How to Clean Your Tent & Gear to Prep for Camping Season

Sure, camping is all about embracing nature and getting a little dirty and roughed up, especially when it comes to your tents and camping gear. But what happens when you want to do that first camping trip of the new season and you go and grab your gear, only to find that the caked on mud didn’t magically go away. And to make it worse, that musty smell on your sleeping bag may mean you’ve got a bit more prep work to do before you can return to nature.

Read on to find out how to easily clean your tent and other camping gear with natural products so you can explore the planet sustainably.

When it comes to specific products, you can use a mild, fragrance-free dish soap or a cleaner that is specifically designed for outdoor gear and clothing. You should also have a gentle sponge or cloth handy for scrubbing.

Below is a list of natural products that can help get your tent looking clean in no time.

Now that you know which kinds of products to look for, let’s break down the best way to clean a tent step-by-step.

Step 1: Gather the supplies you need

This includes cold or lukewarm water, a dish soap similar to the one mentioned above, a detergent that is made for outdoor gear and clothing, a gentle sponge or cloth and a bathtub or a washing device of a similar size.

Step 2: Start by wiping down the tent with dish soap

Using the gentle sponge or cloth of your choice, wash the tent with dish soap.

Step 3: Wash it with sport detergent

Pour the tent cleaner (such as an activewear detergent) into a tub of lukewarm or warm water. Submerge the tent into the water with it facing inside out.

Step 4: Rinse the tent

Make sure to rinse the tent thoroughly so that it is free from all soap.

Step 5: Dry the tent

To air dry the tent, hang it in a cool and shaded area.

Even though tents do get dirty, it is not recommended to put them in either the washing machine or dryer.

The steps above work for cleaning sleeping bags and other camping fabrics too!

Of course, a tent isn’t the only thing that gets dirty on a camping trip. There’s also camping cookware.

Camping cookware is made from a variety of materials including titanium, cast iron, stainless steel, enamel, and aluminum, which means the products vary when it comes to the best ways to clean the cookware.

For cookware made out of titanium, you’ll need:

liquid dish soap
• a scrubbing pad made of nylon, which helps protect the cookware, or a scouring pad made of natural fibers

For cast iron, you’ll need:

• Sea salt
• a gentle cloth

For stainless steel and enamel cookware, you’ll need:

• Boiled water with baking soda

Grove tip: Baking soda helps clean aluminum as well, but instead of boiled water, mix it with biodegradable dish soap.

The steps for cleaning cookware are pretty easy once you have your products. Just scrub with soap and rinse clean! Most of these items aren’t dishwasher-safe so hand washing is key.