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Topic: bubble makers...

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hankakampa

15/3/2017 at 10:35am
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folks,

just a heads up about bubble makers for kids ( and some big kids lol ) ...

in case you dont already know...

these bubble makers which produce hundereds of bubbles that kids love - are a campers' worst nightmare.

bubbles when they land on someone's tent ( it could be yours! ) destroy the waterproof coating on the tent - please dont give out bubble makers as a fun activity on a campsite!.

pass this on too!.

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DeborahTurner

15/3/2017 at 10:50am
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This is a Top Tip!

Festivals seem infested with bubble pollution.

lizex

15/3/2017 at 1:02pm
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Good point, well made!

I would add the same applies to paper sky lanterns, which I have also seen being used near tents.

Opensauce

15/3/2017 at 3:27pm
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Applies to an awful lot of other things including footballs. If you want to ask millennial parents nicely to get their little darlings to cease & desist expect a mouthful of abuse from those with such a sense of entitlement that the red mist automatically descends at slightest criticism their mini thems.

Mucker1884

15/3/2017 at 4:36pm
Location: Derby.
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Quote: Originally posted by hankakampa on 15/3/2017
folks,

just a heads up about bubble makers for kids ( and some big kids lol ) ...

in case you dont already know...

these bubble makers which produce hundereds of bubbles that kids love - are a campers' worst nightmare.

bubbles when they land on someone's tent ( it could be yours! ) destroy the waterproof coating on the tent - please dont give out bubble makers as a fun activity on a campsite!.

pass this on too!.

And that applies to all soaps/detergents of course, including washing up liquid, (for those that wash up at the tent!)

I believe the same applies to deodorant sprays too?

I've just taken to ignoring normal hygiene procedures when camping. No washing, no deodorant... and the smell keeps the little 5h*ts with bubble machines at a safe distance!!

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Jim1977

15/3/2017 at 4:43pm
Location: Leicestershire
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So many campsite shops sell bubble mix - madness!

I have heard that if bubble mix does go on a canvas tent that repeated wetting will wash the detergent through and solve the issue, does anyone know if this is true?

queensmessenger

15/3/2017 at 6:51pm
Location: Scottish Borders
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Had this problem some years ago with a trailer tent room that had dozens of bubbles land and burst on the roof from little darlings next door. Leaked constantly in every shower of rain and ruined holiday. Spoke to kids parents at the time but response was simply that as they had an acrylic tent there was no problem so sod everyone else.
Repeated washing with plain water followed by reproof after reproof did not fix it. Eventually had to sell trailer tent with warning to new owner re leaking from soap bubbles. More or less had to give it away. Site owners also unsympathetic. Now rage at anyone with bubbles no matter where they are on site.

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kiwistu69

15/3/2017 at 10:26pm
Location: Cheltenham
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Quote: Originally posted by Jim1977 on 15/3/2017
So many campsite shops sell bubble mix - madness!

I have heard that if bubble mix does go on a canvas tent that repeated wetting will wash the detergent through and solve the issue, does anyone know if this is true?

Jim, perhaps you should try it on your tent and then report back with the results?

Jim1977

16/3/2017 at 6:48am
Location: Leicestershire
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Kiwistu - I think in the interests of science, as a control this needs to be tested on "Virgin" canvas. A yet to be pitched Karsten would be ideal I think

Cross Camping

16/3/2017 at 7:42am
Location: Hertfordshire
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I made a video some time ago that might help explain ... it's all to do with water surface tension.
https://youtu.be/kO7P5TCGQ8g

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Mucker1884

16/3/2017 at 3:16pm
Location: Derby.
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Quote: Originally posted by Cross Camping on 16/3/2017
I made a video some time ago that might help explain ... it's all to do with water surface tension.
https://youtu.be/kO7P5TCGQ8g

Not the best video you've produced Gary, as the "darker material" maybe isn't as obvious on camera as it may well have been to the eye, but as it comes from you, and I consider your word to be as good as anybody's on here, I for one believe the story behind the myth (To be fair, I always have, since the day I first read it on here!

