After a long rooftop tent trip, it is definitely fair to want to leave your bedding inside the roof top tent that will end up staying on your vehicle. It creates less work and when that next trip rolls around, your bedding will already be right where you left it.
You can leave bedding in a roof top tent for storage or while going to the next destination on a trip as long as you take the necessary steps to keep it clean. Hardshell tents will typically be able to store more bedding due to their design and not having to fold shut as a softshell does.
Many people want to leave their bedding in their tent but don’t take the necessary steps of sanitizing and cleanliness to do so. Some of those steps include washing the mattress you are using periodically as well as keeping designated sheets over the mattress at all times.
Keeping Your Roof Top Tent Bedding Clean
Nothing is worse than a long day of camping adventures and hopping in a dirty bed at night. This is a common problem that you may run into while using a rooftop tent and leaving your bedding in the tent trip after trip. In doing so, there is more chance for dirt build up, stains and pretty gnarly smells. But if you take the initiative of cleaning that bedding periodically, then you will never run into these issues.
The main way to clean your bedding is to clean what you are actually sleeping on, the mattress. Whether you are using a travel mattress fit for your tent or an air mattress there are several ways to keep them fresh.
While using an air mattress, the best way I’ve found to clean it is by using mild liquid soap, a bowl of warm water and a cloth. Mixing a couple drops of soap in that water and dampening the cloth with the mixture to then wipe down the mattress is the common procedure. Be sure to wipe down the pump as well along with letting everything air dry.
I would suggest doing this once a month whether it is camping season or not. If your mattress has excessive stains, mildew or even mold there are solutions for that as well.
The first step would be to take out your mattress and put it in sunlight which will help vaporize moisture that may have accumulated on or within the air mattress. You then want to take a half and half mixture of white vinegar and water that you will use to wipe down the mattress using a sponge. Once the mattress has been gently washed, leave it outside to air dry.
You can even sprinkle baking soda on the air mattress once it is dry to dismiss any unwanted smells. Just vacuum up the powder a few minutes after application.
In regards to cleaning a real mattress that you may be using in your tent, you will need a mixture of baking soda, three percent hydrogen peroxide and a drop of dish soap. Using two tablespoons of baking soda, a cup of peroxide and a drop of dish soap in a heavy duty spray bottle, spray down any stains that may be present. Use a dry rag to lightly press and work in the mixture that was sprayed on the spots. Then let sit for thirty minutes.
I like to go through this process two times on a real mattress just so it is in the best shape I can make it. If your mattress is just in need of a little TLC with no stains but a raunchy smell, sprinkle baking soda on the mattress. After about thirty minutes vacuum up the powder.
Pro tip: adding essential oils to the baking soda or to water in a spray bottles creates a relaxing aroma that will be left for several weeks.
Types of bedding for your roof top tent
For bedding materials, you really can’t go wrong. There are a lot of different options including: sleeping bags, bed comforters, duvets and wool/fleece blankets. All of which can be cleaned either by hand or thrown in a machine.
Sleeping bags can be cleaned by hand using soap and water just like you would an air mattress. You don’t want to get these too wet because the synthetic material holds water a lot more than you would think.
My favorite option would be down duvets or fleece blankets. They are easy to clean using a machine wash and keep you extremely warm on colder trips. You also can easily fold and stack these for easy storage while on the road to your next destination.
No matter what you pick, always put a set of sheets on your mattress to protect it from dirt or oil build up from your body. I like to bring two to three sets of sheet covers per trip depending on how long I may be gone for.
How to Keep Your Roof Top Tent Clean
While trying to keep your bedding clean, it is also a good idea to highlight the point of keeping your tent clean in general. It will only make your camping trips of the future more enjoyable by having a space that is clean and well put together.
The first step in cleaning the overall tent is to fully empty it and set it up on the ground. Taking a vacuum, get any dust or dirt that may be present within the tent. This includes places where particles can live like folds in the materials or under window vent flaps. Brushing the outside also tends to help get any stubborn dirt away from the canvas.
General cleaning after that would consist of taking a small amount of mild detergent in a warm bucket of water and using a strong bristle brush. With the mixture, proceed to scrub from the top downwards on the outside part of the tent. Only do one side at a time and use a hose to then wash off the soap. Let air dry out in the sun before repackaging the tent for the next trip.
If your tent is in need of some real help with stains, I suggest using a fabric cleaning to really attack large stains. Use the fabric cleaner according to the directions on the bottle because each one is a tad different. I sometimes use rubbing alcohol to spot clean smaller, insignificant blemishes on my tent.
There are even products out there that can restore water repellency of your tent that may be a bit older and have gone through its fair share of adventures.
How Dirty is Camping in a Roof Top Tent?
I’m sure most of you have experienced camping before but for those who haven’t, camping is definitely not the cleanest hobby in the world. Dirt lives in just about every camping environment and the climate will play a huge role in whether that dirt is sand or wet muddy soil.
For most campers, you will find that each place is different and offers its own set of amenities. For example, a lot of campgrounds will have a community bathroom and showers but adventuring to places where many people aren’t present will give you the simple amenities of peace and a view.
It is important to understand that you will get extremely dirty and you may not get the proper wash you would get in that dual nozzle, marble shower at home. Utilizing baby wipes to do a quick wipe down before bed is a great way to stay somewhat fresh and keep that sleeping area clean for a longer period of time.
If you are the type of person that needs to shower each day, there are options for you when a real shower may not be present. There are showers that you can hang from trees and by putting water on the top, it can trickle down to your body for washing. Maybe controlling the water temperature is more your speed and in that case a solar portable shower is a perfect option. They are easy to carry and don’t take up too much space.
There are certain types of soap I suggest when linking cleanliness and camping together. Along with many other campers I tend to lean towards Dr. Bonner’s Magic Soap because it can be used on all parts of your body and is all natural. It also smells fantastic and will add to that relaxing atmosphere of camping.
Also, simply put, I am definitely team “deodorant” while camping. I know showering options may be limited and no one is smelling like roses, but you really don’t want to stink any more than you have to. You’ll thank me later for this tip when you’re deep in your next big trip.
Conclusion
Through this article I hope you are able to conquer future trips and combat the dirtiness that comes with rooftop tent camping. By being cognizant of periodically cleaning your bedding and tent, there will be more time enjoying what nature has to offer than stressing about smells and stains.
Along with your tent, keeping your own personal hygiene will only enhance the cleanliness of your overall living space out there on the trails. Hope these helpful tips facilitate your next adventure!