In this article, I\u2019ll explore this topic in detail. You\u2019ll know what\u2019s exactly bad about mold, and how to clean it with nothing but soapy water.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"is](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/is-it-safe-to-sleep-in-a-moldy-tent.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nSo, Is It Safe To Sleep In a Moldy Tent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If your tent <\/strong>has occasional mold spots, it’s likely just fine to sleep in your tent. There are few things that can change this, so read on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When I say occasional spots, this is about what what I mean: I know someone who has a small bathroom with this level of mold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the people who live here actually is an asthmatic but hasn’t been having issues. This doesn’t mean this is going to be true for everyone, but if there is some mold on your tent, it’s going to be okay to sleep for a night or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you experience any of the symptoms of mold<\/strong> (we talk about them in the next section), or if there is an exceptionally moldy smell, it may not be worth it and you’ll have to find another alternative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, if the mold is more intense than this, than you shouldn’t use the tent until you clean it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mold is present everywhere around us. You\u2019re literally inhaling its spores on a daily basis. Most of the time, nothing goes wrong because our bodies can deal with this negligible amount of spores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It starts to rear its ugly head when you sit by an active fungus that keeps spewing microscopic spores into your face. But even then, the risk can be quite variable between people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most of us, mold exposure will cause the typical mild signs of sensitivity like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, some people might be especially allergic to mold. They\u2019ll experience more severe symptoms like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And of course, people who have underlying respiratory diseases will be at a much bigger risk. Asthmatic attacks, for instance, can be triggered by long-time mold exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between all the mold colors, people freak out the most about the black type. It\u2019s widely thought to be so toxic that it can lead to death. Thankfully, nothing could be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cColor is not an indication of how dangerous a mold may be<\/a>,\u201d says the official website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). \u201cThere are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n This doesn’t mean that mold can’t be harmful to our respiratory system–the CDC is very clear in stating that you can get a fungal infection<\/a>, especially if you are immunocompromised or if you have lung and respiratory system sensitives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you started experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms, it\u2019d be wise to get out of the tent to give your lungs a break by breathing clean, spore-free air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, you can start alleviating the symptoms by the methods you normally use to control any typical allergy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Corticosteroid nasal sprays, like Flonase<\/a>, can effectively reduce airway inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Antihistamines can be a bit more efficient by calming the irritated immune system, which should instantly eradicate most, if not all, of the symptoms. Zyrtec<\/a> and Claritin<\/a> (see on Amazon) are two of the best OTC antihistamines that don\u2019t have side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to steer clear of medications, you can rinse your nasal passages with warm water to flush down the spores and clear your airway. For a convenient application, you can get a portable nasal irrigator<\/a>. (Amazon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medically speaking, you probably won\u2019t suffer from the symptoms of mold sensitivity unless you sleep beside moldy stains for more than one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, if you didn\u2019t notice the mold growth before your bedtime, you can ignore it, get a good night\u2019s sleep, and handle it with a fresh mind on the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, this doesn\u2019t apply to folks who already suffer from chronic respiratory conditions like asthma. In this case, you\u2019ll need to start cleaning right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Set up the tent as if you\u2019ll be using it normally. If you have a rain fly, remove it. You\u2019ll need plenty of sun and air to circulate through your tent.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n As I said earlier, mold spreads to new areas by spewing its spores into the air. When you scrub it, you\u2019ll surely agitate an extreme amount of spores. That\u2019s why wearing a mask is an absolute necessity. And since some mold types can also release toxins, surgical gloves are crucial, too.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 3: Scrub It With Soap and Water<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n Any mold growth compromises thousands of living cells glued over the surface with special tacky substances. Luckily, simple detergents, like dish soap, can sometimes sweep them away. You\u2019ll probably need some elbow grease, but your efforts will pay off at the end.<\/p>After making sure that no moldy stains are still there, rinse the spot thoroughly to get rid of the soap and mold remnants. Lukewarm water will be better since it\u2019ll fragment any remaining tiny stains.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n If the soap doesn\u2019t seem to cut it, no worries! You can try scrubbing with a solution of 2 part lemonade, 1 part white vinegar, and a pinch of salt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy these,\u201d you might ask? The citric acid present in lemon can quickly eradicate mold and mildew<\/a> without being too harsh on your tent\u2019s fabric.Vinegar shares the same properties since it\u2019s based on a similar solution: acetic acid<\/a>. It\u2019s actually stronger than lemon, but some people may not appreciate its rather strong odor.