How to Maintain Your Tarpaulin and Make It More Durable in Nigeria

Knowing how to maintain a tarpaulin in Nigeria goes beyond washing it. A simple routine like keeping it in a safe location and being careful with what you use it for can make all the difference. In this article, you will learn more about the maintenance tips for a tarpaulin in Nigeria.

Important Tips About Tarpaulin Maintenance and Care

Although it is made of a sturdy material, a tarpaulin can also do with some care. Interestingly, the care is not limited to washing it – this can be difficult to do by the way.

One important tip on maintaining the material is to close the roll-ups when not in use. This way, you keep the material safer from potential damages. It becomes easier if you know how to identify an original tarpaulin available in the Nigerian market.

With that being said, let us now delve right into the topic on how to take a good care of your tarpaulin material.

1. Get the Usage Right from the Word, “Go”

The first step is to buy the right material for your needs. With many types of tarpaulins out there, you wouldn’t go wrong with picking the right one.

Here are some ideas on getting the right tarps:

Make sure that the tarps match the size of the place you want to use it.
The treated and untreated variant exist, especially for the canvas tarps. Be sure that the one you get meets the needs. For example, the treated canvas tarpaulin is the best for humid environments, as it can withstand excess water exposure.

2. Scrub off Grime and Dirt

No doubt, dirt and grime will lurk around on the tarps’ surface. You can wipe this off as it will keep the tarpaulin cleaner.

However, you want to take extra measures to ensure that the process is smooth. Here is what to have in mind:

Be Selective with the Cleaning Agent: the cleaning agent used for cleaning the tarps also makes the difference. As a rule of thumb, avoid using certain agents, such as bleach, detergents, white vinegar and black soap.
Proper Rinsing is Recommended: after washing the tarps surface, make sure to use clean water to rinse away the residues.

Now that we have discredited some of the cleaning agents you might have preferred, here are some better options to explore:

Use a cleaning agent specifically made for washing tarpaulins.
You may also want to use only water to wash off the residues.
It is also possible to use cleaning agents containing neutral pH.

3. Inspect for Damages

The tarpaulin is subject to some damages, but you might not notice this easily. The cleaning period is a good time to check for these damages.

While washing, occasionally check the tarps’ bottom to inspect for leaks. You can also check for holes and possible damages to any of the materials parts.

4. Ventilation is Important for Tarps

The tarps should be exposed to the open air for drying after washing. This is a super-simple way to maintain your tarpaulin in Nigeria. Other ventilation considerations to make are:

Do not expose the tarpaulin to direct sunlight.
If you are storing it in a room, the room shouldn’t be too hot.
Dry the tarps in a room with enough ventilation.
After drying, make sure to neatly fold and store the tarpaulin.

5. Fix the Broken Grommets

Grommets are the metal eyelets used for securing the tie-downs in the tarpaulin. Inspect the grommets to see if they are broken. If they are, consider removing the broken ones and replace.

6. Position the Protected Items in the Right Direction

Tarpaulins are used to cover items, both for industrial and residential purposes. Irrespective of the use, the covered items must be properly positioned, as an inaccurate position can cause wear and tear on the material. A good example is placing the pointed edges of the items towards the tarps.

To extend the lifespan of the tarpaulin, do the following:

The pointed edges of the covered items should be positioned outwards the tarps.
When the items are covered, the tarpaulin should not have additional items on top. For example, do not place a stone or stick atop it, as this can cause holes after some time.

7. Proper Rolling is Recommended

The pattern of rolling the material is also important for the maintenance. This is especially so for the tarpaulins with sleeves at both the bottom and the top.

In such a construction, you need to avoid bending the materials’ sleeves by rolling up and down.

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8. Clean the Tarps on “Clean Ground”

The tarpaulin must be cleaned of dirt, but that must be done on a cleaner ground. Here is what to do:

The surface where it is to be spread must be flattened. This is to prevent uneven folding when washing or cleaning the material.
Sweep the surface or floor to prevent the presence of stones and debris that could puncture and cause dirt to the material.
Inspect the surface for dangerous items that could potentially cause holes on the tarpaulin. Examples are broken tiles and stones. Having these on the area increases the risks of tears and punctures on the tarps.

9. Fix the Wear and Tear

If the tarpaulin has been torn or punctured, fixing it on time can prevent an escalation of the damage. Take action to fix the wear and tear.

Here are some recommendations on doing that:

Patch the material if the damage is so much.
Use the recommended repair kits to fix the damages.
Seals the holes in a way that water or moisture wouldn’t penetrate through the material.
Give the material some time to “cure” before using it again.

This leads us to the last strategy required to maintain tarpaulin in Nigeria.

10. Adding Bows is a Good Idea

Bows, when added to the tarpaulin, can reduce water penetration into the tarp. Here are additional considerations:

Attach the bows to the tarp if the material is usable in water-clogged areas.
The impact of doing this is that it enhances the material’s water-resistance capabilities.
The position of the tarpaulin should be “downwards.” This way, it is easier for the water clogged in the area to flow out of the material, instead of being clogged to a spot.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to maintain the tarpaulin helps to prevent wear and tear, improves the material’s strength and extends the lifespan in Nigeria. Which of the ideas in this article do you think would work best for you?

Would you like to purchase the best upholstery fabric, leather or tarpaulin in Nigeria? Contact any of the Nestken Masters’ offices in Lagos or Aba. Call: 08039388366

Aba office: No. 4 Boundary Street, Off Faulks Rd by Seven Deck, Aba. Abia State, Nigeria.

Lagos office: No 2 Ladipo Street Mushin, Lagos., Lagos, Nigeria