It can be anything from a shower curtain to a vinyl tarp to a footprint or floor protector made specifically for you tent.
How to keep your tent floor dry.
Keep dry clothes stored away from the doorway and the sides of the tent so if moisture or rain does seep into the tent your clothes will remain dry.
This will let you fix any leaks.
Let the new coating dry for at least 24 hours before packing your tent away.
How to keep your tent dry inside.
Keep a shoe basket near the entrance to collect those dirty shoes and keep your tent floor spic and span.
Whatever option you choose always use a ground cover under your tent.
Abrasive ground will wear out the floor of any tent no matter how durable it is so ground cover or tarp protects the tent.
These tents have a barrier on tehir bottom that extends up the side of the tent.
Think of it this way.
Pitch on dry ground preferably under trees.
Put some cheap solar lights outside the tent and on the way to the bathroom area to help you find your way around instead of fumbling in the dark.
Lay your rainfly and or tent floor flat and gently scrub off the flaking coating with rubbing alcohol and your sponge.
You know how everything is just so dark when you go camping.
The result is condensation on the underside of your rainfly.
Use a tarp under the tent.
Trees are your friend because air under trees tends to be warmer as opposed to say a wide open field so your rainfly will be warmer too.
Apply a thin coating of the new tent sealant to the whole fly or tent floor following the directions on the bottle of sealant.
However a solid tent plus a groundsheet can keep you dry in light rains or even moderate drizzles.
For your safety you must stay dry to keep warm in the outdoors.
All tents will accumulate some moisture after every camping trip so make sure to completely clean the tent and hang it out to dry as soon as you return home.
This will help keep moisture from seeping through your tent getting your gear wet and will protect the life of your tent.
Look for a tent with a bathtub floor.
The footprint will be a barrier between the tent floor and the ground which will reduce condensation help with warmth and protect your tent floor from abrasions in turn making your investment last longer.
It is also important for maintaining the life and function of your tent to keep it dry.
That water may then saturate your tent fabric or drip through a mesh window.
If you don t have a groundsheet try using an old tarp that is larger than your tent s footprint.