Clearly soaps, detergents and kiddie's bubbles do tent fly sheets no good at all!

What would your comments be regarding polycottons and/or cotton canvas? Would we be looking at similar results?

spiritburner

16/3/2017 at 8:40pm
Location: NE England
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Synthetic flysheets - Surely that's just the original DWR (durable waterproof repellent) applied to the outside that's affected. If the coating on the underside of the face fabric is sound it shouldn't go right through but will lengthen drying times.

Wetting out is not ideal but not the end of the world on a non-breathable fabric.

What the video didn't show was if water had gone right through. If it does I'd change the tent pretty quickly as any surface DWR refresh treatment is only gone to be temporary.

Cross Camping

17/3/2017 at 11:20am
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Hey, what can I say other than if you want to let any kind of soap near your tent that's up to you. I for one wouldn't

As for poly cotton again I wouldn't let any kind of soap / detergent etc near my tent.
Take a bowl of water and rest a needle on the surface and it will float due to the surface tension...repeat the experiment but add a drop of washing up liquid and watch the needle sink to the bottom.
The water becomes wetter lol if that makes sense and will penetrate fabric far easier.

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spiritburner

17/3/2017 at 5:31pm
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I was ignoring the soap aspect & commenting more on the wetting out - something that will happen eventually anyway with a synthetic fly.

Bob61

17/3/2017 at 10:47pm
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Quote: Originally posted by spiritburner on 16/3/2017
Synthetic flysheets - Surely that's just the original DWR (durable waterproof repellent) applied to the outside that's affected. If the coating on the underside of the face fabric is sound it shouldn't go right through but will lengthen drying times.

Wetting out is not ideal but not the end of the world on a non-breathable fabric.

What the video didn't show was if water had gone right through. If it does I'd change the tent pretty quickly as any surface DWR refresh treatment is only gone to be temporary.

I agree with this. As I understand it a polyester tent consists of the polyester fabric which is not waterproof in itself, but is laminated on the inside with a polyurethane layer which is waterproof. The outside of the tent is sprayed with a durable waterproof repellent i.e silicon.

The purpose of the silicon is to cause rainwater to bead and run off easily thus aiding the water repellent properties of the material.

If the silicon wears off, as it may do after a long period of time, the rainwater soaks into the polyester layer making it darker in colour but due to the polyurethane layer on the inside the tent remains waterproof. Without the silicon layer on the outside the material may also sag with the weight of the water soaked into it making the tent look a bit worse for wear.

If the tent, when dry, is sprayed with a silicon waterproofer such as Fabsil, it will again cause rainwater to bead and run off without soaking in.

A detergent applied to the outside will wash off the silicon and cause the material to look darker because water will have soaked in. If the detergent is washed off thoroughly and silicon applied it should be back to normal.

If you look at Gary's video the tissue underneath the sample remained dry in all 3 test areas indicating that water had not leaked through.

A cotton canvas tent is different in that it is self waterproofing. When the fibres get wet they swell enough to prevent water getting through the weave. A bubble or film of water covers the micropores of the material and acts as a barrier preventing water penetration. If you touch the inside of a canvas tent it will start leaking at that point because you will have broken that film of water...detergent will have the same affect. However, if the area is thoroughly scrubbed of detergent then it will be waterproof the next time.

So yes, bubbles are a pain in the backside but I would be more concerned about sparks from fires lit in BBQ's because one small spark landing on the roof of a polyester tent will make a hole in it.

Post last edited on 17/03/2017 22:52:54

Mucker1884

18/3/2017 at 8:32am
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I've just been reminded of another tip in my latest trip report thread... wiping down the wet tent with old towels before packing away...

I remember reading on here that old but freshly laundered towels may just hold on to some of the detergent used to wash them, which could then be transferred to the wet tent when wiping it down.
So, as gullible as we are, we don't even use detergent when washing our old "camping towels"! Just a hot rinse through the machine.
Ok, they may not look great, and they may not feel soft and fluffy of course, but hey, they are only old rags, when all said and done!

OTT? Or sensible approach?

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