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Tourism is a great hobby! Anyone who has ever gone on a hike will return to such a vacation again and again. But tourism and travel are not only photographs and memories, but also the care of tourist equipment, including a tent.
Wet weather and rain can cause mold, bad odors, color deterioration, and portable housing conditions. Undoubtedly, the tent needs washing or cleaning. And about whether it is possible to wash the tent in a washing machine or whether it is worth giving preference to manual cleaning, we will talk further.
How to get rid of dirt and odor
Having unrolled a tent after a rest or a hike, did you see lumps of dirt, stains and smell an unpleasant smell? Definitely, the tent needs a “big wash”.
What is the risk of machine washing? If you send the tent just like that into the CMA drum, you can wash off the protective layer that does not allow moisture and wind to pass through. Therefore, manufacturers strongly do not recommend acting on the product mechanically, so as not to damage this layer. Yes, and experienced tourists with experience are skeptical about washing in a typewriter and resort to this method only in critical situations.
But there is good news too! If you follow the rules, the product can survive a machine wash, and even more than one. If the impregnation is washed off, then only in the places of folds – but this is fixable: with the help of a special spray, losses can be eliminated.
How to properly wash tents
There is no doubt whether the tents are washed in automatic mode. But everyone gives different advice on washing. We will give you the most proven rules. By following our recommendations, you will clean your equipment from dirt and odors, keep it functional and attractive.
So, let’s look at how to wash a tent in an automatic machine:
- First check if the product will fit in the CM drum. Make sure that the weight does not exceed the allowed maximum weight of your machine. If the washing machine is designed for 6 kg, and the product weighs 5,5 kg, wash it. And if the values are equivalent, think about it, because the fabric will get wet in the water and become heavier.
- Then lay the fabric out on a dry and clean surface. It can be a lawn in the yard or a garage.
- Arm yourself with a spray bottle and sprinkle the fabric with plain water on one side, then rub with the usual 72% laundry soap. Repeat the action for the second side.
- Without folding the product, send it to the CMA drum.
- Select a mode that does not involve heating water and spinning. The speed of rotation of the drum in the selected mode should not exceed 500 revolutions.
- Do not use regular laundry detergents or gels.
- Wait for the cycle to end and take out the tent. After the water drains, lay it out in a ventilated place to dry.
- Inspect for fraying or damage, treat with spray to restore the protective properties of the fabric.
Attention! Even if you have expensive and high-quality equipment, do not machine wash more than 1-2 times during its entire service life. Frequent washing will lead to the complete destruction of the layer, and none of the sprays will help you.
How to restore the protective layer
If the protective layer is still slightly damaged during washing, do not panic! Purchase a tool to restore the protective coating and return the product to its former properties. There are a lot of options for these on the market right now.
Consider the most popular of them:
- Nikwax. It is considered one of the highest quality impregnations. When using, it is important to observe safety precautions and work away from open flames. This tool can be both sprayed and applied with a sponge, brush and even a cloth. Do not throw away the bottle after processing – you will need the product to restore awnings, overalls, jackets and other camping equipment. For half a liter, you can give an average of 700 rubles. This is enough to soak 7 square meters of fabric.
- Mcnett Tentsure. A good impregnation, designed specifically for fabrics such as tents. Apply with roller or brush. Best applied in two coats, allowing each to dry. Thick layers during application are unacceptable, otherwise the effectiveness of the product will be lost.
- waterproof spray. This impregnation is made on the basis of silicone and belongs to universal means. It is used widely and actively for the restoration of tent fabrics. Minus – high consumption and small displacement of the package, only 0,3 liters. The bottle is enough to process only two “squares”. One such can costs around 500 rubles. Suitable for handling minor fold damage.
Handwash
If you use the tent as avid tourists – a lot and often, and the product has already exhausted the washing limit in the CMA, then try hand washing. Unlike machine washing, hand washing can be carried out more often – once every 2-3 seasons.
Important! If you value your tent, try not to wash it. But if there is no other way out, unquestioningly follow all the washing rules.
To wash the tent by hand, proceed as follows:
- Spread the product in the yard on the grass.
- Pour water, gently rub with laundry soap.
- Call a partner: one should water the fabric, and the second should rub the fabric with a soft sponge.
- Turn the tent over and repeat all the steps on the back side.
- Rinse off the foam.
- Dry it.
- Treat with a special spray against unpleasant odors (the choice in tourist shops is huge, for example, you can use Toko Proff – it will eliminate the smell of soap, mold). If smells are not a problem for you, you can not spend money on a spray.
- Restore the protective layer with one of the sprays listed above.
Dry Cleaning
We have come to dry cleaning – the most gentle and harmless way to treat a tent. Cleaning has its pros and cons. On the one hand, the protective layer is intact, on the other hand, odors and dirt can remain.
So, let’s start cleaning:
- Immediately after the trip, hang the product to dry.
- Straighten the product, look for stains.
- Clean the fabric with a soft brush or sponge. Spots can be washed locally with soapy water.
- Arrange to dry in a ventilated place and pack your tent for the next tourist season.
We conclude that in theory it is possible to wash a tent in the SMA, and maybe there will not even be anything to worry about. But always be aware of the risk when sending equipment to the drum. It is beneficial to restore the protective layer only locally, if it deteriorates completely – it will be easier to buy a new tent.
Use machine or hand wash only if dry cleaning does not work. Good hikes!