cleaning oil from a tent

**DaveSmith** · #1 6 Jan 2005

"Luckily" my bungee/octy cord punched a hole in oil that I had. By the time I noticed it soaked part of my tent. Does anyone have any ideas for cleaning oil out of a waterproof tent? I think I'll be buying another tent but I'm hoping to avoid that.

--Dave

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/

**braindead** · #2 6 Jan 2005

Washiing up liquid is probably your best bet. Apply it neat to the areas affected and rub well in. leave it for a few minutes then rinse with clean water. Dont put water on it before the detergent. You may have to reproof the areas washed with a water replency spray afterwards.

Charlie

**Mr. Ron** · #3 8 Jan 2005

Hello. First thing that comes to my mind is automotive hand-cleaner, without the pumice scrubbers. These de-greasers are superior for breaking down grease and oil, but i'd do a test first.
Good luck!

**DAVSATO** · #4 8 Jan 2005

whatever you use might eat the coating on your tent. did you get a repair patch with the tent? try it on that 1st

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dave

**CountPacMan** · #5 8 Jan 2005

Exact same thing happened to me too. I washed the tent as best I could in some soapy water, but the oil stain is still visible. No problem, the tent seems to work just as well and I don't really care what it looks like.

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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

**pantrybear** · #6 9 Jan 2005

You'll never get the stain out, at least not without ruining the tent. Use a mild detergent soap like Dove (I don't know if that's available everywhere) and wash carefully just to get the oil and the smell out.

Fly's are usually coated with silicone or polyurethane and both should be okay with exposure to oil so I think your tent should be fine, just a bit stained.

**DaveSmith** · #7 9 Jan 2005

Thanks for the replies. I don't care what the tent looks like as long as it's more or less waterproof. I'll give it a go in the next couple days and let you know how it works.

--Dave

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/

**LuckyStriker** · #8 16 Feb 2005

Consider the following:

That oily spot is even more water repellant than the rest of the tent!

If you can live with the smell and don't care what it looks like (as you yourself stated) i'd suggest painting the entire tent with oil!

That way your tent will be super water resistant!!!!
...and as an added bonus the stain as such will no longer be visible.
You could then rename your bike Exxon Valdez

[This message has been edited by LuckyStriker (edited 16 February 2005).]