End-of-Season Tent Care: Do It Right, Store It Right

How You Store It Decides How Long It Lasts

A quality tent is an investment, and like any good piece of gear, it rewards care. The single biggest factor in how long a tent lasts isn't how you use it. It's how you store it. A tent put away wet or dirty can develop mold, mildew, and coating damage over a single off-season, while a tent cleaned and stored properly comes out next season in the same shape it went in.

This guide is the end-of-season routine: how to clean your tent and store it correctly so it's ready and in great condition whenever you take it out again. It comes from a simple principle we take seriously: take care of your gear and it will take care of you.

(One note before we start: you may not need to store it at all. More on that at the end.)

Step One: Clean It Thoroughly

Never store a tent dirty. Dirt, organic matter, food residue, and bird droppings all attract moisture and pests and can degrade the fabric over time. A thorough end-of-season cleaning is the foundation of good storage.

Sweep out the interior. Remove all dirt, leaves, crumbs, and debris from inside the tent, including the corners and along the groundsheet edges.

Clean the fabric. Use a soft brush or sponge with mild soap and water. Gently scrub any spots, stains, or areas of dirt on both the exterior and interior. Never use harsh detergents, bleach, or a pressure washer, all of which damage the waterproof coating. Work in sections and rinse with clean water.

Clean the groundsheet. The PVC floor takes the most abuse. Scrub it down, remove any caked-on dirt, and rinse it clean.

Address any mold or mildew now. If you see any mold or mildew spots, treat them before storage with a solution appropriate for the fabric (a diluted vinegar solution works for light cases). Storing over any existing mold lets it spread through the off-season.

Step Two: Dry It Completely

This is the most important step, and the one people most often rush. A tent must be bone dry before storage. Any residual moisture, even a slightly damp seam or a bit of trapped humidity in a fold, becomes mold over weeks in storage.

Set the tent up or spread it out fully in a dry, sunny, well-ventilated spot and let it dry completely. This means several hours, and it means checking the areas that hold moisture: seams, corners, the groundsheet, and any folds or overlaps. Dry both sides. Don't rush this. A tent that feels "mostly dry" is not dry enough for storage.

If you took the tent down in rain or damp conditions, this step is non-negotiable. Set it back up at home in dry weather specifically to dry it out before packing it away.

Step Three: Inspect and Repair

The end of the season is the ideal time to check the tent over and fix anything that needs it, so it's ready to go next time rather than getting a surprise the first trip out.

Check the fabric for any tears, thin spots, or abrasion. Patch small tears with the included repair patches.

Inspect the seams and re-seal any that show wear with seam sealant. Addressing this now means the tent is waterproof and ready next season.

Check the zippers for smooth operation. Clean out any grit and lubricate them so they don't stick or corrode in storage.

Look over the poles, stakes, and hardware (or the air beams and valve on the Jellyfish) for any damage or wear. Replace anything that needs it.

Inspect transparent panels like the Astral's skylight for any cracking, and apply UV-blocker before storage.

Our full cleaning and maintenance guide covers repairs in more depth.

Step Four: Store It Correctly

Once the tent is clean, completely dry, and inspected, store it right:

Fold loosely, don't cram. Fold the tent loosely rather than packing it as tightly as possible. Tight, repeated folding along the exact same lines stresses the fabric and coating over time. Vary how you fold it season to season if you can.

Use a breathable storage bag. Store the tent in a breathable bag or container, not sealed airtight plastic. A breathable storage sack lets any residual humidity escape rather than trapping it against the fabric. If your tent came with a storage bag, that's designed for the purpose.

Store in a cool, dry, climate-controlled space. A closet, a dry indoor storage area, or a climate-controlled space is ideal. Avoid damp basements, hot attics, and unheated sheds where temperature swings and humidity can cause condensation. Keep it off concrete floors, which can wick moisture.

