Always dry your tent before you pack it away to store.

Never keep the tent stored away wet for longer than two days otherwise fungus can affect the canvas which will then create permanent marks.

Our canvas has been treated to be water, UV and mould resistant. After a period of use your canvas may appear more translucent in areas, which could be a sign you'll need to re-proof your tent. The usage and age of your tent will determine whether you need to reproof small areas or the whole tent. Please see fix & clean your tent for products we use to reproof our own tents.

Waterproofed canvas bell tent

Maintenance starts when setting up your Bell Tent. If a Bell Tent has not been set up correctly uneven forces will pull on the canvas. This could eventually lead to damage. To ensure your tent stays set up correctly daily guy rope maintenance is necessary.

It is in your interest to keep the canvas as clean as possible and remove stains when created. Dust and dried mud is best removed once the canvas is dry by brushing with a clean hard brush like a floor scrubbing brush.

The lifespan of your tent is very dependent upon camping conditions such as air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, natural dirt (bird droppings, sand, salt water) and domestic dirt (cooking stains, soda, wine, sun cream).

Interior of a bell tent with bamboo centre pole

Fungas & Stains

Due to insufficient ventilation, fungus can affect the canvas. It is important to store your tent dry so no fungus or other stains can appear. If you have to temporarily store the tent wet be sure to remove the mud and dirt from the bottom of the tent put your tent back out to dry within 48 hours.

In order to limit fungus and stains on your tent - Store your tent 100% dry. When dealing with fungus, use a soft brush or sponge and a lot of fresh water.

Only use specialised tent cleaning products to remove difficult stains as other chemical products can cause the cotton to leak. We suggest you have your tent re-impregnated with waterproofer if any area has been cleaned using a cleaning product.

Cotton canvas bell tent

Leaking

Cotton can, when new, let some air through and leak around the seams. After the canvas has been wet once this will no longer happen because of the cotton expanding.

Very light stains can appear on a wet tent - these stains cause no problems. In order to preserve your tent’s water resistance and prolong its lifespan after a considerable amount of use, the outside of the canvas can be re-treated with a sealant.

There are many good spray can sealants on the market with a special anti-fungal formula, algae and fungi are less likely to adhere to the canvas.

Stitching & Rips

Fix stitching and rips with this extra powerful fabric repair patch solution Tear-Aid® Canvas Tent Repair Kit - Type A

 

Zips

Zips sometimes have to endure extreme tension caused by wind, incorrect tent set up or pressure caused by people or objects leaning into the tent.

In order to limit damage to zips - Close all zippers before setting up your tent Handle the zippers with care. Protect them by treating them with silicone once in a while check zippers before setting up your tent, as there is no insurance on them after use.

Cotton canvas bell tents in the woods

For repairs contact us for info +447830355993

Bell Tent 2.0