What to do with a dirty tent?

[LiveStrong]

A few months ago I went on a bicycle tour/ camping adventure. The first night, it rained throughout the night. In the morning Mud/ Muddy water had splashed all over the tent. I needed to pack up on get moving to the next location, what would you have done with this nasty tent? I packed it up just like I would have if it were dry/clean. When I got to the next site and set-up, everything was stained, and obviously still wet.

What should I have done to prevent this?

[Bigdog57]

Re: What to do with a dirty tent?

Welcome to our camping forum! Hope you stick around and add to the group knowledge.

If at a campground with facilities, you could use a water hose to spray the worst of the gunk off - be nice to have time to let it dry, but if you had to move on, it would be still wet later. Simply a bad situation!.

On one trip by motorcycle, a buddy did not put on his rainfly, and his small dome tent flooded in a sudden rain while we were out riding the area! He was able to wash&dry his sleeping bag and clothes, but could only wipe the worst of the wet out with paper towels and his bath towel. The tent was still dampish that next night.

[Wardrow]

Re: What to do with a dirty tent?

Have aired out your tent since you got home?????????

[NYCgrrl]

Re: What to do with a dirty tent?

Depending on your weight concerns, a blue tarp rain fly would prolly make for a more comfortable tent as your trip continued .

[Eaglebait Ranch]

Re: What to do with a dirty tent?

Hi NYCgrrl, Welcome!

Dealing with a wet tent and best be determined by the situation you found yourself in. My wife and I were traveling in Tasmania this last November. We spent two nights sleeping with a wet tent, packing it back in it's dry bag (we both always store our tent/s in dry bags because the stuff sacks they come in are not water proof). The first day of nice weather, we found a nice park, found a sunny spot, set up the tent to let it dry out, and we spent the day at the park, relaxing. I guess that could have happened if we were on bikes, too.

Typically, if we wake up inside a tent, when it has been raining outside, we take a dry/dirty shirt and make sure all the "wetness" inside the tent is wiped up. Usually, it is the rainfly that gets soaked - because there is netting at the tops of our tents so we put up the rainfly if it looks like the evening is going to be wet. I stuff the tent into the dry bag first, then put in the rain fly. If the weather turns nice, and I want to take the time, I can then get out the rain fly and somewhat dry it out.

Then, again, sometimes I have gone 3-4 nights with a wet tent. Stuff happens on the trail.

[LiveStrong]

Re: What to do with a dirty tent?

Thanks everybody! After I returned home, I sprayed the tent down with a hose, and dumped out the pool of water. Then just let it air dry outside for a while.

I'm not sure I would like to carry a tarp with me all the time when riding. I'm sure on future trips if I anticipate bad weather, I can pick one up though. That trip was really my first tour, and was a huge learning experience for me. It was the first time using some of my gear in the field. Aside from a poor time estimate and raunchy weather, the trip was very fun.