I go camping at least a few times a year, and I know many people do too. It’s relaxing, freeing, and a great way to get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city. And let me tell you, I have a great time every single time I go camping.
That is, however, until I come home and have to clean up my tent. To make the whole thing worse, sometimes, I’ve been very unlucky with the weather, which has made my tent a total mess.
One time I was really close to throwing it in the washing machine, and let it deal with the mess. If that’s your situation right now, stop!
In this article, I will talk to you about why washing your tent in the washing machine is a pretty terrible idea. To ease your situation, I’ll give you my best advice on washing your tent from the cleaning products and tools you need to the washing process you should follow depending on your tent.
Read on to learn more.
By the way, The Camping Air Conditioner is sponsored by readers. When you buy through one of our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Can You Wash a Tent in the Washing Machine?
One thing that you should never do to your tent is toss it in the washing machine. No matter how dirty your tent is, the solution is never a washing machine, especially a top-load one.
Sometimes, you can get away with cleaning a tent in an industrial front-load washing machine, but even that can sometimes be too risky and end up destroying your tent.
This is because tents have a lot of protective coatings on them to protect the people inside from the weather. Your tent may have UV protection shields, waterproofing material, and a whole lot more, and if you throw it in the washing machine, the wash cycle could do a lot of damage to the coating and the actual tent material.
With that being said, washing your tent is still a possibility and I’d personally highly recommend it. Washing your tent is a great way to free it from any dirt or debris, which could end up being the root cause for mold and other such particles.
How Can I Wash a Tent Properly?
If you aren’t supposed to wash a tent in the washing machine, how are you supposed to clean it?
Well, the answer to this depends on the type of tent you have, how dirty it is, and what you want to clean the tent from. To make it simpler, I’ve divided the cleaning process into three steps which can be much easier to understand.
And when you want to clean your tent, the first step is to:
Find the Right Tools
If you have a dirty tent, you won’t be able to clean it by hand. On top of that, the right cleaning materials and tools depend on the material that your tent is made of. However, a general tent cleaning tool set should include a watering hose, a microfiber cloth, and mild soap to loosen up the dirt.
Make sure not to use anything abrasive or made of heavy detergents as this can damage the tent’s coating and reduce its lifespan. And if you really want to give your tent a deep clean, there are a fair amount of specialized cleaning products for tents that you may be able to find in your local outdoor store.
Other things you’re going to need to clean the tent are:
- A vacuum cleaner that has a brush attachment
- A space to hang and dry the tent
- White vinegar or as special cleaning product, such as Nikiwax (see below)
- A bathtub for washing the tent
- A towel for drying the tent unless you want to air dry it
- Very affordable (less than $20)
- Effective cleaning and increased UV protection
- Spray-on (easy application)
- Biodegradable
Wash the Tent Based on Its Material
Once you have the right set of tools and cleaning materials, you’re almost ready to start cleaning your tent. Before you get started, the last thing I’d like you to do is check the material your tent is made out of as that will determine how to approach the cleaning process.
If you’re not sure, you can either check with the manufacturer or read our article that goes into more detail on what tents are made out of to help you figure out the material of your tent.
For canvas tents, you won’t be able to wipe them down. So, you’re going to have to shake all the dust and debris out and then start vacuuming it. For a deep clean, you can submerge the entire tent in the bathtub where it can soak before you use the cloth to wipe off the excess dirt.
If the areas of the tent have developed mold or mildew, you can eliminate it using white vinegar and a cloth. This goes for all other tent materials as well.
If you have a polyester and a nylon tent, you’re in luck as the cleaning process is much easier and simpler. Most of the time, all you need to do is hose it down and then wipe it with the microfiber cloth. These materials are very easy to clean and are very light, making them a favorite for many backpackers and camping enthusiasts.
If you want to give the tent a deep clean, simply follow the same procedure as if you were to deep clean a canvas tent.
| Fabric/Material | How to Wash Your Tip? | Notes and Tips |
| Canvas |
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| Polyester and Nylon |
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Dry it Before Storing It Away
Before you store the tent away, you have to make sure it’s dry. Otherwise the remaining damp can start growing into mold, which would make the tent unsuitable. This is because it is unsafe to sleep in a moldy tent for prolonged periods of time.
The best way to do this is to leave it out in the sun for a couple of hours until every part of the tent has dried completely. From there, you can fold it up, place it in the bag, and take it out again for your next camping trip.
If you live in a part of the world where the weather is unpredictable, drying the tent outdoors can be a bit more complicated. One option is drying the tent indoors.
To do this, you want to make sure the tent has plenty of space around it, there’s a fair amount of air flow, and there is warm air in the room. On top of that, all you need is patience as it can really take some time for a tent to dry indoors.
One thing you want to avoid at all costs is drying your tent in the tumble dryer as the heat and the drying process these appliances use can completely destroy your tent and even make it unusable.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, washing your tent in a washing machine is not an option as it can not only shorten its lifespan but even destroy it completely and make it unusable.
However, there are plenty of other ways you can safely clean up your tent and get it ready for your next camping trip. So, depending on the type of tent you have, follow the steps from above to wash it safely and get it ready for your next adventure.
