How can I get rid of the stickiness of my tent rain fly?

Question

My aging tent rain fly sticks to itself when i stuff it or fold it up. Within an hour it's hard to pull it apart. It's aged or maybe got mildew or something. Maybe need to clean it with something. Don't really want to get a new tent or fly if I don't have to.

Answer 1

You say that you really don't want to get a new tent, but it sounds like it's getting old anyway. You can attempt spraying it with a mild cleaner and then hosing it down and letting it air dry. If that doesn't work, then I would say get a new tent.

It's a possibility that it's from sap from trees and you just can see it. Sap is so hard to clean. Good luck.

Answer 2

Why didn't you say what kind of tent? Most likely the loops on the tent and the rain fly are there to stake out lines to pull the sides of the tent and fly (separately) a little farther out than they would be if not staked out. This has the effect of giving you more interior space so things don't touch the side walls. Even though the rain fly keeps the rain off, condensation from you and maybe wet gear form on interior walls and will get your sleeping bag and other gear wet. You'd be amazed how much moisture you transpire from skin and lungs during the night. When cold, that condenses on interior surfaces of the tent.

Answer 3

wash the outside with soapy water....then wash the inside with soapy water......rinse it and let it air dry...then put the water replant stuff on it real thick (if you don't have any you can find it at the dollar store or the department store, its pretty cheap)

don't touch it while that stuff is on it...let it sit in the sun for a coupe of hours.....after you are sure that its really dry rinse it with the water hose with a light spray. let it dry again and then fold it up to see if it sticks...it shouldn't

i would say that the stickiness is the old water replant mixed with nature's yuckiness coming off....i would use dish soap for the lather

Answer 4

How To Preserve Your
Tent Forever:

Just Keep a Clean Tent


A tent is your home away from home, your second skin. A clean tent with the right care will keep it reliable, and keep you protected.

Keep a Clean Tent


First, clean your tent

Usually you can just shake out your tent, but occasionally it will need cleaning. NEVER PUT YOUR TENT IN THE WASHING MACHINE OR DRYER!

Here is what I do to clean my tent:

* Step One: I shake my tent (inside out) to get rid of large debris. Then I wipe the outside of the tent floor with a damp cloth to remove ground in dirt, and vacuum the zippers with the brush attachment.
* Step Two: I pitch my tent and clean the tent walls, inside and out, with Down Soap (in any good sporting goods store). I sponge-rinse the tent TWICE to ensure all soap is gone. I never submerge it in water or rub waterproof coatings (like inside the tent floor and the underside of the rain fly).
* Step Three: To remove sap from the tent, I scrape it with a non-serrated butter knife being careful not to cut the fabric. DO NOT USE SOLVENT. For gooey sap I use tissue and carefully pinch off the sap (don’t rub or it will smear). A small spot is ok. Eventually it will collect dust and won’t be sticky. If I need to pack the tent right away I stick tissue to the sap and remove it later. To remove the sap completely, I mix glycerin and water in equal parts and apply it to the sap, then let it sit. The sap should rub off the tent fabric easily. (If not, let it sit longer).
* Step Four: A musty odor, and/or small cross-shaped spots on tent fabric indicates mildew formation. To get rid of mildew, I mix 1-cup salt, 1-cup lemon juice (concentrated), and 1-gallon hot water. I rub the solution into all visible mildew. Then I pitch the tent with affected areas facing the sun and allow the clean tent to dry.

Second, maintain your tent

Zipper sliders, the moving part of a zipper, wear from grit or sand, which causes failure over time. I use McNett's Zip Care to lubricate tent zipper teeth to reduce wear. You can also use paraffin wax or bar of soap if you're in a pinch. DO NOT USE PETROLEUM BASED LUBRICANTS. If the sliders on my tent zippers start to fail, I squeeze the slider head (from front to back) firmly but gently with a pair of pliers.

Third, store your clean tent properly

I never put my tent away damp. Damp tents will mildew, smell, and eventually deteriorate. If you can’t pitch your tent outside to dry then use a guest room or a basement, just as long as the clean tent is dry before you pack it.

I pack my clean tent poles in old pillowcases or a canvas bag to prevent accidental punctures to tent fabric. I pack my clean tent loosely. An oversized bag or cardboard box gives it breathing room. I don’t store my tent in a plastic bag or airtight container.

Proper care of your tent will make it last forever. I clean mine once a year after the camp season before long-term storage. Keep a clean tent. You will be glad you did.

Answer 5

To simplify this:

Just use car wax such as Turtle Car Wax. This will keep everything well lubricated as well as solve the problem of stickiness

Answer 6

go to your local camping store and buy some nikwax tent wash and re-waterproof solution. That should help...

Answer 7

try WD-40....works for everything else......

Answer 8

i don't know