Tarp Mildew

[taylo]

Got caught in a flash flood while kayak camping this weekend and had to escape onto someone's property, ditch our gear, and hike out to a highway. It's going to be a few days before we can go back to get our gear. My Warbonnet Silpoly (polyester) tarp was stuffsacked soaking wet, so I'm fairly sure it may have mildew by the time I get it. Hopefully my quilts weren't too damp when I sacked them.

So, does anyone have any experience with mildewed tarps or other gear? Is there any treatment for this?

Thanks much,
Kurt

[GreatBigDave]

Bleach kills mildew but I really don't know what to do for fine gear.

Good luck!

[cmoulder]

Holy moly! I would make every effort to get that gear ASAP or somehow get someone else to do it.

There are removers/cleaners such as Revivex, but in my experience most quality gear is never the same afterwards. Once — and only once! — in my foolish youth I lent a tent and sleeping bag to someone for a bike tour who returned the gear like this. It was totally trashed.

[DrPhun]

I have had good luck with mirazyme, but that was with things that were not waterproof. The problem with something like a tarp or rain fly is moisture can find its way deep inside to cause mildew and then the treatment can’t get at it. The good news is if you get it and dry it in the timeframe you mentioned, you might beat it if it isn’t too warm. It isn’t uncommon to be out and have it rain every day for a week so gear can normally be wet that long.

[SilvrSurfr]

I seriously doubt a few days will cause mildew.

[Mountnman]

Hang it in the sun for a few days, the UV should do the trick. It will dry it out good and kill any if it gets any mildew. Like SS said it shouldn't get mildew in a few days. This is what has always worked for me.

[TrailSlug]

Hang it in the sun for a few days, the UV should do the trick. It will dry it out good and kill any if it gets any mildew. Like SS said it shouldn't get mildew in a few days. This is what has always worked for me.

Same here. The sun is the best mildew cleaner.

[huntaholic123]

Sun and heat will do the trick. I doubt it will be very bad but would suggest getting your gear sooner than later

[kitsapcowboy]

+1 on Mirazyme

https://www.amazon.com/McNett-MiraZy...dp/B000MQ8SF6/

[Trecker8]

Sorry to hear that taylo. If it's got mildew, throw it out. Nothing you can do with that and the health risks are too high.