How to Clean a Tent that Smells

It’s not just survivalists and preppers that have a problem with their survival tents smelling, it’s a problem experienced by every person that owns one, and finding out how to clean a tent that smells is what this post is all about, so enjoy!

Oh My! What’s that Smell?

When Spring eventually arrives and the weather starts to become a little more pleasant, many of us start to feel an urge to get back to the great outdoors. This often means digging out the tent and all the camping paraphernalia that comes with it.

Unfortunately, as is often the case when we unpack our tent, we will often be in for an unpleasant odorous surprise! Tents tend to develop mold and mildew when they are kept folded away for a long period of time and any smells that were almost unnoticeable the previous year, when we packed the tent away, will have ,in all probability, intensified during a long period stored away and out of use.

As annoying as a tent smelling of mildew, smelly tents can be cleaned, and the accompanying smell eradicated relatively easily. Here are some of the most common types of smells your nose will be treated to and some tips about how to get rid of them.

How to Remove Mold and Mildew from Tent Fabric

If the fungus that caused the mold and the mildew has not ingrained too deeply into the fabric of the tent, you can easily remove it with a sponge dipped into hot soapy water.

Tip – When cleaning tent fabric using this or any other method it is much easier to do so whilst the tent is erected as the fabric is much easier to clean when it is taut.

If the infestation is more serious and has ventured deeper into the fibers of the tent fabric you don’t need to despair either, a combination of water, salt, and lemon juice, or water and vinegar, rubbed into the fabric will do a great job of alleviating the problem.

During the process of removing the mold, try to work efficiently, but gently. As mentioned in the tip above, having your tent pitched will not only make it easier to clean but it will also help you to see areas of the tent fabric that need more attention plus the drying process will be much more efficient as well.

Avoid using any harsh substances for cleaning such as bleach, as they will do more damage to your tent fabric than good as they tend to strip any waterproofing layers. Nor should you be tempted to speed up the cleaning process by putting your tent through a washing machine, which will absolutely ruin the integrity of the fabric and tent.

How to Remove the Smell of Polyurethane Breaking Down

Another smell your nose might have the joy of experiencing when unraveling your tent is very similar to that of vomit. This particularly disgusting odor is produced by the chemical reaction caused by the breakdown of the urethane in your tents polyurethane coating.

As with mold and mildew, this problem can be rectified, although doing so will be a little more labor intensive.

The process of eliminating the smell starts by first identifying the specific area of the tent fabric where the PU has become damaged and has started to break down. Polyurethane is usually applied on the inside of the tent floor and on the underside of your tent fly, so these are the areas where you should specifically look.

Once you have located the source of the problem, you will need to soak the affected area of fabric in warm soapy water for about 3 hours which should be enough time for the water to make the PU layer soft and much easier to peel off.

If you are struggling to peel the PU off try using isopropyl alcohol while you scrub and peel, it will make the process much easier and it also provides the added bonus of sanitizing the area to be treated.

When the fabric has been cleaned thoroughly and the damaged layer of polyurethane has been removed, hang the entire tent out to dry. Once dry simply apply a new coating of PU sealant following the makers instructions.

Gearaid Tent Fabric Sealant will re-waterproof your tent perfectly….as long as you follow the instructions!

Eliminating and Preventing Stale Smells

Tents can still develop smells other than those caused by mold growth or decomposing PU. This stale smell occurs simply because the tent has been kept folded away for too long. If you notice a mild, stale smell when you unfold your tent, just hang it out in the sun to air – solar rays can sanitize fabrics, they will dry any dampness from between the fibers and will leave the fabric smelling fresh.

To prevent mildew or any other stale smell from returning, you should always hang your tent out for a day or two after use and ensure it is fully dry before you pack it away for the winter. When you do eventually pack it away make sure you store the folded tent in a dry, and well-ventilated place.

Following all of the above advice will prevent the appearance of mold and mildew on your tent fabric and stop any unwanted stale smells from ever developing.