How to Treat Canvas for Outdoor Use

A canvas tent or tarp will take you through many years of camping and outdoor activity when cared for properly. The thick, sturdy fabric protects you from the elements while allowing you to feel a part of the great outdoors. Similar to other camping gear, your canvas tent or tarp requires regular cleaning and maintenance to prepare it for use outside. You can keep your canvas items in tip-top shape and prepare the surface for inclement weather with simple, but regular, maintenance.

Things You'll Need

  • Broom
  • Hose
  • Bucket
  • 2 tablespoons mild dishwashing detergent
  • Scrub brush
  • Seam repair gel
  • Waterproofing spray
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your canvas tent or other item. If you're treating an item that can lay flat, such as a tarp or chair, lay the canvas on the ground.

    • 2
      Remove organic debris with a broom to make washing easier.

      Sweep the canvas to remove dirt, dust and natural debris, such as leaves or cobwebs. Wet the canvas thoroughly with a hose. Wetting the surface prior to use helps the canvas fibers to swell, making the canvas more effective for keeping moisture out.

    • 3

      Pour 1 gallon of hot water into a bucket. Add 2 tablespoons of mild dishwashing detergent. Stir the two ingredients to make a soapy solution.

    • 4
      Mild detergent solution cleans canvas and kills mildew.

      Soak a scrub brush in the detergent solution. Scrub the canvas surface from the top down. Rinse the brush off as needed and continue to scrub the entire surface to remove dirt and stains.

    • 5

      Rinse the canvas with the hose to remove all of the detergent solution. Allow the canvas to dry for five to seven hours, or overnight, if possible.

    • 6

      Check any seams for small holes or areas where the seam has stretched. Apply seam repair gel directly over the seams to seal them. Allow the gel to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    • 7

      Spray your canvas surface with waterproofing spray. Start at the top and move the spray back and forth in a horizontal motion. Cover the surface with an even coat of waterproofing spray from seam to seam. Allow the spray to dry for an hour. Repeat this step in its entirety, moving the spray in a vertical direction.