Information on Caring for your tent and sleeping bag

Home

Product Search

Site Map

Checkout

Track Your Order

Become a Campers Glory Fan on Facebook

Campers Glory on Facebook

Verified Family Friendly Site

Peak to Peak Trail and Wilderness Links

Storing Your Sleeping Bag

Before your bag is stored, allow as much time for it to air out as possible. When not in use, a sleeping bag should not be rolled up tightly or stored in its stuff sack. The best way to store your bag is:

Lying loosely on a shelf.
Hanging it by the loops at the foot of the bag in a closet.
Stuffing it loosely in a storage bag.

The best way to clean your sleeping bag is to follow these simple instructions:
Washing Your Sleeping Bag
Machine Wash
Wash only in commercial heavy duty, front-loading, tumble-type machine set on "gentle" cycle. These are the machines usually found at laundry mats. Wash in warm water with mild soap, detergent, or specialty bag cleaning solution (for example, McNett X-Treme™ wash) with the bag zipper closed. Dry by hanging over a clothesline or in a commercial front load tumble-type dryer set on "cold air only".

Hand Wash
Hand wash in warm water with a mild soap, detergent, or specialty bag cleaning solution (for example, McNett X-Treme™ wash).
Rinse thoroughly in warm water until all the soap is removed.
Dry by hanging over a clothesline or in a commercial front load tumble-type dryer set on "cold air only".
NOTE: To avoid damage to the washing machine and your bag, do not use agitator or plunger type machines.

Sleeping bags made with down insulation should be:
Hand washed in mild soap such as Woolite® or McNett Thunder Down™ Cleaner. After washing, hang to dry, periodically shaking the bag to loosen wet down. Or, dry cleaned by a professional familiar with down products.

Tent Care

Cleaning
Clean the tent by setting it up and wiping it down with a mild soap (liquid hand soap) and lukewarm water solution. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. Never use detergent, washing machines or dryers because they can damage the tent's protective coating and seams. After cleaning, be sure the tent is completely dry, especially the heavier, double-stitched areas such as the seams, before storing or mold and mildew are likely to grow.

Clean the tent poles with a soft, dry cloth. This is especially necessary after ocean side camping trips to remove salt spray so the poles don't corrode or stay gritty.

Clean the zippers with a quick dip in water and then dry them off. This is especially important if you've been camping in a location with sand/dirt. If you don't clean the zippers, the sliders will wear out and eventually the teeth will become inoperable.

Seam Sealing
We recommend use of a sealer such as Kenyon Seam Sealer 3 or McNett Outdoor SeamGrip. Be sure to check directions on the side of container for specifics before beginning the seam sealing process.

Seam sealing should be done in a fully ventilated area. Set the tent up or lay the tent out flat. Taut seams allow for even application and penetration of the sealer.

Decide which seams need to be sealed. For example, seams that will be exposed to rain, runoff, or ground level water are a must for sealing, while seams on uncoated nylon or mesh panels won't need treatment. You won't need to seal the seams in the roof or the factory taped seams either. We recommend sealing both floor & fly seams and reinforcements.

Apply sealant to the inside and outside of all exposed seams. Draw or brush the sealant along the seam, spreading it evenly and liberally into all of the needle holes. Several thin layers will work better than one thick layer. Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for the sealant to completely dry before storing the tent. Twelve hours for SeamGrip®.

Storage
Make sure the tent is completely dry, then store loosely rolled, in a dry, cool place. To prevent dust from collecting on the tent, cover it with a cloth. This allows the nylon/polyester fabric to breathe.

Ideally, the tent poles should be stored in their fully assembled state. This reduces the tension on the shock cord, prolonging its life. We recommend that the tent bag be used only as a carry sack and not for storage.

General Tips:

Use a ground cloth under the tent whenever possible. If you choose, Eureka! has pre-cut sizes. If not, trace the tent on the ground cloth and cut smaller than the tent footprint to avoid having it act as a water collector. Ground cloths are easier and less expensive to replace than torn tent floors.
Try not to wear shoes inside your tent.
Bring a small rug or mat to put inside the tent door to wipe off mud and catch sand.
Sweep the tent floor daily to prevent damage from stones.
Do not keep food inside the tent. Hungry critters will chew through the tent fabric in search of a snack.

HOME TENTS BAGS STOVES COOKWARE GEAR