August 16, 2001


How do I get the musty smell out of my tent?

My tent has developed a musty smell even though I thoroughly dry it out after each use. Setting it up for three or four days in the sun has not helped. What can I do to get rid of the smell?

— Rod Fram Vancouver, British Columbia

Clearly, what you have is a case of mildew. Face it, you live in a damp climate. Even if you dry it carefully, by British Columbia standards, if you stuff it in a waterproof sack, the humidity level still will be 15 to 20 percent. And that could be enough to nurture mildew.

First thing you might try is setting it up and squirting it with Febreeze, that odor-removing spray designed for clothing and furniture. That stuff supposedly works wonders. If it doesn't, the next step would be to fill a tub with warm water and some dish soap (try Dawn — it's pretty mild), and give the thing a bath. Rinse thoroughly, then air dry. Do NOT machine-dry it, as that can cause the waterproof coating to peel.

If the smell remains, then try this mildew-killing formula from Rainy Pass Repair in Seattle:

Mix a half-cup of Lysol in one gallon of hot water. Soak the tent in this mix for an hour or two, then shake off and air-dry. Once dry, mix one cup of salt and one cup of concentrated lemon juice. Take the salt and lemon and mix it with another gallon of hot water. Now soak the tent with this. Rinse, and air dry.

And if that doesn't work, well, start shopping for a new tent. Or, invest in a nose plug.