Whats the method to reproof a bell tent?

[aviator]

So our trusty old bell tent had an attack of mildew. We managed to clean most of it off with Milton and a brush. The areas we cleaned did go noticeably lighter than the rest of the tent. We decided to wait to see if it would withstand a downpour. Our (ahem) theory being that it might leak on the weaker patches the first time and then the fibres might tighten up again and become waterproof again. Oh, we were wrong - 2nd downpour and it still leaks. So I have the fabsil and spray bottles to hand. However how on earth do you spray it? Do you set your bell tent up and then use a ladder to do the top bits? Surely you won't be able to reach the top bits unless you had super super long arms? Or do you lay it flat and do it bit by bit? Does the stuff soak through to the other side? We don't have a garden so will need to go to our local campsite to do this so I am hoping to do it in a day, am worried that might not be long enough to dry. Anyone done this before?

Not sure tbh, I have only ever painted it on. I would think that you needed to have it pitched to do it successfully and for it to dry well. Could you slap it for the paintable stuff - you could tie a paintbrush to a stick (voice of experience) and paint it on quite easily.

IOSSO mold and mildew remover is really good stuff for mildew. I have used it in the past and not had to reproof.

swap not slap

With the Fabsil stuff you can paint it on or put it in a spray bottle. From other forums people say the spray is way easier but nobody has said how they managed to do it. That paintbrush on a stick seems the most obvious solution but I forsee some Laurel and Hardy moments with that! I can just imagine loads of drips and uneven patches if I did that. Did you do yours just in patches where it had leaked Lavendersun?

We did a frame tent a few years ago and it was fine, we were very careful. Thinking about it though I wonder if you could use one of those garden fence sprayer things with the rod, that would get to the top wouldn't it? But more expense obviously as you wouldn't want a hint of green or whatever you painted the fence with so I presume that you would have to use a new one.

If you don't get any joy here try the 'Bell Tent Campers (any brand)' group on FB - lots of very knowledgeable people on there and I'm sure they'd be able to help you with this

we scrubbed a yurt with the IOSSO on a table - rolled it up and rolled it outand rolled it up the other side again. then we got a rope and strung it up to spray it with Nikwax Techwash (prevents it getting moldy again) - left it overnight, washed the techwash off, and then while it was wet sprayed it with Nikwax proofer - it absorbs in better when soaked.
we used a cuprinol sprayer to do it