Wash or not wash your kites

[apollo4000]

Very interesting and thanks for all the comments, not what I expected.

[RadDrDuke]

Ive been kiting for 17 years and never washed a kite or even heard of someone doing it. I guess if a bird pooped on it or you legitimately rolled it in mud you should rinse it.

The only thing I am dogmatic about is to never store a kite more than a few days in the bag wet because I assume it would mold or make it decay somewhat.

[jakemoore]

If washed - drying is critical.

I think a light wind foil kite does better if it is washed once it gets to the point that sand sticks to it. Probably more an issue in humid areas. 1 kg of sand on a 2 kg kite is typical, affects performance, and is better when salt is removed.

[knyfe]

if you only hit salt water you will just not wash your kite. Its only an idea whcih comes if you mostly hit fresh water and then rarely salt. I never wash my kites and I ride them until they are used up - so I am interested in keeping them in good condition.

[Jamie-NYC]

It is likely that whatever municipal water you would use to wash your kite has chlorine in it, and possibly other harmful chemicals. That will ruin your kite pretty quick. I have seen performance Dacron windsurfing sails completely destroyed by municipal water - have never seen issues with Dacron sails left salty. The trickier question is the bar and lines, which are likely covered in sand after a session, and which also have metal parts that would benefit from a fresh water rinse. The chlorine hurts, but maybe not as much as those other potential issues.

[jeromeL]

Washed it once when I got dog poo on it.
Once I tried washing bridle, but too much hassle, ended up breaking them anyway on that kite lol.

[Eltreato]

I put my in on a short gentle cycle, then air dry them afterwards. Do not tumble dry.

[iriejohn]

Interestingly salt is a mild mold and microbial inhibitor. If a kite dunked in salt water is washed it must be completely dry before being stowed.

Sand is highly abrasive and a bigger enemy of kite fabric and lines than salty water.

[mr_daruman]

Like everyone says. Never wash but proper drying is important. Especially from fresh water. I am very careful to dry right away after it rains and never pack a wet kite.
Speaking of kite wear. Biggest wear that people do not realize is getting sand into your pump hose and plugging that in your kite. Gets a little sand in every time which leads to bladder puncture from the inside over time from the buildup at the tips. As Bob Ross would say, beat the devil out of that pump hose.
Over packing/folding also doesn't help.

[nothing2seehere]

Like everyone says. Never wash but proper drying is important. Especially from fresh water. I am very careful to dry right away after it rains and never pack a wet kite.
Speaking of kite wear. Biggest wear that people do not realize is getting sand into your pump hose and plugging that in your kite. Gets a little sand in every time which leads to bladder puncture from the inside over time from the buildup at the tips. As Bob Ross would say, beat the devil out of that pump hose.
Over packing/folding also doesn't help.

Out of interest how often have you seen this with sand?

Only asking because I recently changed a LE bladder on a friends kite and it must have had at least 2 shot glasses worth of sand (like 50ml) without a problem (deflate valve was leaking). It was second hand and we kite at stony beaches so had most likely been sitting in there for over 3 years before he purchased it. It did all accumulate at the tips.

Wondering if the North method of folded over tips help to reduce the chance of damage? I guess you could unroll the tips of the LE. Shake all the sand into the very end and then roll it back up again in the part that doesn't inflate?