removed which will reduce the possibility of nesting.

If the tents need it you can hose it down with clean water and wipe with a cloth. You must under no circumstances use cleaning materials to clean the canvas as they contain corrosive properties that will compromise the integrity of the materials and their protective waterproof coating. Another tip is that the water used to clean the canvass should be no more than 100 degrees as it too can compromise the protective skin.

A common issue with canvas tents is the development of mildew. This is hugely destructive to cotton and can lead to complete perishing of your tent.

Mildew comes from moisture and the number one cause of mildew on tents is being stored wet. With Canvas tents this is in fact the number one rule. DON’T STORE YOUR TENT WET. You must ensure that your tent is completely dry before you pack and store it. If you notice mildew there are special solutions that can be used to remove it.

The best way to avoid mildew is to dry your Canvas tent as soon as you get home. I know that for the most part when you get home after a long trip the last thing you want to do is unpack you tent. The thing is if you do this and dry your tent straight away you are going to save yourself allot of time and cost later down the road.

Try to avoid putting insect replant onto your tent in an attempt to discourage bugs. Inevitably they cause deterioration in the canvas’s protective waterproofing which can lead to damage in the actual canvas.

If there is some deterioration in the material you can go to most outdoor camping stores and purchase good quality sprays that are used for canvas tent protection.

Lastly and not least is the importance of good storage. You need to ensure that the tent is folded and packed correctly in its bag. The tent then needs to be stored in a cool dry area void of moisture (to prevent mildew), away from direct sunlight.

If you follow these handy tips not only will you tent last longer, you will also save your self a lot of extra time and money.

 

 

Video courtesy: Ali Winston www.youtube.com Police have clashed with hundreds of demonstrators in the US city of Oakland. It happened when hundreds marched to show their anger at police clearing an "Occupy Wall Street" camp. Officers shot several rounds of tear gas into the crowd, who were trying to reclaim their position within the city centre. Earlier on Tuesday, 85 people were arrested, after they refused to take down their tents as part of the nationwide movement against corporate greed. RT on Twitter twitter.com RT on Facebook www.facebook.com