Stains on Slingshot kites

[Kryk]

At first I noticed a small section on my 2015 Turbine looking stained, I tried to wash it off - but no luck, so I let it go. But several months later the same spots appeared all over the kite (kind of tan color). I thought that maybe an oil spilled or something like that in the water, but none of my other kites look like that, not even a spot.
Recently I noticed the same problem on my buddy's 2015 Rally kite, but nothing on his other kites.
Has anybody else had the same problem?
Could it be the glue they used to put the dacron together?

[iriejohn]

Are you kiting in freshwater or have you washed the kites with 'spots' with fresh water?

[SENDIT!]

Like iriejohn is indicating, this most often happens when the kite has been put away wet from freshwater (rain or hosed off) for awhile. It's a mildew and there's not much you can do (safely for the kite) to remove it. Maybe someone here knows something I don't and will share it. And this happens across any brand...

[Kryk]

Salt water.
Washed it with fresh water, tried shampoo and even rubbing alcohol - absolutely no result. It seems like it is in between layers.
And there is nothing on my other 5 kites (cabrinha, ozone, core)

[dzincha]

Are stains on white color?
I’ve noticed that white color got stains from black very soon if it dries folded.

[iriejohn]

Are stains on white color?
I’ve noticed that white color got stains from black very soon if it dries folded.

It seems that if a kite is rolled up when still wet with fresh water some colours can 'bleed' onto lighter coloured panels. I've had this with Teijin dacron on some colours but not others but never when wet with salt water. So I never wash my kites with fresh water unless I'm certain they'll completely dry while pumped up. And as said above, fresh water dampness encourages mildew.

[matth]

I never wash my kites(salt water). I would much rather let them dry and then brush off with soft bristle brush or broom.

[Cab Driver]

It's mold. It's not coming out. Fresh water left on the ripstop polyester canopy material will stain permanently. No biggie, it just makes your color "unique".

[Peter_Frank]

It's mold. It's not coming out. Fresh water left on the ripstop polyester canopy material will stain permanently. No biggie, it just makes your color "unique".

Indeed it is yes.

If you have rinsed your kite with fresh water, or been out in even the lightest rain, or got dew when packing down after sunset - it can happen overnight very fast

Some colours and fabrics might seem more vulnerable - but all in all it is almost impossible to know as it is subtle differences in termperature shifts that makes mold and black stains "grow" all of a sudden, or not

The only thing you can do, is use this knowledge with your next kites - so avoid rinsing them, dry 100 % if ANY freshwater from rain/dew, and preferably dry them even if salty (not risky) water before folding

PF

[cglazier]

It's mold. It's not coming out. Fresh water left on the ripstop polyester canopy material will stain permanently.

Correct. But I do notice that the stains diminish or fade somewhat over time (months).. as long as you don't put your kite away wet again.

CG