Keep it away from pests. Rodents and insects can damage stored fabric. Store the tent in a sealed bin or an area protected from pests, and don't store it with any food residue that might attract them.

Store the Accessories Too

Don't forget the rest of your setup. Clean and dry your wood stove (clean out ash, wipe it down, and store it dry to prevent rust). Clean the pipe of creosote. Store bedding, rugs, and furnishings clean and dry. Check and store your solar generator according to its guidelines (most lithium batteries store best at a partial charge in a cool, dry place). A clean, organized set of gear makes next season's first setup painless.

The End-of-Season Checklist

• Sweep out the interior completely
• Clean the fabric with mild soap and a soft brush (no harsh chemicals or pressure washing)
• Clean the groundsheet
• Treat any mold or mildew before storage
• Dry the tent completely, checking seams, corners, and folds
• Patch tears and re-seal worn seams
• Clean and lubricate zippers
• Inspect poles, stakes, hardware, or air beams
• Apply UV-blocker to transparent panels
• Fold loosely, varying the fold lines
• Store in a breathable bag in a cool, dry, climate-controlled space
• Protect from pests
• Clean and store the stove, bedding, and accessories

Or Don't Store It at All

Here's the thing worth considering before you pack everything away: you might not need to. All of our tents are built for four-season use, and fall and winter are two of the best glamping seasons of the year. Cooler nights, fewer bugs, beautiful scenery, and the cozy warmth of a wood stove on a cold night.

Instead of putting the tent away in September and losing half the year, a lot of tent owners keep going right through fall and winter. If that appeals to you, our fall and winter prep guide and our case for fall glamping make the argument. The end-of-season cleaning above still applies whenever you eventually do put it away, whether that's this month or next spring.

Get Started

Good care is what makes a quality tent last 10-15 years. If you're in the market for a tent built to reward that kind of care, browse the full collection. If you have questions about caring for a tent you already own, contact our team. We're always happy to help you get the most life out of your gear.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you store a canvas tent for the off-season?

Clean it thoroughly, dry it completely, inspect and repair anything that needs it, then fold it loosely and store it in a breathable bag in a cool, dry, climate-controlled space away from pests. The most critical step is making sure the tent is completely dry before storage, since any residual moisture causes mold and mildew over time.

Why can't you store a tent wet?

Storing a tent with any moisture in it, even a slightly damp seam or fold, creates the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to grow over weeks in storage. Mold damages the fabric, stains it permanently, degrades the waterproof coating, and creates odors. Always dry a tent completely before storing it. If you take it down in the rain, set it back up in dry conditions at home to fully dry before packing it away.

How do you clean a glamping tent before storage?

Sweep out the interior, then clean the fabric and groundsheet with mild soap and water using a soft brush or sponge. Never use harsh detergents, bleach, or a pressure washer, which damage the waterproof coating. Treat any mold or mildew spots, rinse with clean water, and then dry the tent completely before storing.

Should I fold or roll my tent for storage?

Either works, but the key is to avoid packing it as tightly as possible and folding along the exact same lines every time. Tight, repeated folding stresses the fabric and coating at the crease points over time. Fold or roll loosely, and vary the pattern season to season if you can. Store it in a breathable bag rather than crammed into the smallest possible space.

Where should I store my tent over winter?

A cool, dry, climate-controlled indoor space like a closet or dry storage area is ideal. Avoid damp basements, hot attics, and unheated sheds where humidity and temperature swings cause condensation. Keep the tent off concrete floors, which wick moisture, and protect it from rodents and insects with a sealed bin or protected space.

Do I have to store my tent in winter, or can I keep using it?

You can absolutely keep using it. All of our tents are built for four-season use, and with a wood stove, fall and winter glamping is comfortable and cozy. Many tent owners skip storage entirely and glamp year-round. Fall and winter are among the best glamping seasons, with cool nights, no bugs, and beautiful scenery. Our fall and winter prep guide covers cold-weather setup.