Best Way to clean canopy?

[BoostedXT 0]

I have a Hornet 210 Main and I made a bunch of jumps this past weekend. The last jump I landed in the peas but my canopy landed in a section where the grass was really thin and it got some mud on the top skin, and a weee bit on the bottom skin up by the nose.

What is the best way to clean it off?

I figured I would let it completely dry then take a can of compressed air to it. Then with a damp terry cloth towel pad the area, and then it air dry before packing it up.

Is that ok? Or is there a better way to do something like this?

Thanks
Joe

For long as you live and high you fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all that you touch and all that you see is all your life will ever be.
Pedro Offers you his Protection.

[sundevil777 102]

Compressed air sounds like a bad idea, it can be violent to the fabric. I would treat it more gently.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[BoostedXT 0]

Really? Its one of those compressed air cans with the little brush on the end for cleaning key boards of computers.

I figured that would be a good idea seeing how we use it on 35mm films and other highly scratchable items.

Thanks for the help....any other ideas or help?

Joe

For long as you live and high you fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all that you touch and all that you see is all your life will ever be.
Pedro Offers you his Protection.

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

I figured that would be a good idea seeing how we use it on 35mm films and other highly scratchable items.

I really wouldn't want to subject my canopy to the chemical propellent nor the possible freezing from it.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[riddler 0]

Quote

Thanks for the help....any other ideas or help?

Yeah, don't clean it. Most people don't. Remember that when handling the canopy fabric, you're dealing with not only the weave of the fabric, but also the ZP coating, so any chemical, even potentially the ones used to treat drinking water, could damage the coating. Mud will dry and after a few openings, much of it will come right off
But - oh, yeah - you have new gear, doncha? It's gotta be nice and shiny, you paid a lot of money for it, etc, etc - I understand So, if you have to clean it, this site recommends for mud "Use clean water and a sponge gently. Rinse area thoroughly with clean water. Never use full strength detergent."

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[BoostedXT 0]

Ok...so I wont use the compressed air.
A soft cloth towel that is damp from water and dabbing the affected area is ok right? I just dont want to pack it up with clumps of mud attatched to the ZP.....or am I paranoid?

Joe

For long as you live and high you fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all that you touch and all that you see is all your life will ever be.
Pedro Offers you his Protection.

[sundevil777 102]

Quote

Its one of those compressed air cans with the little brush on the end for cleaning key boards of computers.

I had an image of you with a 100 psi hose blasting away!

Dirt is bad for fabric, grinding at the fibers and all that stuff, so you are right for wanting to clean most of it off.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[riddler 0]

Man, did you get your canopy that dirty?? I would say that if you have "clumps" of mud, wait for them to dry, then brush them off with a soft towel. After that, use a soft cloth, dipped in water to sponge the area.

Also, as Derek says - "hot tip": Even when it's nice and sunny for part of the day at the DZ, if it was raining for the entire week prior, then you will always land in either peas or mud, so only jump if you don't mind getting your gear dirty or if you can hit the peas on every landing. There was a reason you didn't see me at the DZ on Sunday, and it might have had to do with my aversion for dirt If it keeps raining this week, you probably won't see me jump this weekend, either. And I don't even have shiny new gear.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[diablopilot 2]

Quote

What is the best way to clean it off?

I figured I would let it completely dry then take a can of compressed air to it. Then with a damp terry cloth towel pad the area, and then it air dry before packing it up.

Is that ok? Or is there a better way to do something like this?

Let it dry, gently shake and brush off what you can (with your hand), pack it, and jump it again. Best way to clean it. The less wear you put on the ZP the longer the canopy will last.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[BoostedXT 0]

haha...peas or mud, what if you get both? I landed in the peas and my canopy landed in some of the worn out grassy dirt area.

I let it dry then I blew it off with my mouth, and flaked it......now I am going to pack it up.

Thanks for the help guys and girls.

Oh odd question....we had a gentleman cutaway this past weekend and his main landed in a lake and sunk. It was retreaved but if a cloth towel and some water is no that good what about a lake filled with god knows what? Where does he go from there?

Joe

For long as you live and high you fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all that you touch and all that you see is all your life will ever be.
Pedro Offers you his Protection.

[bch7773 0]

basically he has to do the bathtub thing i think. and since his lines got wet, he will probably have to have someone check it for line shrinkage that could put it out of trim.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[slotperfect 7]

If the lake is clear, rinsing should not be necessary. If it's a lake full of crud, he should rinse it twice in a tub of fresh clean water, changing the water each time.

The trim check is a good idea as well, and I would replace the french links unless they were stainless steel and show no ill effects.

Arrive Safely

John

[jmfreefly 0]

uh... trim check? I don't think so.

Nylon / spectra /etc. don't suffer from shrinkage due to water (as far as I know, someone correct me if I am wrong). Shrinkage on lines comes from heat (slider grommets).

j

[teason 0]

Quote

we had a gentleman cutaway this past weekend and his main landed in a lake and sunk. It was retreaved but if a cloth towel and some water is no that good what about a lake filled with god knows what? Where does he go from there?

Well, if it was an old f-111 canopy, I'd say junk it or at least have it tested. Water reverses the calandering process that is used to make f-111 less porous.
If you are worried about what is in the water, rinse it with clean water and then hang to dry.
While dirt and salt water won't be able to get into a ZP fabric, the risers, threads and tape are not quite so protected. Dirt and especially salt crystals become like little knives when they dry.
Also, beware of shrinkage of tape and lines, use cold water.

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.

[masterrig 1]

Check the owner's manual for your canopy. Information, in regard to cleaning should be there. Also, the canned, compressed air you mentioned, contains propane as a propellent. I would strongly advise not using it.

Chuck

[jtval 0]

Quote

uh... trim check? I don't think so.

Nylon / spectra /etc. don't suffer from shrinkage due to water (as far as I know, someone correct me if I am wrong). Shrinkage on lines comes from heat (slider grommets).

j

I .for one, am no expert when it comes to which fabric does what in water etc. but it would be better to check for shrinkage on the ground then in the air.
to my understanding, it should not be a major factor with newer lines but if the water was cold enough to give me shrinkage I may think twice about jumping the lines without checking em out

My photos

My Videos