Storing Tent Canopy
Tent canopies are among the most charming and functional equipments that one can set up in their home’s backyard or garden. However, there comes a time when the need to fold them and keep them locked away for some time happens. When that need occurs, you would want to store your tent canopy properly and with care, to amplify its life.
Storing tent canopy is not a dreadful task, it simply involves simple steps and care tips that would help avoid damage to the tent canopy, and make it still usable when the time comes. Here are some ways and care tips of storing tent canopy:
When storing tent canopy, never roll it up or pack it away when it is wet as this will create mildew and damage the tent.
Always pack a tent canopy loosely; if doable, leave its poles partly or completely assembled.
Canopy storage should always be in dry and cool surroundings as high temperatures have a tendency to injure fabric coatings.
During packing the tent canopy to fit it inside its stuff sack, do not fold its fabrics always at the same place for more than a period of time; an established line for folds produces a pleat that may crack its waterproof coating.
Ensure that when storing tent canopy, the tent’s material and its seams are well dry before it is stored away; also keep away from rolling up the pegs and poles together with the tent –they should be stored separately.
Ensure that the tent canopy’s seams are well dry when it is stored away, as even the slightest dampness on the seams will create fungus that can harm the thread of the tent’s seams.
If the tent canopy’s poles were exposed to salty air, it is important to wash them well in fresh water first, and air-dry them to avoid corrosion.
When storing tent canopy, never pack it if it’s unclean as it will be another cause for fungus formation and damage the tent’s waterproof coating. Fungus will result to a smelly tent and eventually ruin and delaminate its polyurethane coating, causing tent leak.
Care Tips:
Never use caustic and acids solutions such as insect repellants near or inside the tent, as they’re harmful to tent fabric and may cause leakage.
When cleaning the tent, hand wash it with sponge and mild soaps, and do not use detergents, as well as do not machine wash it as it will damage the coating of the seams.
When the entire tent is being cleaned, washing it with cold water and not hot water is a must; don’t use dishwashing liquids, bleach, spot removers, or pre-soaking solutions to the tent. Stubborn stains should be dusted with talcum powder or cornstarch to prevent it from transferring to other portions of the tent during storage.
Never machine dry a tent canopy; dry the tent through line drying or pitching it in a shaded area and not under the heat of the sun as the UV rays have a very adverse effects on synthetic and lightweight fabrics; it can also cause it to lose strength, fade, and sooner or later disintegrate.
When storing tent canopy, one can opt to pack it in a storage box for tent canopy instead of a stuff sack, for better placement and not being too compressed. However, just make sure that the material for the storage box is thicker and sturdier than standard boxes and make certain it is placed in a dry and cool place.
Correctly storing tent canopy and properly caring for it is very important as it will enhance the longevity of the tent canopy. It will also help in making the canopy look new every time the occasion to set it up again arises.