You want to avoid any nasty surprises or experience out there as you pitch for your campsite. Almost every camping tent sold in Australia is treated with a waterproof agent or membrane to prevent moisture from sipping through the fabric to soak your tent. However, these features wear out with time, creating a need to waterproof your tent. Read to discover the tips that will help waterproof your tent to prevent your things from becoming soggy after a downpour.
1. Waterproof Your Tent On A Dry Day
Waterproofing your tent indoors can be challenging and messy, making it important to do it outdoors. Dump conditions such as foggy weather mean your tent needs more time to dry. Choose a dry and warm day to give your tent ample time to dry and make the waterproofing agent more effective.
2. Remember To Clean The Tent
Waterproofing your tent is likely to badly backfire if you do it without before cleaning the tent. The new waterproofing coatings will adhere to grime and dust particles instead of the fabric that constitutes the tent-making your efforts futile. The coating will peel off, leaving your tent as vulnerable as before you applied the coating.
Avoid double work by brushing the tent to remove any lodged grass blades, dust, and dirt particles. You may use a lint roller to pick up all stray particles leaving the surface clean. Also, place the tent on a clean surface after brushing the dirt to prevent picking up more unwanted particles.
3. Seal All Tent Seams
Seams are the primary cause of soggy tents. It’s advisable to inspect your tent surface and seal all seams before applying a waterproof agent. Here’s how to do it;
First, gently remove any peelings on the tent surface without disrupting the surrounding sealant. The next step is cleaning exposed surfaces by rubbing them with a piece of rag dumped in alcohol. Apply the sealer once you’ve cleaned the seams thoroughly.
4. Apply Waterproof Coating To The Tent Rainfly & Floor
It’s advisable to waterproof the floor and rainfly by applying urethane to your tent’s interior if the floor or the rainfly is flaking. Smear the entire surface with the coating, unlike when you apply sealants to seams.
Begin by scrubbing the original coating off using a sponge with an abrasive-sided sponge and rubbing alcohol. Clean the surface carefully while keeping the filled seams intact. Apply the urethane coating to the floor and the entire rainfly and give it 24 hours to dry.
5. Use A Durable Water Repellant On The Outside
Apply a coating of durable water repellant on the walls of your tent if raindrops no longer bead on the walls. Clean the outer surface with a damp cloth or old mattress and allow the water to dry before applying the durable water repellant. Let the tent dry for at least 24 hours before packing it for your next camping spree.
Your tent’s floor and rainfly can wear and tear, making it vulnerable to soaking. The good news is that you can follow these above simple hacks to restore it to pristine conditions. Don’t rely on the weather to waterproof your tent.
.png)
Leave a comment