Just spent a couple of very rainy nights in my Coleman Kobuk Valley tent which kept me bone dry, but have dried the tent off, and the inside of the flysheet has white spots on it, I guess where condensation had gathered. The tent is definitely fully dry, so not mildew, is it anything I need to be worried about?
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Thanks for that. I did think(or rather hope!) that might be the case. It's on the bit that's treated for the blackout bedroom(which was heaven!). Strong tent, really impressed with it, the only negative was packing it away wet when coming home, there was no way I could get it back in its bag without rolling it in the mud, so I was glad I'd taken Rubble sacks for the journey home!
Although I thought I had put my tent away dry two trips ago, when I erected it on my last trip I saw lots of white spots on the roof and upper part of one wall. I assumed, like yourself, that the tent must have had condensation inside, probably on the windows. I got a damp cloth and managed to wash most of the spots off with plain water. Luckily, it was on a very hot day so after the sun had been on it for awhile all the spots totally disappeared. I know the tent went away dry this time so I am hoping the spots don't reappear again.
The fact the spots were so easy to remove suggests they were just water marks and not mildew. It was the first time I had ever had a problem like that so a bit of a shock when I first saw them
With regards to rolling the tent up...were you using a footprint under the tent? If not, it will be worth your while getting one (just a waterproof tarpaulin will do) because it keeps the bottom of the tent clean and usually dry and the tent can be rolled up on top of it instead of on the muddy grass. The tarpaulin can then just be folded up and shoved in a bin liner and washed off at home. Far easier than trying to wash off the tent.
Hi Bob, luckily I'd taken a tarpaulin with me, so the bottom of the tent was in good shape, the tarpaulin wasn't, but a quick wash with the shower once home saw it good as new again. I've sponged the white marks, and they seem to have gone, it was just a bit of a panic moment thinking maybe something was washing off!
Quote: Originally posted by addyeddy on 17/9/2017
Hi Bob, luckily I'd taken a tarpaulin with me, so the bottom of the tent was in good shape, the tarpaulin wasn't, but a quick wash with the shower once home saw it good as new again. I've sponged the white marks, and they seem to have gone, it was just a bit of a panic moment thinking maybe something was washing off!
Sorry if I was teaching granny to suck eggs - lol. I have been lucky in only having to pack a tent away in pouring rain once. On that occasion I persevered and rolled the tent up and packed it in it's bag and put it in the boot of the car. When I got home the well of the boot was literally full of water...surprising how much water a wet tent holds! I now take bin liners just in case and like you, the tent would just get shovelled into one if it was wet.
There is no problem with washing the inside of a tent because that is the waterproof polyurethane membrane, but the outside has a silicon layer called DWR (durable water repellent) and that can be washed off. I would leave any marks on the outside of the tent alone and let the weather deal with them.
I have always liked Coleman tents and used to have one. Coleman are bringing out some really nice tents now and a lot of thought has gone into them i.e. the blackout inner. I am almost tempted to buy another one before they become too popular and the prices shoot up.
Post last edited on 17/09/2017 22:29:16
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