Tent Care and Storage

When to use this

At home, the day after a trip — not in the field.

• End of every trip
• Inspecting a tent you haven't used in a season
• After a very wet trip

What you need

• A garden hose or bathtub for rinsing
• Seam sealer (McNett Seam Grip or similar)
• A UV-resistant tent treatment spray (Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarProof)
• A mesh bag or loose sack for storage

Step by step

1. 1.Before leaving camp: stake the tent out in the sun for 20–30 minutes to dry. Pack it slightly damp if needed, but air it out at home the same day.
2. 2.At home: pitch the tent on the lawn or in the garage. Wipe down the inside with a damp cloth for any mud or food residue.
3. 3.Rinse the rainfly with clean water — no soap, which removes the DWR (durable water repellency) coating.
4. 4.Check the seams. Seam sealer is a clear liquid you paint along every seam inside the tent. Factory seam tape fails after 50–100 nights; re-seal any section that looks crusty or lifting.
5. 5.Once fully dry (wait 24 hours), store loosely in a mesh bag — not compressed in the stuff sack. Compression kills the waterproof coating over time.
6. 6.Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light. UV and humidity are the two things that shorten tent life.

Pro tips

• Never machine wash a tent. The agitation and hot water destroy the coatings. Hand rinse only.
• A Nikwax spray-on DWR treatment, applied after rinsing, restores the "bead and roll" water repellency that wears off after 30–40 nights.

Common mistakes

• Storing a damp tent. Mold grows fast in compressed, damp nylon — even for 2–3 days in a hot car.
• Using dish soap to clean the fly. It strips the DWR coating and the tent becomes a sponge in rain.

Continue learning

• Shelter Setup

  Pitching a Tent

  A two-person, fifteen-minute job — done right.

• Shelter Setup

  Rainfly and Guylines

  A tent without guylines is a tent waiting to get wet.