Like most things that we own, if we want to keep our swag in good condition we need to care for it in the correct manner so it will last for many years of camping.

Firstly if possible you don’t want your swag to be in the direct hot sun for prolonged periods, because the suns UV rays will deteriorate your canvas and its coating over a long period of time. Obviously this is unavoidable in a lot of cases, but it is something you should keep in mind when setting up your swag to extend its life.

At the end of each camping trip once the swag is dry be sure to brush over the swag with a soft broom. If you find some more stubborn stains use cool water, NOT hot and give the affected area a light scrub with a soft brush, don’t pack the swag away until it is completely dry. Never use detergents and solvents or hot water on your swag as they will remove the water proofing from the canvas. Give the inside of the swag a good sweep or vacuum getting rid of any midnight snack crumbs, you don’t want to open the swag up next time you use it to find it has been infested by ants or mice.

Bird droppings and tree sap often stain your swag if you set the swag up under a tree. Bird droppings are reasonably easy to remove from the canvas, wait until the bird droppings have dried completely, then rub with a soft brush (don’t use a stiff brush as it can fray the threads of the canvas  ) until the dried droppings crumble away, then rinse with some cool water.
 The tree sap on the other hand will be harder to remove.  Any soap or solvent you try, will remove the water proof coating and the colour from the canvas. Prevention is the best method here. But as we know sometimes things just happen, so you can try to leave the sap until it has dried completely and then just pick it off, this will usually leave a stain on the canvas, and this is what we call character. Another method you might like to try is to scrape as much of the sap as you can off with a sharp knife then clean the area with alcohol and rinse with cold water. After using this method you will have to re-apply a water proofing treatment. Be sure to first try this method on an inconspicuous spot to see if it has any affect on the canvas and if it does, don’t continue.

The number one enemy of canvas is mildew it will rot away your canvas and stitching. To prevent mildew from forming on your swag make sure it is completely dry and free from any leaves or vegetation that may have fallen on the swag before you roll it up. Be sure to check the inside of the swag that any condensation has dried out. If it is not possible to roll the swag up dry whilst at the camping ground, roll it back out at home to dry. Never store the swag directly on the floor in your shed as the moisture often rises through the concrete and then into the swag. Store your swag in a dry and well ventilated place.
If you are unfortunate enough to find mildew on the swag and you find it early enough first brush with a soft brush and water and leave in the hot sun to dry letting the hot sun kill the mould. If this has not been successful in removing the mildew try brushing the affected area with white vinegar and water. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, mixture ratio depends on severity of the mildew, spray the affected area liberally and agitate with a soft brush then rinse with water and redry in the hot sun in most cases the white vinegar is enough to kill the mould.
If the mildew is persistent then you are going to have to use a light bleach to kill the mould. This will, in most cases strip the colour from the canvas leaving a stain, also after this form of treatment you will need to re water proof the canvas with a good quality treatment available from most camping stores.