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 Topic: Smelly canvas tent -Help!
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09/5/2011 at 10:15am
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Lots.mainly Cabanons!
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We have a canvas tent with mildew from where it was stored in a cellar, it doesn't look too bad when it's dry but when it's wet the mildew is very obvious.
I'd return it to the seller, I wouldn't try to cure it, what did the auction say about the condition of it?
We pitched ours and treated it with white vinegar and water which has killed the mildew but it hasn't got rid of the staining.
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Piglet
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09/5/2011 at 10:44am
Location: Cornwall
Outfit: HypercampDjakarta Vango omega 350
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Thanks piglet, it doesn't seem to have mildew, I don't know what the pale blotches are? It's the fusty smell like it's been stored in damp conditions....
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09/5/2011 at 10:56am
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Lots.mainly Cabanons!
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It's difficult to know without seeing it but I'd imagine that it's mold or mildew if it smells fusty.
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Piglet
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09/5/2011 at 12:35pm
Location: norfolk
Outfit: Hypercamp Esvo Cabanon
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The fusty smell can be got rid of by giving it a good soaking with water and letting it air dry.
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Brian
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09/5/2011 at 3:15pm
Location: norfolk
Outfit: Hypercamp Esvo Cabanon
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We got given some old camping stuff, good quality sleeping bags etc, they also had a musty smell to them but after a couple of goes through the washing machine they turned out fine. As for the musty smell on tents, If the water and a good airing does not work then i have another solution that i was told to try but have not done so yet, fill a spray bottle with vodka and spray the tent, apparently it kills the spores that cause the musty smell.
Waste of vodka if you ask me thats why i have not tried it
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Brian
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09/5/2011 at 4:15pm
Location: E Yorkshire
Outfit: None Entered
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One of my canvas tents looks a bit as you describe, on mine, I think it is where it has been re proofed.
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Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
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09/5/2011 at 4:38pm
Location: london
Outfit: Eriba Puck plus 6 tents!!
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Hi the smell will go as soon as you have pitched it and it gets a bit of fesh air blowing on it. Dont wash it. You need to put it up outside or book a weekend away with it. My old Raclet smelt terrible when I got it but the smell soon goes away.
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carry on camping
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09/5/2011 at 8:56pm
Location: oxfordshire
Outfit: Hi Gear Corado 6 & Outwell Virginia 5
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Have you not got a friend or family member who would allow you to pitch it in their garden to give it an airing?
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10/5/2011 at 8:09am
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I opened up a little tent dated from the mid eighties recently, a two man ridge tent (nylon). It smelt really fusty, and does have some mildew damage on the inner and even a couple of holes (on inner also). The outer is a bit faded in patches due to fold marks and UV damage. I'm really getting into 'retro' now and think a few marks give it a bit of character - it's been a well used and well loved tent.
Anyway I few days pitched in the garden, a shower of rain on it, and it's no longer musty. If I were you I would go camping in it, and take a pop up tent or other small dome tent (begged or borrowed) as a back up. If you square it with the campsite owner first I'm sure they would let you pitch both small tents on the same plot.
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24/6/2012 at 10:43am
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi
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Same problem here with a canvas sunshade type awning for the caravan. I put it through the washer on a hot wash, and put zoflora into the final rinse cycle, it seemed ok when it came out, but after drying on the washing line it still smelled musty!
It's in the tumble dryer this morning with some of those perfumy bits of tissue that look like wet wipes (can't remember what they are called!)
If that doesn't work, I heard that putting it in the freezer for approx a week would, so I'm going to try that next. I have nothing to lose here, so its a good experiment.
Edited to add - it just about fitted into the tumble dryer, but I didn't have any of those purpose made fabric softener/freshener things left, so I put a few spots of zoflora on a wet wipe and left it for half and hour on full heat... then turned it around, stuffed it back in and put some more zoflora on the wet wipe and repeated the process for another half hour. It seems to have worked, it's quite fresh smelling now!
Now I have to re-proof it, I think.
Post last edited on 24/06/2012 18:47:23
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28/6/2012 at 6:37pm
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi
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Ah another idea down the drain! The zoflora didn't work altogether, and I don't think that it killed the mould spores either! I have had a cough since the day I washed and dried it, don't know if it's zoflora, mould spores or both.
So I packed it away in a plasic bag and stuck it in the freezer - will report back if there is a good result. I'm going away for a fortnight so it will be in there for approx 14 days or more.
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28/6/2012 at 9:05pm
Location: Shropshire North Wales borders
Outfit: Adria Win
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Zoflora won't kill mould spores, you need a bleach of some sort. Sterilising fluid for baby's bottles is good.
But it also kills the waterproofing properties.
All old tents smell musty when they've been left for a couple of years in their bags. A good airing is all they need.
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Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
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28/6/2012 at 9:49pm
Location: Corinium in the Cotswolds
Outfit: Calais - Eldorado - Alaska - Romahome
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Quote: Originally posted by rochford6 on 09/5/2011
We got given some old camping stuff, good quality sleeping bags etc, they also had a musty smell to them but after a couple of goes through the washing machine they turned out fine. As for the musty smell on tents, If the water and a good airing does not work then i have another solution that i was told to try but have not done so yet, fill a spray bottle with vodka and spray the tent, apparently it kills the spores that cause the musty smell.
Waste of vodka if you ask me thats why i have not tried it
What you need to do is, one squirt on the tent and two squirts in the mouth. Not so much wasted then.
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There are no signs of dark spotty mildew, just some faded pale blotchy marks up one side of the tent. Not a happy bunny, i will be contacting the seller to tell him so.
