We hope you had a wonderful camping season with lots of exciting camping adventures and memories made :) As the nights start to draw in and the temperatures start to drop a little it's almost … unless you have a late Autumn camping trip planned time to pop your Camping Gear away for the Winter months .. it's also a great time to check your camping Equipment and make a list of anything that might need a little attention in Spring :)
Make sure it's dry …. when your storing you're tent away for winter it can be a little prone to mildew which can occur with even the slightest amount of moisture , so before you pack your tent away for Winter make sure it's completely dry … a few tips from the team ….
Water traps … Always check the guy lines - these can appear to be dry but being woven can trap water - most sewn in groundsheet tents have a fold of fabric at the bottom of the tent where it meets the groundsheet , this can trap water too! Pole Sleeves … make sure there's no water trapped in your pole sleeves especially if you have been on a recent damp camping trip! Time to take a look inside…. check behind window coverings , in the creases too! Again, with most sewn in groundsheet tents there is a lip around the inside of the tent to catch excess condensation … this can trap a little moisture … finally if you have an outer up first tent , remove the bedrooms for winter storage … very often condensation can get trapped underneath or behind bedroom pods. As you fold your tent make sure your groundsheet is completely dry.
Where to store your tent , somewhere dry but where the tent can breathe , not in a plastic box where any potential moisture wouldn't be able to escape … our family tent is stored in our garden shed or the attic!
A little more about mildew , mildew is a mould that thrives in damp conditions and grows quickly on damp fabrics - the best way to avoid it is to make sure your tent and camping equipment is stored completely dry. If you have discovered Mildew on your tent there are a couple of things you can do … the staining will almost certainly never go - a quick google search can generate quite a few results these are very often too aggressive for tent fabrics and will just damage the fabric even more - we wouldn't recommend any of these methods of cleaning , they are far too harsh for tent fabric. Instead choose a tent cleaning product these are specialist cleaning products for tents.
Always use tent cleaners and proofers that are designed for use on tent fabrics, if you do need to clean your tent the cleaner will almost certainly strip the waterproofing from your fabric, so a re proof will be needed too … but always follow the manufacturer's instructions and those of your tent manufacturer too!
A camping myth …. We've had it confirmed that …. Fabsil doesn't get rid of Mildew Spores … for quite a few years we have heard rumours that fabsil as well as being a Waterproofing treatment , actually kills mildew spores … we've asked the team at Fabsil and this isn't the case unfortunately.
Be Prepared for next season ….while you're getting your tent ready for winter storage it's the perfect time to take a look at those jobs you meant to do or make a not for what needs doing before your first Spring Camping trip!
Poles … are your poles in great condition? if you have fibreglass or Alloy poles check them for fractures or splintering , these are readily available as spares and easy to repair … we can fix them too! Air Beams are a little harder to check, if you know you have a problem it's aways worth checking the valves with a valve tightener or if you definitely have a leak we can help with a replacement too.
Tent Rubbers …. are these in good working order? you can buy replacement bungee cord for smaller tents or replacement rubbers for larger , primarily canvas tents and awnings.
Guylines , any signs of fraying can be easily rectified with some replacement guyline … sold by the meter and easy to replace yourself too!
A little fabric repair … we love Stormsure , this great product has been specifically designed for use with tent fabrics it's a self adhesive transparent repair tape , simply peel and stick making sure your fabric is free of dust. A little tip …. if your fabric is a little brittle and feels as though it may rip in the opposite direction to your tear easily then it may be time for a new flysheet.
Winter is a great time ….to order those bits and pieces … did you know that here @ IBEX Camping we are authorised Spares Stockists for Coleman® and Campingaz® during the winter months delivery times from Coleman® Spares and Campingaz® Spares can be a little speedier … plus you'll be ready for Springtime too! Not sure what you need? Our family team are always happy to help … send us a Spare Parts Request
Water in the tent! Definitely a Spring time job but worth remembering … modern tents can generate a lot of condensation and this can vary with every camping trip , the weather conditions people camping can all impact on the level of moisture in the tent from condensation, this will usually dissipate during the day with a little ventilation.
If there is more persistent water in your tent this is likely to be coming from the seams or through the fabric , these are easy to fix provided there is still life in your tent fabric. If your fabric is feeling a little brittle and susceptible to tearing or damage it may be that it has been damaged by UV and it's time for a new flysheet.
If your fabric is nice and supple still then a repair will be absolutely fine … seam sealant is easy to apply and helps fill the gaps in the missing seam tape or stitch puncture holes … if your water is coming through the fabric it may be time to re proof … did you know that it's always best to clean first! Choose a nice warm day and pitch your tent , then clean using the manufacturers instructions , and re proof as directed with your re proofer and your tent will be ready for another season of camping adventures.
Our family Team are always happy to offer a little advice , we are also Coleman® and Campingaz® Authorised Spares Stockists! #ReuseNotReplace
These hints and tips are just a few shared words from our family team , from our many years of family camping and a little we've learnt along the way too! We aren't sharing guidance or recommendations. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for your Tent and any products you may choose to use.
