Try a Little Tent-erness 
AMC Outdoors, September 2000
By Michael Lanza
Tents cost too much not to take care of them. Follow these tips for a long, healthy life and plenty of comfortable nights:
- Use a ground cloth to protect the floor.
- UV rays fade and weaken nylon. When possible, camp in a shaded place, set up your tent late in the day, and take it down early. A rainfly shields the tent and is cheaper to replace than the whole thing.
- Store the tent and rainfly in a sack that breathes, like cotton, so that no moisture is trapped inside. Some tents come with a storage sack. Storing a tent in its stuff sack creases the fabric, causing leaks. Keep it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat.
- Stuff your tent instead of rolling it up, which creates creases.
- After every trip, dry out your tent indoors to prevent mildew, which breaks down the waterproof coating.
- Connect shock-corded poles gently rather than letting them snap together, and dismantle them from the pole's center to reduce stress on the cords during storage.
- Keep zippers clean and avoid using a lubricant on them, because dirt will stick to it. Never yank on zippers; that can tear seams. If a zipper isn't sliding smoothly, hold the fabric around it while manipulating the zipper.
- Wash dirt off tent fabric with non-detergent soap (no dishwashing liquid or spot remover), water, and a clean cloth. Never stick a tent in the washing machine or dryer.
- Most new tents are factory seam-sealed — if yours isn't, do it before your first trip. Seam-seal once a year or when you notice leaks. Make sure the tent is dry, then seal only the seams on the rainfly and floor. Apply sealer on the non-coated side of the fabric; the coated side is shiny and water beads up on it.
—Michael Lanza is author of The Ultimate Guide to Backcountry Travel, from AMC Books.
