How to Clean Mildew Off of a Waterproof Tent
One of the least appealing experiences in camping is unrolling your tent and smelling a distinct smell of mildew. If you put your tent away wet and don't take it back out to dry completely, you run the risk of it growing mildew. The smell of mildew circulating through the tent on a hot summer night is stifling. Before you throw your tent away and purchase a new one, try to clean the mildew and get the smell out.
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Instructions
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Take your tent out of its bag, if you haven't already done so. Set your tent up in the yard as if you planned on camping in it. Depending on how bad the mildew is, you might have noticed dark stains beginning to form on the outside of the tent.
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Mix a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach and 6 parts water. Wash down the entire interior and exterior of the tent. Allow it to dry. If you can still see or smell mildew, repeat this process. Allow the tent to dry completely and air out for several days. The mildew should no longer be a problem. If the mildew was bad, there may still be signs of a slight stain on the tent itself even though the mildew is dead.
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Purchase some tent seam sealer and waterproofing spray at your local outdoor sports store. Seam sealer usually goes on with a glue-like roller end and is easy to use.
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Roll seam sealer over every seam on the tent, including those inside and on the floor. Allow the seam sealer to dry completely. Once the seam sealer is dry, spray the waterproofing product over the entire tent per the manufacturers instructions. Allow the tent to dry completely between applications. It's good preventive maintenance to periodically put fresh seam sealer on your tent, as well as waterproofing spray.
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Take the tent down once it's completely dry. Fold it up as you normally would and store it in a dry environment.
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Tips & Warnings
Never store a wet tent in a tight bag. Keep your tent maintained so it will remain problem-free. Some people swear large cotton bags are better for tent storage, since the cotton breathes. Always dry a wet tent that's been rolled up as soon as you get home.
Proper ventilation is required when spraying waterproofing products.
