It’s that time of year when none but the most stalwart of campers wants to be out about. There’s a vast difference between sleeping in an open tent under the stars on a summer’s night and getting frostbite.

If you’re a camper, you’ll have fabulous memories, some great and some just stories of the challenges to tell over a hot chocolate.

So, as your tent gets ‘mothballed’ until next year brings better weather, here’s the easyStorage guide to making sure you get no nasty surprises when you bring it out next year.

The Camping Bag

Many people have a large bag already prepared with essentials like cutlery, crockery, etc. (Mine’s a posh picnic bag, but I camp for festivals, not out in the wild!)

To store the bag, make sure everything is clean and dry and anything broken replaced before storing. Even with the best will in the world, next summer is a long way off, and will you really remember to buy a new bottle opener for camping? I thought not!

Pop in a list of things to remember next year, like toilet roll, toiletries, etc. Don’t store liquids in your bag – they go off, separate, leak, etc, and are best kept out. And if you’re storing somewhere unsecured, don’t put in toilet roll. There is little more appealing than lovely soft paper to chew up and nest in if you’re a mouse looking for somewhere to sleep over winter.

Bins

Reading around, I like the idea of clear plastic bins rather than the small neon-coloured monstrosities I camp with to keep general waste in and make sure the tent’s kept habitable for humans. These always mean useful packing space on the outward journey, but having them clear makes finding everything easier.

If your bins have been around the block, make sure they’re clean and dry before storing for the winter, to avoid smells and mildew.

Camping Clothes

From favourite festival frocks to long johns for cold nights, all regular campers have things in their wardrobe they wouldn’t be seen dead in elsewhere.

Make sure they are clean, dry, and ironed if you’re storing them. Yes, I know they’re for camping and going into storage, but they’ll take up less space, and ironing helps ensure they’re properly dry.

Of course, some things aren’t ironable, like the obligatory plastic poncho. But plastics need to be clean and dry before storing to avoid mould and rotting.

If you’re a true camper and have hiking gear and walking boots, dry them thoroughly to prevent mould, mildew, or bad smells.

Remove Batteries

You may have torches, GPS goodies, radios, battery chargers, and more that you take camping. Unless you’re ‘glamping, there’s a fair chance that these will use batteries not electric cords. Take the batteries out to store over winter. This way, your electronic goodies will stay in good working condition: there’s no chance of corrosion and they won’t create health and safety risks.

Keep Your Tent Dry

Oh that we could ensure that our camping trips were dry affairs. But this is Britain, and there’s every chance that your tent will have had a dousing. And even if it hasn’t, you release moisture as you breathe, so you’re unwittingly creating dampness while you sleep.

It’s vital to air and completely dry your tent before putting it away. Ensure any dirt, bugs, or rocks are dusted off before storing as well. And that any repairs are done BEFORE storing.

Store Everything in One Place

If you keep all your camping gear together in one place it will be easy to find.

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For more tips on packing away your summer safely (sigh) click here.

And if you want to keep it in safe, dry storage, we’re here for you. Click here for a no-obligation online quote!

Easy really! We even keep an inventory for you.

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