If you’re like most people, you go camping and enjoy yourself so much that you can’t wait to do it again. The only problem is when you get home and realize your tent is completely soaked. What do you do? Can you put a tent away wet?
In this article, we will provide tips for properly storing and putting away your tent, so it’s clean and ready to use the next time you go camping!
What Happens if You Put a Tent Away Wet?
If you have no choice but to put your tent away when it’s wet, what happens? Can you pack it up and put it away when it’s wet?
Unfortunately, doing this can result in mold and mildew buildup. Mold and mildew on the tent fabric can cause your tent to deteriorate prematurely, ruining its waterproofing capabilities. It can also damage the tent’s fabric, causing holes to form.
Once a tent is damaged by mold and mildew, it isn’t easy to get rid of it. The damage is hard to remove because the material that tents are made of is very tightly woven, and when the bacteria gets in there, it’s hard to get out. There are mold and mildew sprays you can get from your local hardware store or online, but they’re not guaranteed to work. You also risk the cleaner destroying the fabric or discoloring it.
Not only is it hard to clean, but it will also have a foul-smelling odor. If you don’t clean your tent, the foul smell can become absorbed and even transfer to other things. For example, you don’t want your pillow or sleeping bag smelling like musty mold and mildew.
To conclude, if you have to put a wet tent away, it can cause mold and mildew buildup, which can damage the fabric and make it difficult to clean. Furthermore, the mold and mildew cause damage and leave a foul smell.
How Can You Store a Wet Tent
If you have no choice, you can store your tent wet, but it’s not ideal. You can store a damp tent by taking the following steps:
- Hang your tent up to dry as soon as possible. Hanging it up and air drying it is the best option if you can do it. If there’s sunlight and it’s not too windy, hang it outside to dry. If that’s not an option, try hanging it in your garage or shed.
- If you can’t hang it up to dry, stuff it into a large garbage bag. Placing it into a garbage bag will help keep the moisture from spreading and help slow down or prevent mold and mildew from growing. It would be best if you made sure the bag was tied tight. I’ll also add that this is just a temporary measure until you can dry the tent properly.
- Store the tent in a cool, dry place. A garage or shed is ideal, but if you don’t have those options, ask a family member or neighbor if you can dry it out at their house. Don’t forget to bring them a pizza or something as a gift!
In short, can you put a wet tent away? It’s not ideal, but you can store it in a garbage bag and dry it out as soon as possible. If you can’t dry it out, try to hang it up. Store it in a cool, dry place if you can’t do that.
How to Dry Your Tent Before Putting It Away
Picture yourself out camping, and it’s time to pack up your tent. Unfortunately, it rained the night before, and now your tent is soaked. So how do you dry it out before packing it away?
The best way to dry your tent before packing it away is to hang it up and let the sun and wind do their job. By hanging it up on a clothesline or a rope between two trees, you can allow the air to dry it out from all angles.
If you have a large tent, it might be helpful to use a fan to circulate the air and speed up the drying process.
Once your tent is dry, it’s time to pack it away. To store your tent correctly, make sure you fold it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The instructions are generally located on the inside of the tent, usually printed on a tag that’s sewn into a seam.
Tent Pitching Instructions for When It’s Wet
If it’s pouring rain outside and you’re looking to pitch your tent, can you do it? Of course, the answer is yes, but there are a few things to consider.
When pitching your tent in the rain, try to find an area that’s covered and somewhat dry.
Since you can’t always choose where to pitch your tent, here are a few tips for pitching a tent in the rain:
- Make sure that the ground is level. Even if you can only find an area with shallow puddles of water, this can cause problems because it can make your tent uneven and unstable.
- Pitch your tent facing the right direction. Make sure that your tent door is facing away from the wind and rain, so you can avoid getting wet when entering and exiting.
- Put up your fly before pitching the tent. Putting this up first will help keep you and your gear dry while setting up camp.
- If it’s a terrible storm, consider waiting it out. There’s no sense in risking your safety by trying to set up camp in bad weather.
Consider Putting a Tarp Under Your Tent
If the ground is already wet, it’s a good idea to put a tarp down on the ground before you set up your tent. Putting down a tarp will help keep the moisture from seeping up into your tent and create a barrier between you and any sharp rocks or sticks on the ground.
Putting a tarp down under your tent is a great way to protect your tent from moisture and keep you dry. Make sure to use a tarp that is big enough to cover the entire area where your tent will be set up.
Conclusion
Drying your tent before putting it away is essential to preserving the life of your tent. There are a few ways to do this, but the best is to hang it up and let the sun and wind dry it out. If you can’t dry it out, try to store it in a cool, dry place until you can. Then, when pitching your tent in the rain, make sure you find an area that’s covered and somewhat dry.
Putting up your fly first will help keep you and your gear dry while setting up camp. If it’s a terrible storm, consider waiting it out. Consider using a tarp under your tent if the ground is already wet.
