Can You Wash A Tent In A Washing Machine?

While camping trips are often amazing ways to relax and take a break from everything, it’s nice to get back to your routines.

However, in order to make sure your tent will last for many trips to come, you’ll have to clean it every once in a while.

With the amount of effort that comes with packing and unpacking, as well as all the fun to be had while camping, cleaning your tent after you get home doesn’t always seem the most fun.

It would be nice to just throw it in a load of wash and be done with it.

So, can you wash a tent in a washing machine? A top-loading washing machine can damage your tent by delaminating waterproofing, tearing fabric or seams, and can even melt the fabric. While a front-loading washing machine is safer, there is still the risk of damage which is why it is recommended to wash your tent by hand.

Since most washing machines are out of the question, you’ll need to find a better and safer way to wash your tent.

I’ve put together the information below for that specific reason!

What Should I Use To Clean My Tent?

There are tons of guides online, as well as countless products manufactured, that you could use to clean your tent.

But, not all are created equal.

If you plan on using a manufactured tent cleaner, I would stick with the tried and true cleaners such as those made by Nikwax.

If you’d prefer to use homemade solutions, check out the ‘natural tent cleaners’ section down below.

Camping tip: While sleeping bags are made of similar material as tents, they require a different set of steps to properly clean them. To learn more, check out my full guide on how to wash a sleeping bag!

Cleaning Your Tent With Outdoor Gear Cleaner

Items Needed

Fragrance-free dish soap
A large container (large enough for your entire tent to fit inside) or bathtub
Tent cleaner
Non-abrasive sponge (a rag may also be used)
Optional: spray bottle for spot cleaning

Cleaning Instructions

Fill your container with cold water.
Add gear cleaner (check the label to see the correct amount) to your container.
Spot clean dirty areas first by wetting and applying fragrance-free dish soap to your sponge, then gently scrubbing the area.
Once the dirty areas have been spot cleaned, unzip your tent and turn it inside out.
Immerse your tent in the water/gear cleaner solution. See the cleaner label for recommended duration.
Thoroughly rinse off the cleaner with clean water.
Dry off your tent in a cool, shaded area.

You can use this same process to clean your rainfly as well.

And for stubborn messes, see the ‘extra tent cleaning tips’ below.

Natural Tent Cleaners

If you do not wish to use a manufactured gear cleaner on your tent, you can use the instructions below to use a vinegar/lemon solution to clean your tent.

As a bonus, it will also help remove any odors and/or mildew!

Items Needed

Fragrance-free dish soap
A large container (large enough for your entire tent to fit inside) or bathtub
Distilled white vinegar
Lemon juice
Non-abrasive sponge (a rag may also be used)
Optional: spray bottle for spot cleaning

Cleaning Instructions

Fill your container with cold water.
Add a generous amount of white vinegar and lemon juice to the water.
Spot clean dirty areas first by wetting and applying fragrance-free dish soap to your sponge, then gently scrubbing the area.
Optional: spray vinegar directly onto areas with mildew, let sit for one hour, then gently scrub the area.
Once the dirty areas have been spot cleaned, unzip your tent and turn it inside out.
Immerse your tent in the lemon/vinegar solution for up to one hour.
Thoroughly rinse off the cleaner with clean water.
Dry off your tent in a cool, shaded area.

If an odor still remains after cleaning, add vinegar and lemon juice to clean water and repeat steps 6-8 until the smell is gone.

Extra Tent Cleaning Tips

If you’re having some issues with more stubborn stains or debris, use the tips below to target these specific problems:

Scrub gently: when cleaning your tent, always be sure to scrub gently and use non-abrasive cleaning supplies. This will protect your tent’s waterproof properties.
Stuck zippers: dunk a toothbrush in water then scrub the zipper to remove any dirt, sand, or salt residue.
Sap stuck on tent: using mineral oil can help remove stubborn sap residue. Alcohol-based products such as wet wipes or hand sanitizer can also be effective. Rinse the spot thoroughly once the sap has been removed.
Mildew or other odors: using a vinegar or scent-free dish soap solution can both clean your tent and help to remove odors. Check out my other article for a complete guide on how to clean a tent that smells.
Dirty poles: wiping down your poles with a damp rag should do the trick.

How Often Should You Wash Your Tent?

There isn’t an exact science for a tent washing schedule, but you should always wash your tent when you get back from a camping trip lasting longer than a few days.

If you only plan on taking the tent out for a night or two, you can wash your tent after every few trips.

Other than those two guidelines, it’s really just a matter of how dirty your tent gets on your trip.

Sometimes you could bring your tent home without a speck of dust on it.

In that case you could wait a few trips to give your tent a wash.

And sometimes you’ll have mud caked all over it with tree sap forming a protective layer on top, in which case you’d want to wash it right away.

Keep in mind that dirt and debris left on a tent will start to wear the waterproofing, make your tent more susceptible to tears, and can even cause odors.

Knowing these general guidelines should help to determine the best time to wash your tent.

Be Sure To Dry Your Tent After Washing

Once you’ve cleaned your tent (or even if you’ve skipped the wash this time), it’ll need to be properly dried out before you store it.

Storing a tent while it is still damp or wet will cause your tent to smell; usually a sign of mildew.

And if that’s the case, you’ll need to wash your tent all over again.

Drying your tent out properly will take 2 to 3 days, but won’t require any more effort than simply hanging it up outside to dry.

If you have a clothes line, you can drape the tent over it and let it dry in the wind for the duration.

And if you don’t, try to space out a few chairs and lay it on top so that your tent is somewhat suspended.

This will allow the tent to dry out, preventing any mildew buildup.

Once you’ve let your tent dry for a few days you can store it without any issues.

Using A Front-Loading Machine

While it’s not recommended, I figured I’d add in some information on the safest way to wash your tent with a front-loading washing machine.

Keep in mind that you’ll most likely need to retreat your tent with waterproofing and UV-proofing sprays after the tent is cleaned in a washing machine, so it’s often better to wash by hand anyways.

However, if you plan on throwing your tent in for a quick cycle, here’s the least damaging way to do it:

Use the gentlest cycle setting you can, and set the water temperature to cold.
Hang dry (do not put your tent in the dryer as it can seriously damage it).
Reapply waterproof and UV-proof sprays as instructed on the labels.

Use this method at your own risk.

Why Can’t You Use A Top-Loading Washing Machine?

I’d be worried about using even a front-loading washing machine, and a top-loading one is even worse.

Why?

Top-loading washing machines come with an agitator (that swirly thing in the middle) that helps clean clothes better.

The problem is that your tent can get stuck in the agitator, potentially ripping the fabric, and the waterproof layer can be stripped away due to how aggressive the cleaning cycle can be.

I wouldn’t even attempt to wash one of my tents in a top-loading washing machine.