How to Care for Canvas Tents, Shamianas and Tarpaulins

The two rules that matter most: never store canvas damp, and keep it away from sharp edges and fire. A tent, shamiana or tarpaulin that is dried properly, cleaned gently and stored off the floor will give you many more seasons of use.

Tents

Pitch on level ground. Clear stones, roots and sharp objects first, and lay a ground sheet under the floor area.
Keep guy ropes evenly tensioned so the load spreads across the canvas, not onto a single seam or eyelet.
Ease the ropes a little in rain. Cotton canvas and cotton ropes tighten as they get wet.
On a double fly tent, keep the outer fly from touching the inner fly. A gap between them is what keeps the inside cooler and drier.
Keep stoves, lamps and heaters well clear of the canvas.
Mend small tears and loose stitching early, before wind turns them into large ones.

Shamianas

Check poles, pegs, iron pins and ropes before every function, and replace anything cracked or frayed.
Tie decorations to the frame or ropes. Pins and nails through the decorative inner layer leave holes that grow.
Keep hot lights a safe distance from the cloth.
After a function, take the shamiana down dry. If dew or rain has wet it, open it out and dry it fully before folding.
Fold the decorative inner layer inward so the printed or stitched side stays clean.

Tarpaulins

Tie down through the eyelets or rings only. Pulling on the cloth itself tears the hem.
Pad sharp corners of a load, such as steel, crates or machinery, before covering it.
Do not drag tarpaulins along rough ground.
For cotton canvas tarpaulins that must stay waterproof, choose 450 GSM or heavier. See tarpaulin types.
HDPE and LDPE tarpaulins age faster in strong sun. Store spare sheets in the shade.

Drying, cleaning and storage

Brush off dry mud with a soft brush. Rinse with plain water if needed. Skip detergents, which can strip waterproofing.
Dry fully, inside and out, including seams and folds, before packing.
Fold loosely and change the fold lines now and then so the cloth does not crack along one crease.
Store in a cool, dry, airy place, raised off the floor and away from rats and termites.
Open and air stored canvas every few months, especially through the monsoon.

Care questions

Can I pack a tent while it is wet?

Only for a short move. Unpack it and dry it fully within a day or so. Cotton canvas that is stored damp grows mildew, which stains and weakens the cloth.

How should I clean a canvas tent or tarpaulin?

Let the mud dry, then brush it off with a soft brush and rinse with plain water if needed. Avoid detergents and soap, which can strip the waterproofing from treated cotton canvas.

Why do guy ropes need loosening in the rain?

Cotton canvas and cotton ropes tighten as they get wet. Easing the ropes a little before or during rain stops seams, eyelets and pegs from being over-strained.

How do I store tents, shamianas and tarpaulins between uses?

Store them clean and completely dry, loosely folded, in a cool, dry and airy place, raised off the floor and away from rats and termites. Avoid sealing canvas in plastic for long periods, as it traps moisture.