9 tips for an even longer lifespan of your TenCate tent fabric

TenCate Outdoor Fabrics produces tent canvasses that will give you years of pleasure and convenience. During the development stage we look at how the fabric is used in practice to maximize its lifespan. There are however also things you can do yourself to keep your tent well maintained and performing at its best. These nine tips will help you enjoy your TenCate tent fabric for even longer!

1. Ensure the tent fabric has enough tension

When you finally arrive at your destination after a long drive, all you want to do is pitch your tent as quickly as possible. However it is extremely important to take time to do this properly and ensure the canvas has the right tension. You need to ensure there are no folds and waves in the tent fabric. This helps the rainwater to run down the canvas more easily. Do not worry about stretching the fabric, guy lines and loops too tight. The tent fabric from TenCate Outdoor Fabrics is designed with this in mind.

2. Do not touch the tent fabric with greasy hands

It is important to never touch your tent fabric with greasy hands, as this can affect its water resistance. Something as harmless as sunscreen can potentially damage the fabric. Therefore always ensure you wash your hands before you touch the tent.

3. Do not place items against the tent canvas

Whether you have an awning, tunnel tent or glamping tent: do not place chairs or other items up against the fabric. Scraping the fabric can easily cause damage. This can result in leakage in the long-term.

4. Do not touch the tent fabric when it is raining

Try to not touch the tent canvas during a rain shower. Touching the fabric might cause water to ‘hang’, which will increase the risk of leakage.

5. Prevent soap residue getting on the tent fabric

Do not hang wet laundry or towels over your tent. Especially wet tea towels or hand towels, as these can still contain soap residues. When soap comes into contact with the tent canvas, it can affect the water-repellent properties of the fabric. We understand that it is convenient, but using a drying rack is a much better solution.

6. Clean the tent mudflaps and groundsheet thoroughly

Cleaning the mudflaps and groundsheet is a difficult job. Just vacuuming is unfortunately not enough. Clean the flaps and sheet on both sides with warm water. When the groundsheet is dry, you can treat it with a Teflon-based polish. This is available for purchase at several camping shops. The polish makes the groundsheet extra repellent, which makes it easier to remove moisture and dirt in the future.

7. Ensure your tent has good ventilation

It is extremely important to ensure your tent is well ventilated. This is how you prevent condensation and possible mould. This is a reason why many people buy a tent with lots of ventilation options to reduce the chance of condensation. It is also a good idea to use multiple ventilation points; one is not enough. If you do not have enough ventilation options, you can also choose to buy a dehumidifier. This is a reservoir with special granules to absorb moisture, condensation and bad odours from the air.

8. Do not cook in the tent

When you cook at home, you have an extractor fan to remove cooking fumes. Of course, you do not have this when you are camping. It is therefore always better to cook outside the tent. If, for whatever reason, you still want to cook inside the tent, ensure the cooking fumes are able to dissipate well.

9. Always clean the tent before packing it away

Always clean the tent thoroughly before packing it away. Ultramar XL cleaning products are very suitable for this job. It is also important that the tent dries off completely after cleaning. Storing your tent wet is always a bad idea, regardless of the type of tent fabric. If there is really no other option, unpack the tent as soon as you can to allow it to air and dry properly.