Roof Top Tent Cleaning and Care

Ensuring the longevity of your rooftop tent involves more than just occasional impregnation; proper cleaning is equally crucial. The frequency of cleaning depends on various factors, such as usage frequency, storage conditions, and the tent's material.

To maximize the lifespan of your rooftop tent, follow these tips on how to clean it.

Removing Loose Dirt or Resin from Your Rooftop Tent

For small spots or loose dirt, it's advisable to use a soft, dry brush or cloth to gently wipe the tent. Apply minimal force while brushing or wiping the tent on car roof.

Encountered resin from trees after parking under one for a while? No need to worry! Removing tree resin is a straightforward process. Allow the resin to dry completely before taking any action. Let it be initially and wait for the resin to dry thoroughly. To expedite the drying process, you can gently press an ice cube against the resin. Avoid applying excessive pressure. Once the resin is dry, you can easily pick it off. Any remaining spots often disappear when exposed to UV light.

Dealing with Stubborn Stains or Mold on Your Rooftop Tent

If you notice persistent dirty spots or mold on your rooftop tent, particularly in humid conditions, it's crucial to initiate a thorough cleaning process. Specialized tent cloth cleaners are readily available for this purpose. Ensure a comprehensive cleaning of the entire rooftop tent, including the tubes, roof tent cover, and mattress, especially when tackling mold issues.

Mold on the rooftop tent spreads very easily on contact or through the air. Therefore, we recommend to really clean everything well, so that there is no more mold anywhere. This will also prevent discoloration in the canvas.

For effective mold removal from your rooftop tent, it's essential to pay close attention to the materials comprising the tent fabric. Polyester, canvas, and cotton tent fabrics exhibit distinct properties, necessitating the use of different cleaning agents.

After cleaning the rooftop tent with the appropriate cleaning agent, it becomes crucial to re-impregnate the tent using a suitable impregnation agent. This step ensures the continued protection and resilience of your rooftop tent against environmental elements.

Caring for Mold and Mildew

If there is moisture trapped in the canvas tent's material for a length of time, mold and mildew may start to form. If mold starts to form it can stain the canvas and produce foul odors. This does not make for a pleasant camping experience! In order to clean mold properly, follow these steps:

1. Open the tent up and brush the affected area with a hard-bristled brush to get loose dirt off.

2. Using the same Lysol solution discussed above (1 cup Lysol to 1 gallon water), wash the canvas using a sponge and the bristled brush.

3. Rinse the tent off with a solution (1 cup lemon juice, 1 cup sea salt, 1 gallon hot water).

4. Once the Lysol solution has been properly washed out, let the tent air dry for several hours in order to prevent future mold from forming.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your tent should be completely dry before storing!

If you want to be super cautious and plan on spending a lot of time in the rain, you might consider the following:

After the initial set-up, spray the tent with water and allow it to dry completely. This “seasons” the canvas. The water causes the canvas to swell slightly, closing the needle holes where the canvas was stitched.

The most effective way to do this is to have the tent out in its first good rain. This process is only required once but can be repeated as many times as you would like.

Zipper Care

Zippers, constantly exposed to various elements like sand, mud, rain, and snow, require regular care to ensure their prolonged functionality. Preventing mud and dust from affecting the zippers is challenging, so the best approach is to apply lubrication.

A suitable lubricant, such as Bee's Wax, proves highly effective in preserving the longevity of your zipper. Purchase a small block and rub it on the zipper both when open and closed. This simple step significantly enhances zipper operation and extends its overall service life. In cases where mud and dirt have infiltrated the zipper, clean it with a damp cloth and then reapply the lubricant.

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