How to Clean a Canopy

What you need to clean your canopy

• Mild soap and water for washing
• A soft cloth or sponge
• A bucket or container for the soapy water
• Clean water for rinsing
• A clean surface large enough to spread out the canopy top

Check the care instructions supplied with your canopy before you begin. Use additional cleaning products or stain treatments only when approved for your canopy's fabric and print.

Before you start

Choose a clean work area where you can reach the fabric without dragging it through dirt. If you are working at ground level, put a clean tarp or other clean protective surface underneath. Follow the instructions supplied with your tent when removing or handling the canopy top.

Spread out the fabric so you can see where it needs cleaning. Look along the edges, corners and seams as well as across the main panels. Note any stubborn marks so you can check them again after the first wash.

Allow space and time for drying as well as washing. Keep the carry bag aside until the canopy is completely dry.

How to wash the canopy top

1. Gently remove loose debris

Remove leaves, dust and loose dirt before washing. Work across the top and check folds and corners for anything caught there. Lift debris away gently rather than rubbing it into the fabric.

2. Wash one section at a time

Prepare mild soap and water in your bucket. Wet a soft cloth or sponge with the soapy water and gently wipe a manageable section of the canopy. Work methodically across the fabric so you can keep track of which areas have been washed and rinsed.

Give visibly dirty areas, edges and seams careful attention using the same gentle method. Keep the cloth or sponge clean as you work; rinse dirt out of it before moving to another section. If a mark does not lift with gentle washing, leave it for the stain check below rather than scrubbing harder or adding another cleaner.

3. Rinse away the soap

Rinse each washed section before the soapy water dries on it. Rinse gently with clean water. Check for remaining soap, including along seams and in folds, and rinse those areas again if needed. Continue washing and rinsing the remaining sections until you have covered the whole top.

4. Let the canopy dry completely

Leave the fabric spread out to dry before folding it or putting it into its bag. Check both sides, along seams and wherever fabric overlaps. If an area is still damp, open it out and allow more drying time.

Do not use the appearance of one dry panel as the check for the whole canopy. The top is ready to pack only when all of it is dry.

If a stain or mildew remains

Check the marks you noticed before washing. If a stain, suspected mildew or sticky residue remains after the mild-soap wash, contact MVP Visuals before applying another treatment.

Include your order number, a photo showing the mark and where it sits on the canopy, and a description of what you have already used to clean it. Mention whether the mark is on a printed area. That gives us the information needed to identify your canopy and help with the next step.

After the canopy is clean and dry

Once the whole top is dry, follow your tent's packing instructions. For carry bags, transport, inspection and storage between events, see the Canopy Tent Care, Transport and Storage Guide.