How to Clean a Jansport Backpacking Tent

As of 2010, Jansport no longer makes tents for backpackers. This is a disappointment for many backpackers, because Jansport is one of the most widely available and high-quality tent manufacturers in the business. If you still own a Jansport tent and are a big fan of it, you'll want to take good care since it could be the last one you own. Like most other companies, Jansport made its tents from nylon, polyester and other synthetic fabrics that need to be taken care of properly to prevent their deterioration--and nothing is more crucial than proper cleaning prior to offseason storage.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

5-gallon bucket
Mild soap or detergent
Wet rag
Water hose

Step 1

Fill a 5-gallon bucket with warm water and one cup of mild soap or detergent. Use a rag to agitate the solution until it becomes sudsy.

Step 2

Set up the tent in the grass or on the patio of your backyard. Do not stake it down. Unzip all zippers and rainflies and open all compartments on the tent for cleaning and airing out.

Step 3

Scrub down the entire surface of the tent with your rag, including the entire interior. Put the tent on its side and scrub the bottom of the tent.

Step 4

Spray down all the surface area of the tent with a water hose. Put the tent on its side, with the open doors going into the grass, to allow water to drain from the interior.

Step 5

Leave the tent out, erected, for 24 to 48 hours. If you are packing up the tent for the season, you should wait several days to make sure no trapped water remains in the tent. This is the most important step of cleaning because trapped water can lead to the development of mildew. If allowed an entire offseason to grow, mildew can multiply to the point that it can't be killed and eliminated, effectively ruining your tent.

Article Written By Jonathan Croswell

Jonathan Croswell has spent more than five years writing and editing for a number of newspapers and online publications, including the "Omaha World-Herald" and "New York Newsday." Croswell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Nebraska and is currently pursuing a Master's of Health and Exercise Science at Portland State University.

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