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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: ScottT on October 11, 2012, 07:58:22 AM

Title: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: ScottT on October 11, 2012, 07:58:22 AM
Hi Swaggers,

Other than using a piece of carpet or similar, who does one keep the tent floor clean of the C/T OR how do you clean it before pack up ? What do you use ?.

I thought about using one of those disposable mop thingys where you can replace the "wipe" (similar to baby wipes etc...) but my wife seemed to think they might have alcohol or similar which may "dry" out the PVC and crack the floor.

What do you suggest ?

Cheers, Scott
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Trackaprado on October 11, 2012, 08:36:27 AM
I just sweep it out with a broom or dust pan, and if required wipe it with a damp chamoix.  The chamoix is also good for wiping the underside of the floor when packing up
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: xmasbaby67 on October 11, 2012, 08:48:27 AM
Hi Scott,

I don't use any carpet etc on our CT tent floor.  I usually just sweep it with a broom then dustpan & brush & if I have enough time at pack up time I give it a quick wipe over with a warm soapy dishcloth & then wipe over with a towel.  Seems to get any mud & kid goop off really well without using heavy cleaners.

Usually I do the wet cloth & towel floor clean when we unpack the tent when we get home to change the sheets, etc....
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: ScottT on October 11, 2012, 09:12:48 AM
Hey, thanks guys, appreciate it.

Yeah, sweep out everytime before pack up (and during the stay, want to keep the Customline looking like new !).

Both ideas sound good, especially the chamois, will keep one in the toolbox from now on ! And xmasbaby, the good old dish cloth and tea towel trick hey! Gets used for everything ! This will be our choice I reckon !

Cheers again, Scott
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Big Nath on October 11, 2012, 09:23:51 AM
we simply sweep ours, or use my 12v vacuum.

well worth the money for those beach trips too
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: LB on October 11, 2012, 10:04:13 AM
a good old vacuum when you get home never goes astray :D

LB
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Mace on October 11, 2012, 10:20:15 AM
We carry both a broom and a mop to clean floors with.  Havnt found room for the kitchen sink yet!
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Matto on October 11, 2012, 11:12:30 AM
Scott,

We just give a quick sweep before packing up - close enough is good enough really, because you're only going to get it dirty again next time. But we've never had to deal with mud/etc in the tent - usually just dust/dirt/sand which sweeps up easily.

I don't know that there'd be a problem with using the sweeper-wipes, but I'd probably just use a wet rag if I needed to get to that level. You'll always have spare rags/towels stuffed in the toolbox somewhere.

I have used the inverter and the vacuum cleaner once before though!

Cheers!
Matto :)
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: ScottT on October 11, 2012, 12:02:01 PM
Scott,

We just give a quick sweep before packing up - close enough is good enough really, because you're only going to get it dirty again next time. But we've never had to deal with mud/etc in the tent - usually just dust/dirt/sand which sweeps up easily.

I don't know that there'd be a problem with using the sweeper-wipes, but I'd probably just use a wet rag if I needed to get to that level. You'll always have spare rags/towels stuffed in the toolbox somewhere.

I have used the inverter and the vacuum cleaner once before though!

Cheers!
Matto :)


Hey thanks Matto !

Don't know about taking the vacuum cleaner, I go on holidays to get away from those chores !  ;D

It's the cleanup after the kids have been coming and going over a couple of weeks, the floor starts to look pretty average !

A sponge and rag (clean one!) will probably do the trick !

Cheers, Scott
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Tim - Stratford on October 11, 2012, 07:37:24 PM
Scott,

A rubber backed travel rug on the floor will keep it clean & also warmer. Just take it outside & give it a good shake to clean!  :D

Sarah (Tim's wife)
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Bookleaf on October 11, 2012, 09:50:52 PM
We do the same thing - picnic rug on the floor.
Damp cloth and towel of needed.
Loose stuff just falls out as we pack up as the floor becomes vertical in our CT during pack-up.
Maybe a thump on the vertical floor to get any stubborn loos stuff off.
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: fuji on October 12, 2012, 07:11:42 AM
Same thing but we sweep up at the end of each day and before we leave, a quick sweep and a wipe down and big clean up at home. When we get the hard floor CT I will take a piece of marine carpet , I can just take it out and give it a quick flick before pack up.
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: xmasbaby67 on October 12, 2012, 10:28:45 AM
Yep Scott it works a treat......well we have usually just washed up the brekky stuff before we start pack-up so the dishcloth is getting chucked in the bin and the towel in the wash so why dirty anything else.....like you said you go away to be away from the housework... :cup:


Ours still looks brand new with not a mark on the floor after 3 years and I want to keep it that way... :angel:
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Jeepers Creepers on October 12, 2012, 04:23:55 PM
Cleaning floors huh, sounds like a woman's job to me.
Goes really well with, cooking, washing, ironing, cleaning.... bingo, there it is.... cleaning and that my friend, includes floors, be them soft, hard, lino, carpet or wood.

