Shoutout to the guy who told me about drying tents inside a pillowcase

I always just stuffed my damp tent back in the sack and hoped for the best. But last week after a rainy trip up near Algonquin Park, a old timer at the campsite told me to throw it in a big cotton pillowcase first before storing it. Apparently it stops mildew by letting the fabric breathe. Tried it and my tent actually smells fresh for once. Has anyone else got a random tip from a stranger that actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

price.ray15d ago

You know, I read that "drying tents inside a pillowcase" and I had to stop and read it twice. I've been camping for over twenty years and I never once thought of that. I always just hung mine over a shower rod or laid it out on the grass, which just gets leaves and dirt all over it. That old timer must have been some kind of wizard, because I bet your tent finally doesn't smell like a wet dog left in a car trunk.

shanef3415d ago

That pillowcase trick reminds me of the time I tried drying my boots by shoving crumpled-up newspaper inside them. Worked great until the ink started bleeding through onto my socks on the next trip. Had blue feet for three days. Your tent smelling like a wet dog is bad, but walking around looking like a Smurf is a whole different kind of embarrassing.

lunah1215d ago

I once had a guy at a gas station tell me to put a dryer sheet in my cooking gear bag to keep the skunks away. I was too tired to argue so I tried it and swear it actually worked for a whole season. Sometimes the weirdest advice from strangers ends up being the best stuff you ever learn.