How to Clean Tents Made With Snyder Manufacturing Vinyl Laminated Fabric
The ideas outlined below represent recommendations on how to care for your SNYDER MANUFACTURING vinyl laminated fabric.
Tent cleaning is usually performed by spreading the tent on a flat surface. Care must be taken to avoid rocks and all sharp objects that may punch holes or damage the fabric while the tent is being walked on during the cleaning process. The TENT CLEANER is diluted 1 to 10 for very dirty tents, and 1 to 20 for light dirt.
The traditional methods of cleaning tents are:
- Sponge, mop, or brush cleaning.
- Rotary buffer.
- Pressure washer.
About the Tent Cleaner
The TENT CLEANER should be applied liberally, flooding the surface area. Let it stand for at least one minute before beginning to clean. TENT CLEANER contains surfactants that will penetrate the surface film during that time. Large tents should be cleaned in sections to prevent the cleaner from drying on the surface of the tent. On hot, summer days, spritzing the surface with a garden hose will keep the surface wet and prevent the drying cleaner from streaking or blotching the cleaning job.
What Should I Use to Clean My Tent?
Sponge, mop, or brush cleaning is the LEAST AGGRESSIVE ON VINYL LAMINATED FABRIC. On newer tents where the vinyl is smooth, the films are easily cleaned with TENT CLEANER using this method. As the vinyl fabric ages, it becomes microscopically pitted and scratched, which tends to “hold” the dirt in the fabric. More aggressive cleaning may be desired. Dilute TENT CLEANER 1 to 10 with water and apply as before.
Some tent owners use a rotary buffer to clean these older tents. Be sure to use a small buffer with a 12” to 15” base. If a floor pad is used, use a white pad, or at the most, a red pad. Black or stripping pads are too aggressive and may damage the tent fabric.
Other tent owners use a pressure washer. A lower PSI of 1,000 to 1,500 is desired. One of the dangers from higher pressures is blowing water into the scrim that may show up as unsightly mildew later. The Pressure washer is used effectively for whitening the stitching; however for best results, pre-saturate with TENT CLEANER.
BLEACH IS NEVER RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN CLEANING. When mixed with other chemicals, it may cause invisible, odorless, and deadly fumes. Bleach or chlorine can also rot stitching. Natural fibers are particularly sensitive to chlorine rotting.
Generally, care should be taken to test clean an inconspicuous small area.
These suggestions apply to SNYDER MANUFACTURING vinyl laminated fabric only.
About Snyder Manufacturing
Snyder Manufacturing is an American manufacturer of high-performance laminated fabrics, PVC coated mesh, extruded films and military specification materials. We deliver on-time, high-quality standard and custom solutions for a wide range of applications for commercial, industrial and government customers in many industries.
