Suggestions on cleaning tent?

Shake off the leaves and mud, inside and out, hose it off on the outside, hang dry.
Then hose it off inside out, hang dry. If its freezing where you live just hang dry in the shower.

no reason to use soap if the dirt is not ground in.

I take it into the shower, then wash it, then hang it from the shower head…

by the next morning it should be dry.

just dry it off, why clean it more than that

tents don't have DWR so you don't need to renew it. They're totally waterproof

clothes have DWR because perspiration has to pass through one direction but rain not the opposite direction

By the way, what IS the often recommended non-detergent soap?

Whenever I think soap, I think of an oily bar or cake used for washing skin. When I think detergent, I think Dawn in the bottle, or powdered soap like Gain or Tide for the clothes washing machine. Detergent like Dawn, Gain, Tide will hurt gear, if used??

They will tend to wash off DWR, etc.

Atsko Sport Wash, Nikwax, and others have washes designed for outdoor clothing that won't hurt it so bad.

I think you could use something like Woolite from the store for delicate fabrics.

Maybe a more harsh detergent if you way diluted it.

"By the way, what IS the often recommended non-detergent soap? "
The type sold in outdoor stores as "down soap" also sold by your supermarket as "pure soap flakes"

"pure soap flakes"

Whatever happened to Ivory Snow Flakes?

–B.G.–

Long gone.
You can buy Ivory Classic Pure Soap bars.
Grate it, turn it into a liquid and add to water…

Cleaning coated gear in general: cool~lukewarm water, minimize wet time and avoid soaking as much as possible. Use a "sport wash" like Atsko or Nikwax only if needed. Air dry and NEVER use heat. Hang in the shade if possible when outdoors. Less is more!

I let the item hang to let most of the water drip off and aid drying by wiping with a towel, just like you got out of the shower. That speeds drying and lets you dry the inevitable features that trap water. I let my pack drip upside down, towel it off and then right side up to let the stuff evaporate out of the innards. A dry towel will wick a lot of water out of 3D foam padding on the straps and back panel and really speed drying time.

With a tent, a few stains are just a badge of honor, but I like to get the loose stuff off. Decomposing needles and other debris are rot traps, so they have to go. I like to rinse the perspiration out of my pack suspension when I get home– just a good rinse without soap, using a sink sprayer in the laundry tub and hang dry.

You want it all bone dry before storing. I prefer to store coated items loose for long term storage, hoping to avoid mildew, odors, rot and sticky coatings.

One night at Toleak Point there was a bird nesting above me – doo all over my tent. Thank goodness I didn't sleep under stars.

I've washed it off with just water some, like with ferns and rain water, and it's mostly gone, but I just noticed there's still a bit of a reminder.