Don’t Forget To Clean Your Camping Gear
September 6, 2009
With the end of the camping season upon us it is very important that you clean all of your camping gear and equipment before putting it away. Some of the things that you need to pay the most attention to is your tent and sleeping gear, your coolers and any food preparation gear.
Lets start with your tent:
One of the most common problems that I see with tents is that some people will not properly dry their tent out after a camping trip where it has rained. Even when it doesn’t rain, moisture can seep up through the ground leaving the bottom of your tent damp. Storing a tent that is damp or wet will cause mold to set in and eat away at your tents fabric.
This is specially true for canvas tents where large sections can rot away in as little as one week. So make sure that you dry your tent out very good before packing it away for the winter.
While mold won’t eat away at you cooler it is always a good idea to clean them out and dry them before putting them away. This will keep you from having scrub them out at the last minute when you go to use them next time.
The same goes for all of your food preparation gear including your camp stove. It only takes a few minutes to clean out the bottom of the stove and this will help prevent rust from setting in and ruining your stove after just a few years.
So take a little extra time this year and make sure that your camping gear is clean and dry before putting it away. You will be glad you did.
Happy Camping 
Popularity: 93% [?]
Comments
49 Responses to “Don’t Forget To Clean Your Camping Gear”
eNews & Updates
Sign up to receive the latest breaking news, as well as all of your other favorite headlines!
Polls
Loading ...
I completely understand what your saying. We recently got caught in a rain storm while camping and had to pack up quickly. I waited a few weeks to set up and clean out the tent. Unfortunately mold had already started to appear. Glad I didn’t wait till next spring to clean it out.
I also had an experiance where we were camping at a hot spring in Montana and a rain storm came in fast and furious. We rolled up camp in a hurry and the next time we got the tent out it had mold, it just so happend that I was setting it up in the yard to let my kid play in before we went camping and I was able to deal with it before I was at the camp site. Enjoy the outdoors!!
I know I’m a little late seeing this post but you are so so right!
I can’t even tell you how many times I have had to endure that wonderful mold smell when camping with my Boy Scout Troop because the previous users didn’t dry the tent out completely or properly!
Sincerely,
Eric
NJ Campgrounds
A memorable camping trip should not include Mold! It really does pay to take proper care of your equipment. Not only can it be costly to replace but also who really wants to deal with that once you get home, not me. Great advice!
Hey there – great site and spot on advice.
A couple of Aussie tips – airing your tent by setting it up or hanging up for a day or two is always a good way of ensuring it is dry. Hanging sleeping bags is a good idea too.
Coolers and fridges should be cleaned and some bicarb soda put in to absorb smells and moisture.
Cast iron camp ovens can be scrubbed down and re-seasoned.
Keeping things clean makes for longer lasting gear and more enjoyable camping trips.
Kev
This is like one of those ‘ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ posts that you can’t overlook. And I can attest to mold in a tent. I got sick from a friends tent that had spores growing in the bottom corners. Thanks.
After camping season is over and the cold weather rolls, I move to my kitchen with my cooking. I enjoy putting recipes together in preperation for the warm weather coming. My tents and backpacking equipment is all tucked away nice neat. Enjoy your site.
It is always such a pain to clean camping gear at the end of the year, but it is always so nice to have it clean in the spring when you go to grab it! Nice post, and great blog!!
If you were to do any air monitoring in a moldy tent, you’d find unacceptable levels of airborne mold that can cause resperatory conditions. Make sure your gear is cleaned and dry before you put it away!
Cleaning your gear is an essential part of having a wonderful camping experience. Must be clean and dry to preven many sorts of bacteria from growing while you camping gear hibernates in your garage until its next use.
With the camping season creeping up on us it’s also good to check & clean tent and camping equipment at the start of the season. I usually go away the last weeks in March / first week April (Clock change in UK). Give my gear a good check before starting as you never know what’s has happened since it’s been out of action for a few months
Happy Camping
Absolutely true. The easiest way in the world to ruin a good tent or your gear is to put it away without cleaning. Weather’s starting to get a little nicer here in Florida and we’re getting ready to plan our first trip of the season. It’s been awhile, so time to pull out the gear and check it all out.
Good point! Cleaning really doesn’t take that long. Just an extra 5-10 minutes spent on taking care of the things we own can really extend the life of our camping gear. Just don’t forget to pack simple cleaning supplies (paper towels, dish soap, wipes, etc)!
