Howdy,

I picked up this (as of now) unidentified pup tent. It was "as is condition" and boy is it "as is". There's no rat holes or anything but plenty of mystery stains so I'll qualify it as  "ridden hard and put away wet". I'm hoping to clean it up to use for an encampment/display at FDR's place in Hyde Park in May. What's the recommendation for canvas like this? I was just going to use a hose, a tough broom, and some Dr. Bronner's but if anyone else has any experience making these things not smell like the back the of barn I would appreciate it.

I dont know for sure but if it were mine, I would do some research on google on how best to clean something like that. The problem with

putting it in the washer is that it might come out with holes where there were none before it went in. There might be some areas

where the canvas is weakened and the washer might cause holes? I had a 1953 USMC cammo shelter half I washed

in the machine and it

came out with more holes than it went in with.

I know that for removing odors from fabrics, baking soda works well.

Like diluted in water.

Maybe gently hand washed in the bath tub with just warm water and Woolite?

But I'd do some studying before I did anything to it.

You could also take it to your local cleaner.

See if they could clean it?

Soak it in a bucket of water with a copious amount of soap. I recommend dawn. After an hour or two lay it on clean concrete brush with a heavy bristle brush. A large floor brush will work too. Once the whole has been gone over, flip and repeat for the other side. When finished hose off the soap. Leave flat while drying. It may shrink slightly. You may lose some of the color. Some of these seem to have an oiling for waterproofing, you will lose that. It can be replaced, but I don't expect you to use this for actual wet weather and therefore it can be foregone. 

Any scrubbing of the canvas with soap/water will result in color loss, learned the hard way!