How To Store a Tent: Ultimate Step by Step Guide

Sharing is caring!

Storing a tent can be challenging. It’s bulky and awkward to carry around, and it takes up a lot of room in your storage unit or garage. 

And even if you have the perfect spot for your tent, there are many ways to store it wrong that will lead to an unorganized mess later on down the road. 

So how do we know what is right? With these helpful steps, you’ll never accidentally store your tent wrong again.

How To Store a Tent

Step 1: Remove All the Content in the Tent

You’ll want to start by removing everything from inside your tent. This includes any cooking utensils, sleeping bags, mats, mattresses, and even pillows.

If you have a cot or other large items that don’t fit in the storing bag, carefully put them together before putting them away for storage. This way, you don’t lose anything that you normally use when glamping or camping.

Once the tent is empty, inspect it to see if there are any damages that need your attention. Check the fabric. Check the poles. If the tent has a tear, go to step two then, repair the tent before moving to step three.

Step 2: Clean Your Tent

The next step is cleaning your tent.

How you clean the dirt, mud, and grime off of your tent depends on how dirty it is.

If there aren’t any major messes or spills on the tent, use a damp cloth with mild soap to wipe down all tent surfaces. 

If it’s a little bit dirtier, then you can use a mild cleaner with warm water and let the tent soak for 15 minutes before wiping down all surfaces of the tent again. The last option is to clean your tent if there are stains or spills on any material that has been made by something more than just dirt.

You can also use four parts water and one part vinegar to remove mold and other stains.

 Never put your tent into a washing machine or dishwasher.

 If the stains cannot be removed with water and soap, then take them to an outdoor gear specialist that can clean your tent for you. 

While washing your tent, consider waterproofing it so that it can continue keeping you dry efficiently.

Also, ensure your tent is completely dry before moving forward.

Step 3: Shakeout

Shake off any excess dirt from your cleaning as hard as you can. 

This will help get rid of any debris that’s gathered during the cleaning process.

Step 4: Remove All Stakes and Poles From the Tent (if Removable)

Make sure to remove any poles or stakes that can be taken apart before storing your tent for an extended period, as they may become damaged over time without proper care.

 If you have a tent with removable poles, make sure to put them back in the same storage bag you originally found them so that they fit perfectly when storing them with the rest of the tent.

Step 5: Stuff

Take a long piece of rope (about 30 feet) and tie one end around one corner of your tent after unrolling it completely flat on the ground.

 Tie the other end around a sturdy indoor item that you can easily pull on, like your couch or refrigerator.

 After securing both ends tightly to their place of choice, walk away and let it hang overnight. 

This will help the tent naturally fall back into its original shape before rolling up for storage in Step six.

Step 6: Roll Up Your Tent Along Its Seams

After letting your tent hang overnight, now it’s time for one of the most important steps!

Make sure to roll up your tent nice and tight by following the seams.

This will keep your tent from developing any creases, which can lead to stress over time.

Once you have the tent tightly rolled up, place it inside a clean duffel bag or storage bin along with all of its other parts for safekeeping.

Step 7: Bag

The next step to storing your tent properly is to put it in a bag and store it.

 For small tents, you can use luggage or storage bags made specifically for large items like this.

 If the original packaging comes with its carry case, then take out whatever piece of gear fits inside best (usually sleeping bags) and add them into the same bag until it can zip up.

 If your tent is too large or bulky to fit into a carry case, then use any heavy-duty bag that zips and put the rolled-up tent inside of it before storing it in an area where no one will step on it accidentally.

Step 8: Find a Place That Is Free From Humidity and Dust

Some people like to use a storage unit for their extra items, but if you can’t afford one or your home is getting too cluttered from these types of things, then an outside building will work just fine. 

Just make sure that it’s covered (has a shade) and no rain can get in.

The place should also be clean and dry.

This will help the fabric of the tent and the bag stay strong during storage, which means you can use it again for many seasons.

 If possible, avoid placing anything on top of or directly next to the bag, as this may cause damage over time.

Step Seven: Label

Make a label with the date you stored your tent and keep it attached to the carry case or bag as a reference for when you need it again.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this blog post on how to store a tent. I hope after reading this, your tents will last another summer of glamping and other outdoor activity!

Until next time, have a great tent storing process.