The reusability of family tents keeps the families together on multiple occasions. The portability, quality, and space-sufficiency make them suitable for storage and use according to the requirements. However, their long-term usage requires care, cleaning, and maintenance.
A number of people buy family tents in the UAE and use them for different purposes. Thus, these tents are often kept in use, such as for functions, camping, and outdoor night stays etc.
The knowledge of their servicing is essential. It enables you to buy them only once and keep them in use for an extended period. Al Mawsim Tents guides you on how to extend the lifespan of these tents through their proper cleaning and maintenance.
Family Tents Maintenance:
Being different, everything requires care in a special and different way. When it comes to family tents, there is also a rule that is: clean, dry, and store.
Moreover, always follow the basic guidelines and use a catalog of the tent. Here, we will see family tent cleaning and maintenance at 3 stages. These are:
- In Operation
- After Operation
- Regular Maintenance
In Operation
When the tents are in use during parties and camping, handle them with care. It’s a first and basic thing in keeping things maintained. Here are some guides on how to keep the tent protected and clean even during use.
Leveling the Tent
A smooth surface makes walking steady, maintains stability, and prevents the overall setup. The same rule applies during the outside arrangements, so always level your tent.
The steps of aligning are:
- Choose a smooth surface
- Clean the area
- Remove sharp objects
By this, the tent keeps standing with maximum stability, giving a smooth walking experience. Moreover, it ensures the tent base is kept safe and prevents any damage.
Use a footprint
A footprint is an impermeable sheet placed on the ground before installation of the tent. This protective layer keeps the tent safe and clean, as it isolates the tent floor from the ground.
A footprint, alternatively known as a groundsheet, ground cloth, or tarp, shielded the tent against mud, water, abrasion, and punctures.
It plays an important role in these ways:
- Damageproof: It prevents damage such as punctures and tears caused by stones, uneven land, and any pointed material. The floor of the tent is vulnerable to these attacks due to its delicacy. Whereas the sheet is enduring and can tolerate all these damages.
- Waterproof: The sheet serves as an extra water-absorbent layer to the tent in addition to the tent floor, which is also waterproof. It blocks the ground mud, humidity, and water drops. That gives you relief from the feeling of dewy and stuff destroyed.
- Insulation: The tarp isolates you from the weather and ground temperature. It keeps you warm on cold nights as well as prevents you from getting too hot, such as on a sunny day.
- Estimate tent area: It serves as a foundation for tent construction, estimating the points of fixation for tent pegs.
- Cleaning: It serves to take mud, debris, and sap from the ground. By this, it keeps the tent floor clean. You only have to clean the groundsheet and dry it. It also makes packing easy.
“No shoes” Rules
Most of the dirt comes from outside on our shoes. It plays an important role in messing up an already cleaned area. Mud on shoes has no cure, as you can’t stop it. The thing in your hand is to establish a rule of taking shoes off at the entrance.
Ventilation
Prefer tents with openings like windows and doors. A completely closed camp makes the area congested and causes mildew. On the other side, open windows and vents keep the area airy and prevent you from feeling this.
Poles Handling
Poles are joint points used to attach tent sections to each other. Handle the stretchable part of shock-corded poles gently. Avoid forced handling and bending. Instead, smoothly insert them into the tent fabric and join them.
Zipper Handling
Zippers are used on doors, windows, room corners, and other sections like the rainfly and storage. Use precautions and operate them with both hands, avoiding abrupt moves. To prevent them from being rusty or hard, apply grease regularly and keep them clean.
Safety from UV
Constant sunlight affects the material, especially the fiber. Some ways to avoid it and keep the tent safe are:
- Place it in a shady area
- Cover it with a rainfly or some other shade
One can prefer a rainfly as it is cost-effective compared to the tent canopy.
After Operation
Enjoyment ends, memories remain, and the work is waiting for you at the end of every trip. Here, the foremost duty is to handle camping stuff: your family tent. When it comes to after-trip handling of the tent, there is also a proper way.
Following the rules or way makes it easy to wind up all the stuff. Moreover, it guarantees a longer lifespan. Here are some tricks:
Dry it
Always check your tent for wet parts. If the tent is wet partly or fully, or even from a small part, dry it before wrapping up.
Water and humidity create moisture that causes mildew spots. It also affects waterproof coatings. So drying it before storing is essential to prevent it from being wasted or damaged.
Clean it
Sweep the tent properly, so if there is any substance, living creature, or harmful object, take it out. Here are some points to clean the tent:
- Wash with cold or lukewarm water
- Use a mild cleaner or a tent-specific one
- Use your hands and a cloth for scrubbing
- Avoid machines and dryers
- Dry it completely
Store it
Always store a family tent in a bag with enough space. A large, breathable bag, such as a mesh or a canvas bag, would be suitable for storage. It saves its fabric and coatings as compared to the tight sack.
Storage location
Store it in a suitable place and avoid environmental factors that cause damage to it. For example, moisture and temperature affect the tent, so don’t use areas like garages, attics, and basements to place it. Instead of this, prefer to store the tent in a dark, arid, and cool place, such as a closet, high shelf, or storage room.
Regular Maintenance
Checking stuff from time to time is one of the smart strategies to increase their lifespan. Care during and right after the usage is not enough; tents, like other things, require ongoing attention. So, keep visiting the storage area to check the condition.
This way you can timely manage the issue and keep your tent safe for a long time.
Here are some things that you have to check and do for the regular maintenance:
- Damage check: Around every season, check the tent for any possible damage like tears, holes, or broken sides. If you see any damage, deal with that accordingly.
- Repair torn parts: Torn parts are easily dealt with at home. Self-adhesive tape is suitable for small holes and rips, whereas you have to sew the large tears.
- Reseal the seam: The seam tape is likely to break down. A seam sealer is usually used to repair the seam, making it re-waterproof.
- Repair the fabric: Tent fabric repels water in normal conditions in order to keep water outside. If it doesn’t do it anymore, it is damaged. Use a durable water repellent coating to repair it. Clean the tent, then apply the coating by spraying it on the tent.
A little attention and care can keep things safe and maintained. Consider these tricks for the long-term usage of your family tent by Al-Mawsim and increase the moments of your family time.
FAQ’s
Q1. How to level a tent?
Here are 3 quick ways to level a tent:
- Choose a smooth surface
- Clean the area
- Remove sharp objects
Q2. What is a footprint?
A footprint or ground sheet is an extra layer that is placed before installing the tent. It acts as a barrier between the ground and the tent floor and keeps the damage, temperature, water, and debris away from the tent.
Q3. What are the maintenance steps after the operation?
These are: Dry the tent completely, Clean and wash it, and store it in an ideal location.
Q4. Ideal places to store the family tent?
The ideal storage place for family tents is one that is dark, dry, and cool. For example, high shelves, closets, and storage rooms.
Q5. How to maintain family tents regularly?
You can regularly maintain the family tents through these ways:
- Damage Check
- Repairing
- Resealing
- Fabric Check
