3 Tips for Protecting Your Tent During Long-Term Use

Whether you use your tent for seasonal camping, glamping, or extended stays, proper care is essential to keep it performing well over time. A well-maintained tent will last longer, resist damage better, and stay more comfortable and reliable through changing weather conditions. Long-term set-ups especially require a mindful approach to care and maintenance.

Below are key considerations for successfully leaving up any canvas tent for more than a couple of weeks at a time.

1. Site Preparation

The ideal tent site will have good sun exposure, natural water drainage away from the tent, is free of foliage (whether that's large tree limbs or tall grass), located in a natural breezeway and is of course on flat ground. Each of these features helps to combat the growth of mold, enemy #1 to canvas.

Building a wood platform helps to raise a tent off of the ground, away from standing water, mud, and prolonged ground moisture. If a platform isn’t an option, then laying down quarter minus gravel, decomposed granite (or similar) is a great affordable base to create good water drainage. 

Strongly consider a tent fly cover to extend the life of your canvas by providing protection from long-term UV exposure, discouraging dampness, and helps to insulate your tent during hot or cold temperatures. A fly cover can even be temporarily installed when your bell tent is not in use to give your tent extra life and reduce exposure from Mother Nature. 

Your guy lines will not maintain tension for weeks at a time.  If you plan on keeping your tent up for long periods, create posts that you can tie off your ropes to so that they will not loosen over time.  Loose ropes + wind = damaged tent.

2. Regular Maintenance

Rain, birds, trees, leaves wind and the sun will impact the condition of your bell tent after your initial set it up. You will want to monitor and care for your canvas tent regularly to maximize the return on your investment. 

• Do not leave your tent set-up and unattended for multiple days/weeks at a time. Any small problem that goes unnoticed will only worsen with time, especially in wet, windy, or humid conditions. 
• Ensure that guy line ropes are extended properly. Adjust as needed to maintain proper tension. Re-drive stakes and pegs if they loosen, especially after heavy rain or strong wind.
• Reduce humidity being trapped inside the tent by increasing air circulation or adding heat. Open windows, regularly run a fan or periodically use a heater, dehumidifier or A/C unit to dry out the inside. Avoid cooking or leaving wet items inside.
• Cut back all foliage - at least 2-3 feet from the canvas of your tent. Avoid allowing damp grass or leaves from having prolonged contact with the canvas.
• Retreat the waterproofing of your canvas after every 12-16 weeks of continuous use (especially in humid climates) with 303 Fabric Guard to repel moisture. It's time to retreat when water no longer beads and rolls off the canvas.
• Quickly clean mildew, tree sap, dirt, leaves or bird dropping with Iosso Mold & Stain Remover (apply 303 Fabric Guard afterwards).
  
• Take your tent down when it won't be used for several weeks in a row.
• NEVER pack up your tent wet or damp.