How to Clean, Dry & Store Your Marquee (and Stop the Mould)
Written by the Brisbane Marquee Sales team · Last updated June 2026
Never pack a marquee away damp. That single mistake causes almost every ruined cover. Wash with mild soapy water and a soft brush, rinse, then dry both sides completely, which usually takes a full day of sun or up to 48 hours in cooler weather. Fold loosely and store it off the ground, out of direct sunlight.
Written by the Brisbane Marquee Sales team · Last updated August 2026
The short version
- Dry first, always. A cover packed away wet can show mould within days in a humid Queensland shed.
- Mild soap only. Warm water, a little dish soap, a soft brush. Nothing harsh.
- Both sides. The underside holds moisture longer than the top and is the side people forget.
- Off the ground. Concrete wicks damp upward into the bag.
What to use, and what wrecks a cover
| Product | Safe on a PE cover? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Warm water and mild dish soap | Yes, use this | Lifts dirt without attacking the coating |
| Soft brush or sponge | Yes | Cleans without scuffing the surface |
| Diluted white vinegar | Yes, spot use | Handles light mould without bleaching |
| Bleach or strong solvents | No | Strips the waterproof coating and can discolour |
| Pressure washer | No | Forces water through seams and can split the coating |
| Machine washing or tumble drying | No | Cracks the coating and distorts the panel |
How do you remove mould from a marquee?
Act early, because mould stains set. Brush off loose spores dry first, then work on the spot with diluted white vinegar and a soft brush, rinse clean, and dry it fully in sun. Sunlight helps kill what is left. Deep black spotting that has been there a season often will not come out completely, which is exactly why the drying rule matters more than any cleaning product.
How long does a marquee take to dry?
Plan on a full day of open sun and moving air. In cooler or humid weather allow up to 48 hours, and turn the cover so both faces get exposure. If the weather will not cooperate, hang it loosely in a garage with the door open and a fan running rather than rushing it into the bag.
Folding and storing
- Fold along different lines each time so you are not creasing the same seam repeatedly.
- Fold loosely. Tight compression sets permanent creases into a coated fabric.
- Store off the floor on a shelf or pallet, out of direct sun, somewhere ventilated.
- Keep frame poles dry too. A 6x3m frame stored damp will spot with surface rust.
- Allow shelf space. A 6x3m packs down small, but an 18m2 cover plus frame still needs a clear metre of shelf, and a 6x6m at 36m2 needs roughly double.
A 5 minute routine after every use
Shake off debris, wipe any bird mess or sap while it is fresh, check the seams and all 4 leg feet, then dry and bag. Two people can strip and pack a 6x3m in about 10 minutes. Five minutes on the day beats an afternoon of scrubbing later, and it is the difference between a cover lasting a couple of seasons and lasting years.
Built to last in the first place
Care matters most, but the starting point helps. BMS marquees use waterproof PE covers, from the 3x3m at $199 and the 6x3m at $249 through to the 12x6m at $1,799, with free delivery to most of Australia and dispatch in about 2 business days. See the full marquee range.
Care and material together decide the lifespan, so read how long a marquee lasts and PE versus PVC materials. Next time it goes up, the setup guide keeps the process quick.
By the numbers
- UV Index 12 to 14, up to 16 to 17 in the north. Peak summer UV in Australia regularly runs this high, and any value above 11 is officially classed as extreme, so a marquee that resists UV degradation matters more here than in cooler climates. Source: Ultraviolet and infrared radiation in Australia, PubMed Central / NIH (2024)
- 0 to 12 typical UV Index at solar noon. The UV Index at midday generally sits in this range, with anything above 11 counted as extreme exposure. Source: Ultraviolet and infrared radiation in Australia, PubMed Central / NIH (2024)
- PE fabric 80 to 240 gsm, PVC 300 to 650 gsm. Marquee fabric weight varies a lot: lighter PE poly against heavier PVC-coated fabric. Heavier fabric generally means more durability. Source: DIY Marquees fabric guide (2024)
Common questions
How do you stop a marquee going mouldy?
Never store it wet. Always dry the cover completely before packing it away, even a slightly damp cover folded in a bag for a few weeks will grow mould. If you must pack it wet, unpack and dry it fully within 24 to 48 hours.
How do you clean a marquee cover?
Brush off loose dirt, wash with warm water and mild soap using a soft sponge, spot-treat marks gently, then rinse with clean water. Never use harsh solvents, bleach or a stiff brush, which damage the coating and seams.
How do you remove mould from a marquee?
Mix white vinegar and water (about 1:3), apply to the affected area, leave a few minutes, then wipe and rinse. Avoid bleach on coated fabrics, then dry fully in the sun, which helps kill remaining spores.