There’s nothing like the excitement of opening up new camping gear, is there? The way it smells when it comes out of the box, the way everything just works perfectly, how clean it is. Hands up if the first thing you did when you got your new swag out of the box, was set it up in the living room? Yep, us too! In fact there’s probably a good chance that if you’re anything like us, you ended up sleeping in it the first night.

Naturally though, when you start to use your swag out in the bush at your favourite campsite, it’s going to get a little grubby. That’s just what happens when you go camping! We love our favourite campsites because they aren’t pristine little patches of mowed grass, but instead are remote enough that there’s no-one around. And so be it if we get a little dirty in the process, right?

That doesn’t mean you have to put up with a dirty swag that ages prematurely. In fact, it’s very simple to keep your swag looking new and clean if you follow a couple of basic steps. Look after your Adventure Kings swag and it will give you years of faithful service, and every night will be as comfortable as the last. Here’s our guide to keeping your new swag looking and working like new!

1. USE A MATTRESS PROTECTOR AND A CHEAP SHEET
   The simplest way to keep your new swag’s mattress clean, is to use a cheap mattress protector and cheap sheetset from the shops! Throw them down on the mattress as soon as you first set your tent up, and leave them in there. That way, if you get into bed one night and you’re still wearing grubby clothes, it’s as simple as pulling the sheets out and washing them when you get home.
2. USE A GROUND SHEET MESH FLOOR
   If you can create a clean environment around your swag, you’ll stop all the dirt and sand getting into it. The mesh floors that we sell here at 4WD Supacentre are absolutely perfect for this purpose! Throw one down before you roll out your swag and you’ll create a nice clean space for the swag to sit on.
3. KEEP A DUSTPAN AND BROOM ON HAND

A $5 dustpan and broom from the shops should be something that lives in the back of every 4WD. We use it all the time when the wind changes and blows a few ashes from the fire across our swags. A quick brush-off every now and then keeps your swag canvas looking great.

4. PULL EVERYTHING OUT AND GIVE IT A GOOD SHAKE BEFORE YOU PACK IT DOWN

Before you pack your swag away, do yourself a favour and pull the bedding and mattress out. Put them on the bonnet of your car and use the dustpan and broom to sweep out the dirt and sand that has been hiding away under the mattress. Then, one-by-one, give the mattress, the mattress protector, sheets and sleeping bag a good shake-out and put them back in. Your swag will be beautifully clean and perfectly made for your next camping adventure!

5. GIVE IT A WASH WITH WARM DISHWASHING SOAPY WATER EVERY 6 MONTHS

If you’ve been using your swag a lot recently, you should definitely treat it to a bath the next time you have a spare hour one weekend. Undo the swag, remove everything and hang the canvas swag on your clothesline. Give it a spray with the hose, then give it a spongebath with warm, soapy water using mild dishdrops. No harsher cleaning chemicals are required, and in fact anything harsher than mild dishdrops can damage the canvas. Give it a good rinse with the hose and leave it to dry completely, out of direct sunlight.

6. USE PENETRATING SPRAY ON THE ZIPPERS ONCE IN A WHILE

The Adventure Kings swags use big, heavy-duty zippers that run beautifully, but after a couple of months of use in dirty environments, the zippers can naturally start to gunk up a little. The solution is as simple as a very small amount of penetrating spray like CRC or WD40 along the length of the zipper, especially if you’ve just washed it like in point 5 above. Be sparing with the spray, you don’t need much – but you’ll be amazed just how good the zippers instantly feel again.