TENT CARE
Cleaning
Clean the tent by setting it up and wiping it down
with a mild soap (liquid hand soap) and lukewarm water solution. Rinse
thoroughly and dry completely. Never use detergent, washing machines or dryers
because they can damage the tent's protective coating and seams. After
cleaning, be sure the tent is completely dry, especially the heavier,
double-stitched areas such as the seams, before storing or mold and mildew are
likely to grow.
Clean the tent poles with a soft, dry cloth. This
is especially necessary after oceanside
camping trips to remove salt spray so the poles don't corrode or stay gritty.
Clean the zippers with a quick dip in water and
then dry them off. This is especially important if you've been camping in a
location with sand/dirt. If you don't clean the zippers, the sliders will wear
out and eventually the teeth will become inoperable.
Seam Sealing
We recommend use of a sealer such as Kenyon Seam
Sealer 3 or McNett Outdoor SeamGrip. Be sure to check directions on the side of
container for specifics before beginning the seam sealing process.
Seam sealing should be done in a fully ventilated
area. Set the tent up or lay the tent out flat. Taut seams allow for even
application and penetration of the sealer.
Decide which seams need to be sealed. For example,
seams that will be exposed to rain, runoff, or ground level water are a must
for sealing, while seams on uncoated nylon or mesh panels won't need treatment.
You won't need to seal the seams in the roof or the factory taped seams either.
We recommend sealing both floor & fly seams and reinforcements.
Apply sealant to the inside and outside of all
exposed seams. Draw or brush the sealant along the seam, spreading it evenly
and liberally into all of the needle holes. Several thin layers will work
better than one thick layer. Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for the sealant to
completely dry before storing the tent. Twelve hours for SeamGrip.
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet damage to tent fabric is caused by
excessive exposure to sunlight. While our fabrics are UV resistant, any
synthetic fabric is susceptible to ultraviolet degradation. UV damage will
cause nylon and polyester to become brittle and tear easily. Once your tent has
UV damage, it is non-repairable, but damage can be minimized by erecting tents
on sites where exposure to direct sunlight can be avoided. We also recommend
that you use the rain fly even on clear days. It acts as a sunscreen to the
tent. A rain fly is both easier and less expensive to replace if damaged.
Color Transfer
Due to the nature of tent fabrics, color can
transfer from darker fabric to lighter fabric if two colors are in contact over
time when wet, damp, or exposed to the combination of moisture and high heat.
This does not affect a tent's performance. To prevent/minimize color transfer
from occurring, always make sure that your tent is completely dry prior to
packing and storage.
Storage
Make sure the tent is completely dry, then store
loosely rolled, in a dry, cool place. To prevent dust from collecting on the
tent, cover it with a cloth. This allows the nylon/polyester fabric to breathe.
Ideally, the tent poles should be stored in their
fully assembled state. This reduces the tension on the shock cord, prolonging
its life. We recommend that the tent bag be used only as a carry sack and not
for storage.
General Tips:
Use a ground cloth under the tent whenever
possible. If you choose, Eureka!
has pre-cut sizes. If not, trace the tent on the ground cloth and cut smaller
than the tent footprint to avoid having it act as a water collector. Ground
cloths are easier and less expensive to replace than torn tent floors.
Try not to wear shoes inside your tent.
Bring a small rug or mat to put inside the tent
door to wipe off mud and catch sand.
Sweep the tent floor daily to prevent damage from
stones.
Do not keep food inside the tent. Hungry critters
will chew through the tent fabric in search of a snack.
