Is it Dacron? Like the same stuff they use in sails?

I have a small mold problem on a (near) brand new kite.

No idea how it happened, the kite was fine when I first bought it, never even got it wet. Left it packed away for a couple of months and I notice today that some mold is starting to grow, its some green stuff.

I intend to use a 1% bleach solution in cold water to kill this pesky stuff. I want to make sure the material doesn't get damaged. I intend to soak for a couple of hours and then rinse and dry thoroughly.

So bummed - Its such a perty kite as well

try a solution of "clove oil" and water. Kills mould!!!

79Boarder said...

Just leave it. I had the same problem when I packed my kite away wet a while back. I was told salt water won't go moldy, but it does. It will dissappear after a few sessions and you don't have to risk bleaching / ruining your kite. Try not to pack it away wet again.
Good Luck.

My problem is that the mold is still alive - I don't want it to spread

as above or mix up some strong salty water.

^ and it's saltwater - so the kite is going to soak in the recently chlorinated pool for the next 2 hours or so. Hope the bladder doesn't fill with water!

I do worry about the effects of chlorine on the 'protective layer' they put on kites but I'll go grab some sail protector next time I get a chance just in case.

Where have you stored it in the off season? In a damp basement?

I wouldn't worry about it TBH. Using chemicals on your kite will damage the material.

Mould doesn't tend to attack synthetics. Once you get it out in the sun, salt and sand it should disappear.

Nails0 said...

Dont mean to hijack your post, but I have a question along similar lines...

Does sunscreen affect kite material? I have a big white spodge on a near new kite. I managed to wipe most of it off but i'm hoping whats left wont soak in and affect the canopy. Surely this has happened to others, is it any worse than just having a stain?

From memory I DID stain a shirt of mine permanently with sunscreen, but I don't think it will for a kite, they don't absorb stuff too readily so it will likely just remain on the surface.

Just took the kite out of the pool then.

If any more grows I'll use heaps of salt - my old kite has a coating of salt crust on it - it's been so long since I crashed it in the water so it's just accumulated all over the canopy

Nope, I stored it in a garage - open area, dry, decent enough ventilation.

I'll see what happens.

Should make for a happy stress-free JimmyZ too

Ok it's out of the pool.

The mold that was in the stitching is gone

There is only a TINY bit left on a white panel but it's gone from a healthy green to a dead black [}:)]

I rinsed the kite in fresh water and am leaving it outside to air a little before I take it inside and let it dry in the garage.

I found that much of the mold is growing in the seams where water just sits - wtf slingy! Luckily this water now has chlorine in it so I don't think it will be a problem for much longer :).

None of the colour has faded.

So there you are - salt water pools kills mold! :D ... well most of it.

For the record I only left it in there for about 3 hours (1.5 on each side).

I shall get some kind of protectant just in case and will dip (crash) my kite into seawater to get rid of the remaining chlorine.