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Hi, am looking for views/advice.

I paid over 100 eu for a brand new Wenka tarp (bought July and used last week for first time) ... I am wondering if mine is a dud as I know most people have had a great experience with theirs.

But I noticed that it rained one day and the tarp developed black marks over it, it rained again the next day and the marks got worse, and by day 3 of on and off rain the tarp now looks so black-spottie that you would think it was a 10 year old tarp and not a brand new one!  The tarp was pitched up at all times during these 3 days of on-and-off rain, it was not packed away wet .... so I am totally unable to account for how it has all these black mildew marks all over it.

Questions:

1.  What has gone wrong do you think?

2.  Is there a remedy to fix the terrible discolouration all over it?

3.  Do you think I have any come-back with Wenka for a refund?  Reason I ask is that I cut the tarp into two sections to modify it to make it a more manageable size for my tent, so its not like it was when delivered as its been modified.  However the modification in size should have had zero impact on why the tarp has totally discoloured and looks like its totally covered in mildew.

I thought mildew only formed when material was packed away went and there was no air to circulate it and dry it.  This was defo not the case ... my tarp was pitched at all times during the 3 days of rain and it was allowed to dry out inbetween showers and also it remained pitched for a few days after the rain stopped before I took it down.  It was as if the mildew was appearing during the rain showers, if that makes sense?

Humbird

Hi gary and val, thanks for your replies.  The tarp was not pitched under a tree.  The marks are not "streaky" kind of marks ... more like thousands of little black dots that now give a generally totally grubby mouldy appearance.  I am going to try to upload pics of it tomorrow so you can see for yourselves (am not able to do it today).

I am back from hols now so will get to work on it by laying it over the clothes line and see what can be done by way of cleaning it - thanks for telling me NO CLEANING PRODUCTS !

I might post a picture of it to Wenka and see what they say ... but I am not hopeful ... they are not the most communicative of companies even at the best of times.

Thanks!

Humbird