stupid me..

“Okay, a month or two ago I went on a campout. Had my tent up and everything, it rained some. Some of my friends(we're just teenagers do yea..) decided to make flour bombs. Flour tied up in seran wrap tightly. They threw it at my tent. I was mad..But anyway, they apologized and everything it was okay. But it got wet and nasty..We left the next day, alot of flour still on my tent. I forgot to get it out and clean it...So the last time I went camping, I set out my tent. There was a horrible stench..The rain fly would almost not open it was stuck together..so we left it off, luckily no rain. Anyway, it was mildewy looking and stinky, I don't know if it's alright. Do you think it will be okay? I don't have the money for a new one..”

“I know it sucks coming home from a fun outing and having to clean gear.

It has been my perogitive to allways set my sleeping bag out right when I get home. I do this because even on a dry trip your bag still needs to air out along with the compression bag kills the insolation.

Last trip to OLP I only unpacked my sleeping bag the first night home and a day later unpacked everything else encluding my tent. I would like to belive a tent can sustain some water for a day or so.

I have no idea what to tell you other than test it out with a hose in the yard before your next trip to check for water protection. Flower has no none-natural stuff so I don't think it would curode your tent, but rotting could be a problem.”

“At least there aren't any maggots.

There's this stuff at Wally World that is a vegetable-based surfactant that claims to remove all odors. It's worked for us so far. It's called "Sport Wash" by Sno-Seal. It's in the hunting dept. It won't remove the stains though.”

“Man, that sucks!”

“I'd try scrubbing with some baking soda... and then cleaning with a very diluted bleach solution... the stains may be impossible to get out without ruining the fabric... but baking soda should get at the smell and bleach solution should kill any mildew. You might have to use a spray or rinse afterwards to restore the waterproofing.”

“Thank you, this will help alot! I love this place! I never had so many replies in a forum! I will have to try some of this.”

“I had a brand new tent that my cat "marked". I let it soak in the bath tub with a small amount Woolite (sp?) laundry soap for a few hours and rinsed thoroughly. No smell.

How about getting new friends?”

“Soak overnight in Biz. It is an organic enzime eater. Rinse and wash with Oxyclean the next day.”

“Bacpac, does Biz know you are recommending that people should "soak overnight" in her?”

“Wow that does suck. I know that the breathable rain gear says that you can wash it with a powdered detergent. I might try calling the tent manufacture and seeing what they have to say. Also there is a Company in CT that does canvas cleaning for boats. Might try contacting them. Awning Cleaning, I think there website is cleancanvas.com they clean boat canvas, tents, even rain gear. Might be worth a shot.”

“Flour bombs on tents? That was an open invite to any bears in the neighborhood!”