My old tent's rainfly went from a sieve to a shield after one simple wash

I was getting ready for a trip to the Adirondacks last month and pulled out my three-year-old tent. The last time I used it, a light drizzle got the inside damp, which I blamed on the weather. This time, I set it up in the yard and gave it a good look. The rainfly looked dull and felt stiff. I remembered reading about DWR coatings, so I washed it in the bathtub with a tiny bit of mild soap, rinsed it a ton, and let it air dry. The change was crazy. Water now beads up and rolls right off like it's brand new. It took about two hours of work and zero special products. I guess all the dirt and oils from my hands were blocking the coating. Has anyone else brought a rainfly back to life like this, or is there a better way?

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.rowan1mo ago

Didn't a gear blog say to use tech wash for the best results?

emery_craig1mo agoMost Upvoted

Gear blogs need to sell you something.

diana2381mo ago

Honestly, that's just basic cleaning. I'm with murray.rowan on this, gear blogs make it sound like you need some special potion. It's a tent, not a space suit. Dirt gets on it, you wash it off. The coating was probably fine underneath all the grime. People overthink this stuff way too much.

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