Ensuring that your tent is dry before storage is good thing to keep in mind. You wouldn’t want the mold to spread elsewhere in your basement and/or garage. Any tips on how to speed-dry your tent though, say, if you were in a hurry to head home?
Great tips! definitely not the most fun part about camping, but maintenance is important. I’ve run into big troubles with this before, because I’ll put stuff away, and when I get it out later its not in great condition by far. I’ve especially seen this with canvas tents, and after you make that mistake you never want to repeat it again. Kind of costly.
The article on proper storage of your tent was very helpful and needed. I have seen alot of tents with mold on them or even had friends whom have had to buy new tents frequently due to improper storage. Our own personal experience has been with the camp stove (our first one) not keeing it clean and having it rust on us. Taking that few minutes will save you lots of money.
A good point. Getting your equipment sorted out is just as important as buying it in the first place.
As we know only too well, hygiene is particularly important with some pieces of camping kit.
That is so true about canvas tents! I’ve learned that first hand unfortunately. It may take a bit longer to put away all the stuff if you really made sure that all was clean, but it’s well worth it if you want to find all your camping stuff in top condition, the following year.
Just as important as the great points above I find is to keep your sleeping bag clean. There’s nothing worse than getting into a sleeping bag that feels tacky! I always look for a sleeping bag that can be machine washed and I also always invest in a sleeping bag liner that can be taken out and washed independently, saving you from washing the bag as often and also increasing the lifespan of the sleeping bag.
Great tips,
Tom
It’s a bummer to do, but cleaning camping equipment immediately after you’re back home, or on site before you pack it up, is the best time. It can quickly get put aside and forgotten until needed again, and by that time it can be much more difficult to clean. Nobody likes sleeping in a moldy tent.
Don’t just clean the equipment but also make sure you clean it right. Check the label or manual, and if you are not certain what care an item requires, contact the manufacturer. If you wash your sleeping bag too hot or don’t dry it long enough, you can still have problems.
Can I just emphasise that if you wash gear you must make sure you dry it thoroughly. We had a client who left damp sleeping bags in her travel trailer (we call these touring caravans in the UK). They left their lovely new caravan on a storage site for a few weeks. When they went to pick it up not only had mold and mildew formed on the sleeping bags but it had spread to all exposed surfaces of the inside of the caravan. The wooden cupboard doors and soft furnishings were ruined.
It’s especially important to keep your tent and camping equipment clean when camping in bear country – it’s not nice when the Grizzlies decide to check your tent out.
On a side note never leave cooked sausages in your tent by accident in bear country. I’ve done it and it wasn’t a good night’s sleep..
Usually the best thing to do is set up the tent in the sun when you get home and wipe it down with a damp cloth and let it air dry in the sun
Sunlight is great for killing mold and drying it out after you wipe it down
Best to avoid keeping a wet tent rolled up without cleaning it
One of those MUST chores…
This is my first time comment on this blog, but it seems like a awesome blog…
There are many chores to be done. I agree best way to dry out a tent is set it up in the sun. Dont forget about your tarp. Another thing so many forget about is rope. If rope is allowed to remain wet it will eventually just fall apart.
I agree whole heartedly on making certain your tent is dry before storing. We used to pull up the stakes and tip the still standing tent on its side to help dry the bottom.. That was in dry weather. We would also flip the tarp over and let it air dry, before folding it. When things got wet from packing up in the rain, we had to hang the scout hut so all the tents and tarps would get dry.
Cleaning and drying out the tents is oh so important. Those things are expensive and a mold infection can totally ruin them. Plus the mold has the potential of getting you sick. Good Luck and good blog.
After camping season is over and the cold weather rolls, I move to my kitchen with my cooking. I enjoy putting recipes together in preperation for the warm weather coming. My tents and backpacking equipment is all tucked away nice neat. Enjoy your site.
Molds is a silent danger. It is everywhere above all in humid places and it grows fast. So, as much as possible we have to make sure that our camping gear is properly cleaned and dried out after use. Doing so is ensuring our health and providing a lasting life for our stuff. Not to forget that cleanliness is next to godliness.
Does the mold still set in even if there was only a small dampness on the groundsheets nothing major was really hot when packing away but you’ve got me worried now my tents a huge pile of mold?! lol
Last year we had this summer camping trip and I never had time to clean the tent after camping. And just last week when checking on my camping gear getting ready for this summer it was a total mess. Mold build up and wow, the smell is extremely unpleasant. Even if I cleaned it up the odor won’t go away.
