How to Clean Tarpaulins

Tarps are the unnoticed heroes of our backyards; they protect our most treasured possessions from the elements. I don’t just mean wind and rain; I’m talking bird poop, tree sap, leaves and diesel smoke. You can make your tarp last longer by giving it an occasion deep cleaning.

If you are still shopping for your tarp keep in mind polyethylene tarps need to be cleaned far less regularly than their vinyl counterparts as their chemical composition attracts grime less eagerly than vinyl.

You will need

• Nylon bristled brush or long handled broom


• Dish washing liquid


• Water


• Bucket


• Vinegar – optional for hard to remove stains. You’ll need about 8 ounces per gallon of soapy water

How to Clean Vinyl Heavy Duty Tarps and Polyethylene Tarps

Step 1
Make a solution of soapy water in you your bucket. If you find that the stains are particularly hard to remove add vinegar to

Step 2
Get ready to scrub. Lay out the tarp on a relatively clean surface like a recently hosed driveway. Pour some of the solution onto your tarp and proceed to scrub. If you are on an incline scrub from highest point of the slope downwards.

Step 3
Rinse clean by hosing with fresh water.