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Salt is a strikingly powerful substance that bacteria and fungus can\u2019t tolerate<\/a>. It works by sucking the moisture out of the mold cells, depriving them of the essence of their growth.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n And just like the last step, make sure to give your tent a quick rinse by warm water to remove any remnants.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 5: Leave It to the Sun<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m sorry to break it to you, but no matter how hard you scrub, you\u2019ll inadvertently overlook some microscopic mold cells. Unless you possess Superman\u2019s heat vision, you won\u2019t be able to eradicate them yourself.<\/span><\/p>Lucky for you, the solution is right above your head. The ultraviolet rays generated by the sun have a capacity high enough to kill mold spores, <\/span>anthrax<\/a> (medicinenet)<\/span>, <\/span>streptococci bacteria<\/a> (yourgenome.org)<\/span>, you name it!<\/span> To ensure the best results, dry the moldy spot with a clean cloth and position it under direct sunlight. And of course, open the doors and windows to properly aerate your tent\u2019s interior.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 6: Deodorizing<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n Most of the time, scrubbing and sun drying should leave your tent smelling as good as new. However, if the mold issue has been brewing for a while, chances are the mold cells have seeped into the fabric\u2019s tiny spaces. They might keep bugging you with an infernal smell, even if you can\u2019t see any stains.<\/p>In that case, you\u2019ll need to use an <\/span>enzymatic cleaner and deodorizer<\/a> (see on Amazon). If you\u2019re unfamiliar, enzymatic cleaners contain biological substances that literally \u201cdigest\u201d living cells.<\/span> To use this cleaner, pour some drops into a cup of clean warm water and wipe it over your tent\u2019s fabric. And that\u2019s it! You shouldn\u2019t rinse or dry it off. It\u2019ll slowly diffuse into the fabric to hunt down all the mold cells lurking inside.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want more details on how to address a stinky tent, check out our article, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By now, your mold problem should be completely resolved. Nevertheless, you might be left to face yet another crucial issue. See, all the steps described earlier should be fairly safe on your tent\u2019s fabric. But the actual possibility of damage boils down to your tent quality. Low-end tents may not even endure a simple detergent. The good news is, if your tent started fading and losing water resistance, you may not have to throw it away yet!Get a waterproofing spray<\/a> and sprinkle on the affected spot. And just like the deodorizer, you should let it dry on its own. After enough time, the new protective coat will cause water to bead up and dry normally.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using bleach 1. in the recommended dilution stated by the CDC 2. promptly rinsing the area after mold removal is safe, and 3. on fabrics that are not sensitive to bleach<\/strong> is safe and won’t damage your tent.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDC officially recommends<\/a> 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon (no more) for killing and removing mold. Many people are uncomfortable with using bleach so you have to weigh the pros and cons of this approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bleach can destroy your tent fabric<\/strong> if used in too high a concentration or if it’s not rinsed off properly. Proceed with caution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, this study<\/a> found that bleach can damage fabrics of certain fabrics and it worked fine on others. It particularly called out clothing with nylon fabrics. <\/strong>Tents are often made with nylon or polyester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, depending on the fabric type of your tent, you can use the recommended dilution of bleach to clean the area and then you should promptly wash it with water and a rag to ensure you don’t leave any bleach behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important thing you can do to prevent mold from accumulating on your tent in the first place is to dry your tent completely when you’re not using it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This sounds simple, but there are a lot of reasons why it can be tricky to completely dry your tent. The most obvious being, if you live in an apartment and you don’t have a place to set up your tent to dry when you’re home! <\/p>\n\n\n\n I talk about meaningful strategies to dry your tent <\/span>anywhere, in any living situation here<\/a><\/strong>. Make sure and check that article out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"drywall](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/black-mold-1024x768.jpg\")
So, Is Mold Dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is the Black Mold Especially Dangerous?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/is-it-safe-to-sleep-in-a-moldy-tent-1.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nHow Can You Manage the Symptoms of Mold?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Clean Your Moldy Tent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Prepare Your Tent<\/h3>Remember, mold thrives in humid, closed areas. I\u2019ve seen many campers trying to scrub moldy stains with the tent folded or lying flat on the ground. This is completely absurd because some water will inevitably creep through the tent fabric and create new infestations!
Step 2: Wear Protective Gear<\/span> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Entrust Some Natural Cleaners<\/span><\/span> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Repair the Damage<\/span> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is It Safe To Use Bleach On a Tent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Do I Prevent Mold On My Tent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Is Mold?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n