Now, some might say, that camping doesn't count, but cleaning is cleaning and it will stand up in court.

So Scott, in answer to your question.... "What would you suggest?" tell the wife to do it and if that doesn't work, tell her she's replacable, they LOVE THAT.

Oh, let me know how you go......
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: ScottT on October 15, 2012, 11:01:40 AM
Cleaning floors huh, sounds like a woman's job to me.
Goes really well with, cooking, washing, ironing, cleaning.... bingo, there it is.... cleaning and that my friend, includes floors, be them soft, hard, lino, carpet or wood.

Now, some might say, that camping doesn't count, but cleaning is cleaning and it will stand up in court.

So Scott, in answer to your question.... "What would you suggest?" tell the wife to do it and if that doesn't work, tell her she's replacable, they LOVE THAT.

Oh, let me know how you go......

Hey Jeepers,

When I got home from work on Friday and after I'd been at the club investing in Coopers, I showed the cheese and kisses your suggestion.

I've gotta say, the dog bed ain't to bad !

Still it was worth it, 'cause she figures she can do it better than me anyway !

Cheers, Scott
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Bird on October 15, 2012, 01:19:56 PM
I use those blue foam squares stuck together in rows of 3.. easy to sweep off and feel good to walk on.
Then throw them on the bed when I pack up.

Thinkin of doing the same for under the tent too.
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Desert lover on October 18, 2012, 06:23:25 PM
Hi There... we use a tarp under the floor so that any dirt isn't on the floor of external the camper - then inside we have a piece of marine carpet which keeps the palace a little warmer and also protects the vinyl from any stones/sticks or other stuff inadvertently carted inside.  The carpet gets a quick shake and stores folded up on the camper and under the storm cover.   The vinyl floor also gets a quick sweep before pack up to stop any dust getting into the bedding.  When we get home the carpet can be washed with a gerni, the floor of the camper gets a go over with a damp mop. 
Works for us.
Cheers, 
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Temora140 on October 20, 2012, 05:48:52 AM
When we camped we took a rechargable Vax carpet/floor sweeper, take the handle off and it very small. Does a great job then a wipe over with damp cloth or tea towel and it's clean. Stiff brush to clean underneath bottom of tent when packing up.
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: WogsRus on October 20, 2012, 06:30:52 AM
We use one of those anti slip matt products that xtrail sell. Its like a rubberised shade cloth. Nice and soft under foot and easy to pack up. The dirt simply falls through the cracks shoes to the floor but it stops the dirt from spreadinwhen we pack up we just take the matting up and sweep the floor
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: lino6 on October 29, 2012, 08:28:03 PM
I'm thinking about getting one of those Ryobi one+ vacuums. I already have the 18v chainsaw for the camper and will probably be getting a few products to chuck in the tool box on the front to try and make camping life a bit better. They make a fan, torches, radio and heaps of other stuff and you can get a 12v charger as well. If anything needs wiping off the floor I'll just rub some meat on it and get the dog to lick it off! Even the 4 leg campers have to do their bit  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: Malcolm Tugless on October 29, 2012, 10:17:23 PM
For crying out loud, just sweep the freaking thing.

Do not over complicate the simple act of camping.

Is it not supposed to be an attempt of getting away from IT all.

Roughing it has lost its gloss.

Softing is the new black, Melbourne fashion week eat your heart out.

Camp ovens takes on a whole new meaning.


Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: xmasbaby67 on October 30, 2012, 08:44:59 AM
Calm your farm Malcolm....... don't like it..... don't read it.  :-*

Sometimes just sweeping it is not enough when you have kids,spills,kids,wine,kids,beer,kids mud & did I mention kids....  ;D

Think Scott was just after some ideas on looking after something he paid good hard earned money for & I actually will now pack a chamois to wipe mine over before packing up.  :cup:  Some great ideas here and yep some do things a little different but in the end we are all out there enjoying the same country just some like a little more comfort than others.....  :cheers:
Title: Re: Cleaning the Tent Floor (Internal)
Post by: ScottT on October 30, 2012, 10:05:09 AM
WOW ! 21 replies !

Thanks to all for you responses !

Just wanting to ensure my already (2nd hand) 5 year old Customline C/T will last another 5 - 10 years by asking question of the knowledgeable Myswaggers and looking after it, surely can't begrudge that !


PS. Thanks for your support Xmasbaby67 !  :cheers:   ;D