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how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

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papasmerf
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how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

Postby papasmerf » Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:43 pm

i have 2 foil kites i have been using a lot that are light colored yellow with a little white/black on the tips. my beach is fairly disgusting in spots,, with this super fine dust that is grey-ish. my kites are looking really, really shabby and discolored although they are taken care of just fine,, no crashes,, carefully put away, low impact usage from distinguished gentleman kiter. Normally, i would just live with it but was thinking about somehow cleaning them was just going to hose them down in my grass,, anyone else have way better technique?
Last edited by papasmerf on Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

papasmerf
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 531
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:18 am
Kiting since: 2002
Weight: 195
Local Beach: west coast
Style: lawn mower
Gear: Slingshot, North, moses, flysurfers, some ozone again, and 17 years of accumulated kite stuff
Brand Affiliation: I like slingshot and north. good folks
Has thanked: 144 times
Been thanked: 29 times

Re: how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

Postby papasmerf » Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:47 pm

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Last edited by papasmerf on Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

Postby Freeride Kiter » Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:13 pm

I submerge our Flysurfer and Ozone foil kites in warm water with a little 409 cleaner and lightly churn like a washing machine. Then rinse a few times and let dry completely. I wash inflatables with water and 409 as well.
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chaosgate
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Re: how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

Postby chaosgate » Mon Jun 21, 2021 2:21 pm

As far as I understand it, you have to be really careful with any kind of soap and cleaner -- they are likely to attack the coating on the fabric. I think it will also void the warranty on the kite. Probably best to stick with plain water. Possibly vegetable oil might help to get rid of some spots without impacting the coating -- I think there was a thread on here previously that mentioned it.
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leeuwen
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Re: how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

Postby leeuwen » Mon Jun 21, 2021 2:36 pm

Agreeing with Chaosgate.
You really do not want to flush the coatings away.
Without coatings the fabric is going to be like tissue paper and no longer be air tight.
Personally I would just live with it.
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downunder
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Re: how to clean your foil kite? tips, thoughts, experience?

Postby downunder » Mon Jun 21, 2021 3:07 pm

Salt does not attack coating? :naughty:


Long drying clothes rope on tension, pegs on kite and a garden hose.

Fully dry it.
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