On 6/5/05 7:59 AM, "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

> I have a very nice mountain tent I like to take with me when out on the
> road in the Vanagon. I haven't used it in a long time and it has been
> stored in a bag.
>
> I  got it out a couple of weeks ago and set it up to air a bit, wanting
> it fresh for an anticipated outing. Boy, did that thing stink!!!!!  It
> smelled like someone had puked in the bag, in the tent, on the tent, and
> then rolled it up and stored it in the hot water tank closet to ripen.
> Wow, did it smell bad.
>
> Well, I looked at it very close. No puke. I set the tent up out doors to
> air for a few days. It's been two weeks and the tent still reeks of
> puke. Someone told me nylon will do this, and this tent is definitely
> nylon. It has a polyurethane coated nylon rain fly that fits over the
> top. It stinks as well.
>
> Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing??? How can I get
> rid of the smell. I'm afraid if I am in bear country I'm going to have
> severe problems. The odor will invite  bears from all over to lunch!!!
>
> Help!
>
> TIA,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
>
Try powdering it up with baking soda and then rolling back into the bag with
a bunch more.  I have done this with some canvas stuff and gotten fairly
good results.  But check that maybe some one can say if that powder is safe
on nylon.

Another trick that we did with some darnell tents in the AF was to spray
them down with dishwashing detergent (maint chief selected lemon) and then
hose them off.

The dishwashing det mix was done by getting a couple of very large bottles
from the comstore and then mixing to about 50/50 with water and then using a
weed sprayer to apply to the tents.  Left to soak for a while, and then
sprayed off with hoses.  Left set up for another couple days with all flaps
venting.  They were livable after that. One tent got a repeat treatment.
Jimt