Tent Care: Do’s & Don’ts
Keeping your Tentco tent in top condition ensures years of reliable adventure. Follow these simple care tips to protect your investment and enjoy lasting performance.
Do’s
- Check that you have all your parts and components before and after your trip.
- Allow your tent to dry completely before you pack it away for storage. This will discourage the formation of mildew (Although the fabric is treated with mildew inhibitor, no fabric is completely mildew-proof).
- Secure your tent properly when pitching it, so that strong winds cannot dislodge and damage the tent or frame.
Don’ts
- Store your tent on a concrete floor.
- Pitch your tent near an open fire.
- Spray your tent with insecticide.
- Stand on your canvas cover.
- Store your tent in a damp state and in direct sunlight.
- Wash your tent with a detergent, bleach, dry clean, iron or tumble dry.
- Pitch your tent under a tree which may drop sap or gum.
- Expose your tent to any open flame (candles, matches, camp-fire). Heating and cooking flame should be kept well clear of your tent.
- Pull on loose threads, cut it off with scissors.
Before Use:
- Before using the tent for the fist time, pitch the tents, wet it with a hosepipe, let it dry and repeat two to three times. This will ensure the thread swells to seal the seams completely.
- When preparing for a trip, pitch your tent fully at home. This exercise will ensure that:
- The tent is undamaged.
- None of its sections or accessories is missing.
- You become familiar with the tent structure and setup.
- Remember to pack extra pegs, guy ropes and storm straps.
- When packing your tent, make sure no parts is left behind.
During Use:
- WARNING: Extra precaution must be taken when assembling & dismantling the frame as spring steel can bounce back and cause injury. Keep children and bystanders at a safe distance.
- Find a dry level place in which to camp.
- Prepare the ground by removing all sharp rocks, sticks etc. which could damage the groundsheet.
- Always lay down a netted or solid groundsheet first to form a buffer between your tent and the ground. This helps to keep you tent clean and prevents damage to the floor.
Maintenance Tips:
Coastal Camping:
- Wash down all poles and other metal parts to prevent corrosion. DRY WELL!
- Treat poles with a non corrosive agent before packing away. (Silicone base spray)
Stains:
- Sponge the stained area lightly.
- Do not use a scrubbing brush or any form of detergent, as these may effect the tent fabric.
Limitation:
The warranty does not cover damage caused by normal wear and tear, neglect, unreasonable use, mildew, rotting, colour fading or WIND ACTION.
Important Information:
Customers must note that, although light shows through the tine marks that are traditionally made along the seams to guide the seamstress, this is entirely normal and does not affect the performance of the tent
New Stainless Steel Frame:
Tentco is very proud of the new upgrade on the frames in tents, we are the 1st company to introduce stainless steel frames to our range of frame tents.
Stainless steel comes with a range of advantages:
- Stronger
- Less prone to corrosion (with proper care)
- Universal corners are reduced to 2 types only
- Poles have very few reduction parts most are plain poles with no reductions
With these new improvements we also need to understand stainless steel:
There are many different types of Stainless steel, and each has its own unique composition and qualities, depending on the chemical composition of the steel, it may be harder stronger, or easier to work with than other types. Some types of steel are magnetic while others are not and there is a price point to all the different types.
- Stainless steel comes in different grades. Our frames are 201 stainless which is a mid-range grade s/ steel (typically used in pots, pans, kitchen sinks, stoves, and washing machines).
- Stainless steel will rust under certain conditions. Tea staining will occur shortly after installation in and around the coastal environment within 5 to 10 km from the surf.
Environmental Corrosion Barrier Guide
| Category | Distance from Beachfront | Recommended Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | More than 10 m | Every 6 months (minimum) |
| Moderate | 5 km – 10 km | Every 2 – 3 months (minimum) |
| Marine | 500 m – 5 km | Every 2 – 4 weeks (minimum) |
| Severe Marine | Within 500 m | Every 1 – 2 weeks (minimum) |
Notes
- Beachfront refers to areas exposed to breaking surf airborne moisture.
- Freshwater lakes are not considered marine environments.
- Heavy industrial areas are considered marine environments due to airborne contaminants.
Environments
- The recommended maintenance intervals are provided as general guidance.
- Local environmental conditions may vary and require adjusted maintenance schedules.
Proper maintenance must be done on a regular basis.
More so with any frame pitched close to or nearby coastal areas.
Coastal areas are one of the harshest environments with high levels of airborne salt, high winds, and corrosive elements that when applied to stainless-steel products will begin to eat away at the surface and tarnish the finish if not regularly maintained.
Therefore, it is imperative that stainless steel is subject to an ongoing maintenance and cleaning program.
Remember it is stain Less, not stain FREE.
Regular inspection and re-application must be done to ensure years of service of the stainless-steel frame.
Any surface rust can be removed by a mixture of vinegar and baking soda; non-abrasive materials must be used. (white distilled vinegar, 4 tablespoons of Baking soda, water, Lemon juice) And re-applying an anti-corrosion solution after rinsing the frame in clean water is advisable. (WD 40 or similar)
Look after your frame and it will look after you.
Keep this page for future reference.
Thank you for purchasing a Tentco product!