dry rot explained

i've noticed a lot of misconceptions about dry rot in the kandi community and wanted to share what i know to hopefully clear some things up! **what is dry rot?** "dry rot" is a misnomer; "rot" means that something is being broken down by fungus, which is not something that happens with elastic because it's a synthetic material. what we commonly describe as "dry rot" is the *degradation* of the elastic inside of our string, meaning it loses its stretchiness. this happens to ALL elastic, not just clear string! **what happens to my kandi when it's dry rotted?** with any kind of string, the kandi will start to lose its form, especially on peyote, net stitch, or x-base projects. if you're using clear string, the string will yellow, become brittle, and eventually crumple or fall apart. you can observe all of this on a spool of old string as well. **what difference does my string make?** opaque string has fabric surrounding the elastic, which is what keeps the kandi from falling apart when the elastic has degraded. this is one reason many kandi kids say that opaque string is better to use than clear string, but the explanation often given for this is that opaque string *won't* dry rot, which is not true. it just keeps the string together so that it's easier to take apart and repair. however, it's not "wrong" to use clear string and you shouldn't beat yourself up if it's all you have. as i always say, prioritize using what you have on hand; overconsumption is not plur for your wallet or the environment! **what causes dry rot?** a variety of factors! elastic is rubber, which is a chemical that reacts with water and many other common chemicals (remember everything is a chemical). see how dry rot continues to be a misnomer? these include, but are not limited to: - typical wear and tear that comes with any kind of clothing or accessory - moisture from your skin when you wear it - exposure to water - heat, sunlight, and humidity - air pollution, which adds more chemicals for the rubber to react to **how long does it take for kandi to dry rot?** it depends! sometimes it only takes a handful of years, sometimes it takes decades. the above factors can make the elastic break down faster. clear string also tends to have a shorter lifespan because there's nothing on the outside that's protecting the elastic from the elements, but that doesn't mean that it can never last someone a long time. additionally, thicker elastic will last longer, but i don't recommend going over 1.0-1.2mm (maybe 1.5mm if you're only using pony beads with singles or stitches with minimal weaving such as even peyote) because you can end up with string that's too thick to work with easily or at all. **can dry rot spread to my clothes or other kandi?** *no!* as established earlier, the degradation of elastic is not truly "rot" because rotting is something that happens to organic material, and elastic is synthetic. you might observe multiple pieces of affected kandi in the same place at once because it was made in a relatively close time frame with the same materials and kept in the same conditions. **how can i stop dry rot?** the degradation of elastic is normal and inevitable, so it's best to instead focus on what you can control. i won't tell you to never wear your kandi or anything like that; wear and tear is a sign that something is valued and loved. instead, i will offer you these care tips for your kandi: - if you're not wearing or displaying it, keep it in a cool and dark place - remove wristwear and long necklaces before washing your hands. if using the bathroom, remove your kandi before you do your business - avoid swimming while wearing kandi - slide your kandi over your hand instead of stretching it to your wrist if possible - if using opaque string, melt the ends with a lighter/candle/etc. to keep it from fraying, which further exposes the elastic - also for opaque string, leave a short tail when cutting and cover the ends in super glue or clear nail polish (wait for it to cure before tucking them into your kandi) don't beat yourself up for forgetting or not following all these points all the time! there's no such thing as doing kandi "wrong" when it comes to making the kandi, nor is there such thing as perfection in kandi. kandi is a very human thing, and humans aren't perfect. i know you're doing the best that you can, so don't be hard on yourself. **what can i do if my kandi has dry rotted?** cut the string and remake the kandi with new string. i recommend cutting over a big bowl if you can so that you don't lose any of the beads. it's acceptable and encouraged to do this if something you've received in a trade has dry rotted or fallen apart! traded kandi is a physical representation of a special connection, and that connection doesn't have to be lost just because of some elastic. thank you for reading and i hope this was helpful! let me know if you'd like other explainer posts like this for kandi basics :]