I have a problem with an inner tent (bedroom) I have acquired. It has a bad odour of ammonia. I dont know the source, the fabric is not stained and repeated airings does not remove it. I am considering taking it to a launderette and risk putting it on a cool wash. Does anyone have any ideas on how to wash the whole inner? Has anyone had a similar experience with a launderette? Is the SIG up to being put in a washing machine?
Hello Richard,
We were forced to wash a whole tent once. We lent it to a friend, who in turn lent it to a friend, who took it on a long fishing trip! It came back filthy.
We had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so we put the whole thing on a COOL wash. Didn't seem to have any kind of effect on the weatherproof coating (at least it still worked), and the inner tents were fine. Still didn't get all the stains out, but it smelt a whole lot better.
I have washed various bits of awnings and several inner tents, all have survived. I put them in the biggest machine I can at the laundrette. I always make sure the soap despenser is completely clean of detergents and only use special washing soap liquid. You can buy it at places like Millets. Ordinary detergents can damage waterproofing. I only use a cool/warm wash, never hot.
Thanks you guys! Seems you have all been lucky washing your tents. I am going to chance it, with nothing to lose. Being as it is an inner/SIG, I see it as just like washing a pair of net curtains
I washed my dopey sister's inner tents last year. She had left the whole tent (an aztec palacio she'd paid £200 for and only used it once ), in a shedstore, and water had got in and the whole thing stank of damp. She was ready for dumping it, so I thought I'd try washing it first. The tent I put up in the garden and hosed down and left it up to air for a few days. I soaked the inners in the bath, with some shampoo, and dried them on the line in the sun. They smelt very sweet afterwards (Apple shampoo I think). No ill effects on the sig. After all the sig is only a groundsheet and we hose them down all the time. I also remember someone saying they'd used antibacterial liquid handwash soap to wash a smelly inner tent.
The said Inner has been to the launderette. Stuffed it in the biggest machine and filled it up. Cool wash/spin, water all over the floor running out of the SIG! Mopped up and back home to hang it out in the garden. Smell seems to have gone, fingers crossed
I was given my Weathermaster tent, the tent was ok but the inner yents were a real mess, i just put them in the home washing machine on a 5 (40 degree's) with our usual soap tablets and they came out great. The Weathermaster has a SIG so the inner tents dont have the same material for a groundsheet as the tent does, so maybe this makes a difference, but they are both spotless now and ready for when the better weather arrives and we can get out there.
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Topic: Washing Inner Tents
Mopped up and back home to hang it out in the garden. Smell seems to have gone, fingers crossed 
