Taking proper care of your tent is essential to prolong the life of your tent. If you camp with your family each year then you will want to get the most out of your tent, making it last as long as you can. Depending on where you live, your camping trips may be just a few times in the summer or you may go quite often, starting in the spring. Either way, proper care and storage of your tent will make your tent last for many years. If you neglect caring for your tent you run the risk of it quickly disintegrating and your tent will stop providing adequate coverage from the elements.
Make sure you follow the instructions in the owners manual for proper setup and care regarding your tent. Haphazardly placed poles or unsecured tent pegs will not only lead to damaging the tent, it can cause accidents as well causing the tent to breakdown prematurely. Make sure to carefully and correctly place all the tent pieces in the proper places. Take care to not let your pets lie on the equipment or allow your children to play with the parts of your tent. Store any unused tent fixtures in their protective case or bag to keep them safe and ready for use the next time they are needed.
Do not cook too close to the tent and make sure to place your tent away from the fire. Secure all flaps to prevent them from getting torn when flapping in the breeze or in a thunderstorm, especially if you will be away from the tent and the campsite. Do not let children wrestle near or in the tent and avoid hanging heavy objects from the tent. This could cause the tent to sag and could cause tares. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen using the method suggested in your owners manual.
When your trip has come to an end, take the time needed to take down the tent properly. Ensure that each piece is not pulled out hastily and that all parts are accounted for. Follow your instruction manual for proper folding of the tent. Make sure the tent is dry prior to folding and putting away. Once all of your gear is out of the tent sweep out any dirt or debris. If you are unable to do this at the campsite then simply put the tent up in your yard to clean it out once you are home.
Store the tent as recommended and make sure that it is in a dry cool place away from pest as they can nest inside and possibly eat the fabric. Avoid using chemicals such as pesticides or cleaning products on the tent or near it, as the chemicals could break down the waterproof barrier. In addition they can be toxic to pets and children.
Do not store food in or around the tent perimeter and make sure to never eat inside the tent as well, as this can attract bugs and/or animals. If you have a picnic table at your campsite, then use this for eating; and store all food in your vehicle. Some tents come equipped with a screened room that is good for the use of meal times but be sure to clean up after yourself. You may even want to consider a separate screened room to avoid the pesky pests.
If you have a ground cloth, it is a wise choice to use it. Most of these are made a little smaller then the tent, so be sure to tuck the edge of the tarp or ground cloth under the tent to avoid problems should it rain. Upon returning home from your trip you may want to set up the tent in the yard to make sure it is completely clean and to air it out to prevent the growth of mildew. Try not to store the tent in a stuffed sack, instead store it loosely in a dry, well ventilated area. You can then use the sack to pack the tent when you are ready to use it again.
Author Resource:-
Warren L. Smith offers a fountain of information on such tents as: pop-up tents and campers, family tents, party tents, and even trailer tents. For the best up to date information on all essential tents for camping, go to http://www.tentsandmoreonline.com/
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