mk
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Post by mk on Sept 29, 2015 17:31:39 GMT -8
Any suggestions on the best way to clean tent zippers? The gear websites just recommend cleaning with a soft brush. Do you do anything special to keep zippers moving freely? Grand Canyon dirt is slowing them down ...
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Sept 29, 2015 18:02:03 GMT -8
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 29, 2015 18:35:51 GMT -8
After my first trip into the Canyon many years ago, I stopped carrying a tent or anything else with zippers. I use a tarp to ward off any rain that might need my way, at least in the desert SW.
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franco
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Post by franco on Sept 29, 2015 20:40:45 GMT -8
Some use wax on the zips after having cleaned them.
Paraffin or bees wax.
Others prefer silicone (the lubricant not the weather protection type...)
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Sept 29, 2015 21:03:55 GMT -8
Some use wax on the zips after having cleaned them. Paraffin or bees wax. Others prefer silicone (the lubricant not the weather protection type...) Based on pictures I've seen of the Outback, you must have at least some the same kind of dust as the Grand Canyon. It's eroded sandstone, limestone, with a bit of shale, so it's mostly small to ultra-tiny grains of sand. It sticks to wax quite readily, so I'd use silicone if anything. That dust is hard to get out of everything. Even my titanium pot rarely gets fully clean. |
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franco
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Post by franco on Sept 29, 2015 21:47:21 GMT -8
Yes in some areas we do have that very fine dust too.
Sticks to tent fabric well , almost like paint.
Takes a good hose down plus two-tree wipes with soapy water to get most of it out of the fabric.
With zips, the first step (cleaning with a brush) does work for all after that it depends (on location).
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johnnyray
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Post by johnnyray on Sept 30, 2015 7:20:44 GMT -8
If you have an air compressor that works great, if not what others have suggested.
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Post by 1camper on Sept 30, 2015 16:02:32 GMT -8
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mk
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North Texas
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Post by mk on Oct 1, 2015 5:05:01 GMT -8
Thanks for all the tips -- I'll definitely give them a try. Nothing more frustrating than being stuck inside/outside the tent ...
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dayhiker
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Post by dayhiker on Oct 1, 2015 7:07:51 GMT -8
I have this (just found it) , similar to 1camper's, except it is more like a chap stick: ZipTechsays to preclean with Aquaseal BrandZipCare Zipper Cleaner I use it as is for my dry suit, and one rain jacket that never worked well. No tents so far. |
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Post by Coolkat on Mar 21, 2023 8:42:54 GMT -8
If I'd been taking care of my tent zippers like I should have I wouldn't be posting here. But here is my question. My tent has 2 doors and 2 vestibules which also have zippers. One side both the door zipper and vestibule zipper won't budge (frozen/stuck in place). Fortunately they are stuck in the closed position. However, I'd really like to resolve this issue so I don't have to purchase another tent. Any ideas? I haven't asked google yet and I probably will but was wondering if anyone here had experience doing this?
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Mar 21, 2023 9:24:10 GMT -8
I don't have any great suggestions, but it was brave of you to ask.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Mar 21, 2023 10:23:29 GMT -8
If I'd been taking care of my tent zippers like I should have I wouldn't be posting here. But here is my question. My tent has 2 doors and 2 vestibules which also have zippers. One side both the door zipper and vestibule zipper won't budge (frozen/stuck in place). Fortunately they are stuck in the closed position. However, I'd really like to resolve this issue so I don't have to purchase another tent. Any ideas? I haven't asked google yet and I probably will but was wondering if anyone here had experience doing this? Maybe try a little WD40 or some such? Let it soak in a bit. I’m assuming there’s corrosion of the metal parts of the zippers and that’s why it’s frozen in place. |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Mar 21, 2023 11:43:53 GMT -8
Try the WD40 routine. A second option is windex. Spray the area around where it is stuck, as well as the pull itself. Both sides of the zipper. One spray ought to do the trick. Wait a few minutes for the liquid to do it's thing, then pull the zipper.
Pencil lead is sometimes a last resort, as graphite is a good dry lubricant. Again, both sides of the zipper.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on Mar 21, 2023 18:07:52 GMT -8
Soft kids toothbrush. McNetts is good. I need to get more. I love high desert and sagebrush steppe hiking and biking in my area. The siltstone dust is really nasty. Be careful with WD-40. It can be very tough on some poly fabrics and coatings.
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