Noticed that your tent doesn’t roll the beads of water away any more? Invested some new camping supplies recently and not sure how to care for your tent? We have all of the important tent-care advice you need to know, from packing your tent away, to cleaning it and knowing how to waterproof your tent – you’ll be an expert in tent care before you know it.

Cleaning your tent is a very simple task, but a task that is often neglected. Your tent does need plenty of TLC if you want to make it last throughout not only the duration of this camping season, but for years to come.

Following these simple instructions will keep you on the right track to a squeaky clean tent. Don’t forget, the number one rule is to never machine-wash your tent. The extreme movement could ruin the waterproof treatment completely.

1. Wipe away any excess dirt or water with a damp cloth.
2. Use very basic cleaning equipment and a clean damp cloth to gently clean any muddy sections of your tent. Avoid using any washing detergents as these products can damage the fabric of your tent.
3. Air dry your tent on a washing line outside, if possible. Don’t put your wet tent by an artificial source of heat to dry, because it could affect the inner material.
4. Once your tent is fully dry and there are no damp patches at all, you can roll or fold your clean, dry tent up carefully ready for storage. Making sure it’s completely clean and dry before packing your tent away ensure that no nasty mildew builds up while it’s in storage.

Accidents happen – things can get broken or damaged, and camping is no different. So here’s how to carry out a basic tent repair.

• For a quick fix, gaffer tape is your saviour! Identify the tear and remember to tape both the inside and the outside of the tent to minimise any leaks.
• If you’re fully prepared and have a tent repair kit handy, then make sure that the repair kit is suited to the type of tent you’re using. For example, if your tent is nylon, make sure you’ve picked up a repair kit with a suitable sealant.
• Basic tent repair kits usually come with self-adhesive patches or repair tape that will work in a similar way to your gaffer tape. Simply identify the damage area and apply the patch/tape to it on both sides of the tent.
• Most tent repair kits will provide you with some instructions but the main thing to remember when applying any self-adhesive patches is to ensure there are no air pockets in the patch as you press it down over the damaged area. This could lead to leaks if it’s not completely water tight.

A good tent keeps out the rain on your camping trips. But like us all, it does need a little love too. Here are some hints and tips on how to tell if you need to re-waterproof your camping home and how to waterproof your tent.

• Check the seams – the material where your tent is stitched together is a very vulnerable place for water to leak through. Not sealed properly? That’s a big sign of potential leakage.
• Check the zips – high quality tents will have fabric zips with covers on. If not, this is another sign of potential water drips.
• Rain proof entrance? Again, good tents will provide front doors for campers to open without letting a puddle of water fall right in to your tent. But this may also be an area of weakness as your tent ages.

That’s the basics of knowing how to clean a tent. But there’s some more important notes to make on tent TLC when it comes to packing it away for storage.

• Before you set up, check your pitch for any debris or rough, sharp items that might damage, rip or snag your tent
• If you can, let your damp tent dry before packing it away on your route home
• If you can’t, stick to the above guidelines to avoid your tent growing mould and eventually rotting
• Double check that you have collected all of your tent poles and pegs and store them in their own bag before putting them into your bigger tent bag. If you leave some behind, you might have some trouble setting up your tent next time
• Before you pack it away, leave the doors and windows of your tent open. You don’t want air to be trapped as this will make it unnecessarily difficult for you to roll up

There you have it. Purchasing a tent for your outdoor adventures is an investment and now you know the ins and outs of how to care for your tent, camping in any weather conditions should be simple. Just remember to pick up all your travel accessories before you head off – don’t forget that all important gaffer!