Preserve and Protect: Essential Care and Storage Tips for Your Canopy Tent

Custom canopy tents are great for indoor and outdoor events. However, some prefer to use it outdoors. These are great marketing investments ideal for intensifying your branding and attracting your audience. At Everest Prints, we make sure that our custom canopy tents are of the highest quality. To better expand their lifespan, we have listed some ways to maintain, clean, and store away your custom canopy tents.  

I. Schedule a Regular Maintenance and Inspection  

The great thing about having a schedule is you won’t forget to check on your canopy tent. There are apps you can use to send out reminders about when to inspect your tents again. This is an important step in making sure that any damages, stains, or tears are addressed immediately. Check out the steps on how you should properly inspect your tents.

1. Frame inspection. The frame is an integral part of the tent but it’s the one that is often overlooked. Check if there are any bends on the frame which need fixing. See if there are any loose parts or joints which need replacements too. Regularly inspect the canopy tent frame for any loose or damaged parts. Make sure that all the connectors are to ensure the frame is fully stable once you need to install it again. 

2. Fabric examination: Look for any signs of wear, stain, tear, or fading. If there are any, make sure to fix them right away. If you leave a small tear out there without fixing it, the next time you’ll be using it the higher the possibility for the small rip to be bigger. In addition, if the fabric you are using is full of stain it gives out some negative impression to your audience. 

3. Remove any debris and dirt: The canopy can collect any fallen dried leaves, mud, and debris, especially for an outdoor event. Inspect it thoroughly and remove any unwanted debris and dirt. 

II. Learn the Different Cleaning Techniques

Regular cleaning of your custom canopy tent not only extends its lifespan but also enhances its appearance. A regularly cleaned tent looks better in the eyes as compared to those which are not properly maintained. It is essential to learn several cleaning techniques to maintain the quality of your canopy tent. 

Below are some of the steps you can take: 

1. No Commercial Washers and Strong Chemicals. Make sure not to use industrial washers or pressure washers, together with strong chemicals to remove stains. The colors of the tent could quickly fade. Since it is a custom canopy tent, your logo and other design elements could be damaged. According to American Tent, when cleaning out the fabric make sure to avoid using any harsh dish soaps, bleach, spot removers, or laundry pre-soaking products. 
2. Clean localized dirt or stains. If you see spots within the fabric that are dirty, you can use water with mild soap to clean it. Do not use brushes with hard bristles as these could damage the fabric. Rinse it and let it completely dry.
3. Machine wash only if the cleaning manual states: Take time to read the cleaning instructions that come with the tent. Some fabrics are better off with hand washing and not machine washing. If machine washing and drying are allowed, read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for washing and drying. Use a gentle cycle with cold water and mild detergent if advisable. Check if the fabric is dried up before storing them or using them again.  
4. Frame cleaning: You can use water to clean out the frames and wipe off any dirt that it has accumulated. Similar to the fabric, make sure that it is completely dry before using it again. Wet frames can easily collect dirt. 

III. Drying Methods 

Of course, you want to avoid any accumulation of mold and mildew on your canopy tent. If that’s the case, make sure to completely dry out both the fabric and frame before storing or installing them again. You can consider the following drying methods as your guide. 

1. Air-drying method: This pertains to the fabric and frame being placed in a well-ventilated area to air dry. Do not put it under direct sunlight or leave it under the sunlight over a long period. It could potentially damage the color of your tent. 
2. Ensure that it is dried out completely. If there is moisture left on the fabric, the possibility of attracting molds and mildew is high. This will result in your custom canopy tent deteriorating quickly. Before storing them in a storage room at room temperature, ensure that all the components – fabric, and frame, are dry and moisture-free. 
3. Check the manufacturing manual. If the instruction states that you can do machine drying for the fabric, follow the instructions thoroughly. Make sure that all the areas are completely dry. 

IV. How to Properly Store the Tent

Extending the lifespan of the tent also means that you are stretching your money’s worth. Storing them properly is critical so that you can still use them for other events. 

Below are some tips on how to properly store it. 

1. Inspect and clean the tent: We understand that after a long event, we’d like to rest and then store the tent right away. But the job is not done yet. Make sure to do a quality check first before storing. Inspect the tent and clean up all the components. If you leave a stain in there, it would be difficult to remove it already when you have to use it again. Any leaves, debris, or dirt left could also cause some damage to your tent. 
2. Learn the proper folding technique: Each custom tent can be folded in different ways. Read the manual and follow the guide on how to properly fold it to avoid too many wrinkles. The creases from the folded fabric may not be visually appealing when the fabric is installed again.
3. Dry storage area: Make sure that the area where you are about to store the tents is moisture-free. On the other hand, placing it in an area with too much heat could also damage its components. The storage area should be well-ventilated and safe from any insects, pests, and animals such as mice. Store the canopy tent in a dry, clean, and well-ventilated space. You can also purchase a carry bag, it serves two ways. It makes it easier for you to carry the tent around and also store it properly. 
4. Stay away from sharp objects. Make sure to keep your tent at a safe distance from any shared objects which can puncture or tear its fabric. The frame and its components could also damage the fabric if it is stored haphazardly. 

V. How to Take Care of Your Frame 

Just like the fabric, the frame is an important element in your custom canopy tent. Without it, your tent would not stand at all. The frame is essential in keeping the tent stable. Below are just some of the things you can do to take care of the frame. 

1. Moving parts should be oiled or lubricated. If you want to avoid rusting of your hinges and joints, make sure to regularly lubricate it. This makes sure that these joints move without any problem. 
2. Connectors should be secured: Check for any loose parts. If connectors are not tightened properly, there’s the risk of your tent becoming unstable and falling.   
3. Check for any signs of rusting and bent parts. Inspect the frame and see if there are parts of it that are already rusted so you can fix it right away. Also, check for any dented parts to make sure the tent will be installed properly without any issues.

VI. Repair and Replacement

As the saying goes, nothing lasts forever. There will come a time when you would need to do a repair or order a replacement for your canopy tent. Here are some guides when it comes to repairing and replacing your custom tent. 

1. Check for the possibility of a do-it-yourself repair. Assess the damage and see if it’s possible to fix the damage by yourself. It is just a minor repair that a simple stitch could solve, then you can save yourself some money. 
2. Get a professional to fix it: If upon assessment, you believe that the damage is significant and would need a professional to repair it, check your options first. Ask your friends and network where you can have it fixed. You can also research online, just make sure to read the reviews of their previous clients. 
3. In need of replacement: If you think that there is no point in saving the fabric and frame and replacing those is the best route, you can check our website to order a replacement. Our customer service will be able to assist you. 

When you order your custom canopy tent, make sure to properly execute the guidelines above in maintaining, cleaning, and storing your canopy tent. These are helpful steps in extending the lifespan of your tents. Do not let small fixes be overlooked. Have them fixed right away so you can fully maximize the usage of your tent. If you want to know more about the products we are offering, have a look at our website.