This is really a good advice and it is also a good habit to form. It is no good to tuck away things when they are not clean. Depreciation will set in quickly and you will not be able to use your item for a long period. That is why as you said, it is best to always clean things first properly before keeping them in storage. Thanks again for the nice advice.
This post is a great reminder for this time of the year. Last weekend, I just used my tent for probably the last time this summer, and took extra care to be absolutely sure that everything was dried out!
I am always aware of all such things of camping and drying. It is really an important thing to do that but most of people do not think the same. It is really a good habit. I always do the camping twice a year and used to do dry it. That’s really an informative and good advice.
When it comes to cleaning camping gear especially the tent… That is my husband’s job. He is so meticulous when it comes to cleanliness so I’m am sure that he is storing all our camping gear clean and dry.
Never a truer word said, my very first tent went mouldy after only 2 seasons after I packed it away whilst still damp.
Don’t forget to also clean up the area around your pitch to leave it in good condition for the next campers.
I always make a point of hanging our tents in the garage and airing the sleeping bags well in the fresh air after a trip to get rid any moisture before putting into storage. Its also a good idea to clean off any bird mess from the outer covers as well because this can be very corrosive to the material. Camping gear is expensive and it makes good financial sense to look after it and extend its life,.
I couldn’t agree more. The usual rush at the end of a trip normally means that everything is thrown in the back of the car and you’re off home where it’s still wet (typical UK weather to be honest) and you end up trying to dry your tent indoors somehow!
The likes of cooking equipment and whatnot always used to get cleaned after each use, it was always the poles, tent, wind breaks and that sort of stuff that would end up muddy, marked, wet or something else that really needed to get sorted on site rather than back at home.
It’s just the UK weather has such a big play on packing up after camping!
I couldn’t agree more. Nothing worse than getting your camping gear out after being in winter storage only to find mildew all over it.
We clean everything as soon as we get back, that way we are ready to go next time with no problems. Good camping gear is expensive and I don’t want to replace it any sooner than I absolutely have to.
Only too right Dani! The price of replacements should make you get your rag out to dry or clean off things!
The camping season really never ends, does it? I keep my gear in the van, or accessible in the basement, ready to go at a moment’s notice. Gear maintenance is critical. A dry tent is crucial to prevent mold, but keep in mind too that it should be swept out to keep wear to a minimum.
I keep a lot of lists, and just went through my To Do list, replacing toilet paper, paper towels and dish soap so they’ll be ready for the next trip. Today I sharpened my camp knive (Buck 110).
have to say, it isn’t only this time of the year that you need to look after your outdoor gear. Especially your tent. Any tent that is put away damp will develop mould. As you mention, canvas will go to pieces in a matter of weeks. Polyester and Nylon tents will take forever to rot, but a mouldy tent is not a happy tent. They stink and may transfer mould onto other items causing them to rot. Follow the Aussies advice, whenever you use a tent or anything for that matter, hang it out to dry. On the washing line, draped over a door or in the garage. Easy if you have a backpacking tent. More difficult for the family type tents though… you need to find a friendly local Scout group with a hall spare for a few days!
This is the part I hate the most, cleaning up. After reading this I guess I will have to take care of my camping stuff.
I had an ultralight backpacking tent made of silnylon that I did not shake out when I put it away. Turns out there was a small piece of rock in the bottom and it wore a hole through while it was stuffed up and stored. I make sure it’s all cleaned out now because new gear is expensive!
You are so right! Many years ago we had a canvas tent and we didn’t dry it properly, (we thought it was dry). To make a long story short we had to purchase a new tent the next camping season.
I cannot agree more with the facts you have mentioned here. People always find it difficult to put away things used in camps, the proper way. Others are just simply too tired for all the cleaning and drying up process of tents or stoves.
The extra efforts are usually very helpful to keep things in proper order but people just get so lazy sometimes. Who would want to clean things up after a camp anyway? Sometimes people would still have to force themselves to do so.
Nice post you got here. It’s a sort of an eye opener for those who are consciously keeping their eyes close to these realities of camping.
I do agree, many of us neglect gear by not keeping it cleaned up well. I read an article recently about keeping the tent floor clean during a camp out to prevent the floor from becoming damaged which makes sense when grit and small objects can start a small hole allowing water to leak inside.
I must say I am one for wanting to get the gear out quick and put away quicly too, so I could do with giving a little more attention to keeping it clean
Never.. Never! put away your camping when still wet. Let it dry under the sun. Be carefull and wash your gear and gadgets well with water if you have been on the beach. Camping & outdoors is the best!