I’ve checked the past threads.
I’ve checked several search engines and got conflicting information.
I am at my wit’s end.
I recently bought a new (slightly used) camping tent - canvas, 12x30 (can be set up as two 12x12 and 12x18 tents), exellent condition. Last time I used them was two weeks ago, put them away dry (let them dry in the sun after a rainstorm, made sure everything was dry). The tent were so white, it made you blind.
Lo and behold, Florida gets rain. And it turns out, my storage unit leaks!!! I discovered this when I went to get something else out and found the bags were now grey and smelly.
After lots of boohooing and cursing, I put the canvas out in the sun to air out and let the rain wash away some of the mold. That worked a bit, but I still have gray splotches, as well as this nasty odor.
Different websites have given conflicting information.
[li]use detergent/don’t use detergent[/li][li] use bleach/don’t use bleach[/li][li] weak bleach solution/strong bleach solution[/li][li] use lemon juice/too acidic[/li][li] use baking soda/doesn’t work[/li]
Not to mention the fact that few of the sailmakers and tent companies will even touch cleaning it. Most work with vinyl tents, and one that did said he could clean it told all he would do was use a power hose and detergent like at the carwash. Told me to try this, and it would save me the $250 he would charge me. I tried it, and saved $250 - it didn’t work. {If it did, I wouldn’t be posting here.)
I do not want to ruin the canvas, but I do not want to trigger any allergic reactions in either myself or anyone else using the tent (I’ve let others use the front half when their tent was washed away.)
How do I get rid of the smell?
Can I get rid of the stains (looks like an Ansel Adams attempt at a fractal image), short of painting the whole tent (and having the paint crack when I fold it)?
Can I dye the tent (cotton canvas), or will the mold pattern show through?
Or am I stuck until I can buy a new tent?
Wah.