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For the last 3 years, I haven't bothered to clean my burning man tent because I just know that it will be a futile effort. After 4 years in the playa though, my tent is in serious need for some post-playa TLC. All windows and vents in my tent zip (the perfect playa tent) but I noticed that a lot of playa got in this year. I have a feeling that I need to re-seal the seams, and I am thinking might as well give it a good washing prior.
How do you all wash your tents? Some people I have talked to swear by the washing maching (really? does that work?). Others prefer the pressure washer method. Do you set up your tent and then wash? Or do you wash without setting it up, just laying out on the ground? How do you get playa out of a bathtub floor?
So many questions! Looking for your wisdom and advice.
How do you all wash your tents? Some people I have talked to swear by the washing maching (really? does that work?). Others prefer the pressure washer method. Do you set up your tent and then wash? Or do you wash without setting it up, just laying out on the ground? How do you get playa out of a bathtub floor?
So many questions! Looking for your wisdom and advice.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Tent cleaning
Wed, September 16, 2009 - 4:31 PMwe set ours up, a bowl of vinegar and soap water, slosh a rag of the soapy vinegar and soap water in and out of it, rinse it real good, when it dries we lube the zippers and then repack it, been using the same tents for 8 yrs. along with out big playa dome as our chill space. have never tried the washing machine, Hmmm, might do that on one of em to see if it works.
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Re: Tent cleaning
Wed, September 16, 2009 - 6:25 PMDiluted simple green is the bomb. -
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Re: Tent cleaning
Thu, September 17, 2009 - 3:08 AMIf you use the washer be sure to put it on gentle cycle, especially if your tent is older. The only problem I've had with washing my small backpacking tent in the washer is that when I pull it out there tends to be a lot of water that doesn't spin out because of the tent floor being waterproof. So watch out or you'll get doused! :-) -
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Re: Tent cleaning
Thu, September 17, 2009 - 8:23 AMHmm, good questions.
Every year, I set up my tent in the yard and hose it down. I start by spraying down the outside. Then, I climb inside (best done on a warm day) and rinse the insides. I haven't tried the vinegar trick, like Bare suggested, but that sounds like a super idea. Oh, and I'm hesitant to try the washing machine method for fear that all the stake cords would get tangled up. -
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Re: Tent cleaning
Thu, September 17, 2009 - 1:47 PMI just machine-washed the whole thing but didn't put it in the dryer. Looks just like new! -
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Re: Tent cleaning
Tue, September 22, 2009 - 8:47 AMLast year, it rained for a week after I got home. I set up all my washable gear, tent, tubs, plastic drawers, etc, and with a little simple green, the rain washed everything for me, all I had to do was turn things.
A garden hose would have worked otherwise. Yes, Simple Green is your best friend for cleaning almost everything.
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Re: Tent cleaning
Mon, September 28, 2009 - 3:01 PMWe usually set up the tent in the backyard, hose it down and call it good. We got a lot of dust in both tents this year, so we may shop vac the bottom before we hose it down this time. We'll spray vinegar water on the zippers, at the very least (which works great at the event itself, if they're sticking) My husband wants to use the washer, but I don't want to cake up the washer or rip the tent (more), so I think we'll stick to the hose. It doesn't get rid of it all, mind you, but at least you can breathe in it!
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Re: Tent cleaning
Wed, September 30, 2009 - 10:01 PMChadzilla is the king of clean and I am a search and rescue nut. We both agree on vinegar, gentle brushes, and water. We set up outside and hose down and clean everything (tents set up and washed/rinsed until dry) the minute we get back from the burn. Nothing goes back in its spot until it is cleaned like this. That includes coolers, dry boxes, etc. The alkaline wears equipment down. We do this when we camp elsewhere too. The gear looks like new...
