Wetsuit is worn because it keeps us safe on our watery adventures and because hypothermia is dangerous. On the other hand, Warmth brings sweat and, finally, a funkiness that necessitates a thorough cleaning. After each use, rinse your suit to keep it fresh, but when it gets stiff and smelly, it’s time to take it to the cleaner.
The steps for Wash A Wetsuit are as follows-
- Obtain a wet suit cleaner and a tank of cold water, then add the cleaner to the tub.
- Submerge the wetsuit by opening all of the zippers, turning it inside out.
- Knead the cleaner into the suit and leave it to dry.
- Rinse it thoroughly with cool water and hang it to dry.
The basic process for most wetsuits as described in this article. Always review the care instructions that came with your wetsuit first, and follow those instructions if there are any differences.
Prepare your cleaning supplies.
- Ensure the cleaner you buy can be used on a wetsuit by checking the label or product details.
- Fill a tub with cool to tepid water (a bathtub would suffice). Hot water will damage the neoprene in your suit, so avoid washing neoprene with it.
- Check the cleaner’s instructions before pouring the correct amount into the tub.
Prepare and wash your wetsuit.
Your wetsuit’s zippers should all be open. This will make accessing all areas during the cleaning process much more manageable.
- The interior of your suit is where the majority of the sweat and grime accumulates, so turn it inside out.
- Submerge your suit and knead it systematically to work the cleanser into it and optimise its effectiveness.
Rinse, Dry and store your wetsuit
- Drain the water of wetsuit soap from your shower, then thoroughly scrub your suit to remove any remaining cleaner residue.
- Hang your wetsuit to dry on the thickest hanger you can find (or make one by taping several thin hangers together) to prevent stretching out the shoulders; leave all the zippers open for complete air circulation.
- Partway through the drying process, turn your suit right-side out and hang it to dry until the exterior surface is dry as well.
- Your suit should be stored flat or on the same thick hanger as you used to dry it. Folding your wetsuit while storing it will cause a permanent crease and damage to the neoprene.
Can you put a wetsuit in the washing machine?
Partway through the drying process, turn your suit right-side out and hang it to dry until the exterior surface is dry as well.
Your suit should be stored flat or on the same thick hanger as you used to dry it. Folding your wetsuit while storing it will cause a permanent crease and damage to the neoprene.
Washing a wetsuit in a washing machine
Nothing beats spending a whole day floating in the sea or riding the waves while basking in the sun.
Wetsuits are great because they keep you warm even when the water temperature drops, but they can be a pain to maintain.
Wetsuit Care
Wetsuits, as previously mentioned, are challenging to maintain. They can easily stretch, the neoprene can easily create, and they can quickly begin to stink like something no human nose should ever have to detect.
When it comes to cleaning your wetsuit, there are a couple of things to think about:
Neoprene
The most critical material inside your wetsuit is neoprene. It looks like a thick layer of rubbery foam, but it’s that thick layer that keeps you warm when the water temperature is cold. This is accomplished by trapping air within the wetsuit. On the other hand, hot water is known to degrade neoprene, allowing it to lose its durability quickly.
Because of how vital versatility is, this is something you should think about before washing your wetsuit. For this reason, neoprene is often chosen. In a stiff wetsuit, will you be able to swim correctly or do everything you wanted?
Speed
When it comes to cleaning your wetsuit, timing is all. It would help if you cleaned your wetsuit every time you use it, and you cannot afford to sit around and wait a few days before doing so. If you do this, the wetsuit will soon develop a foul odour, and the fabrics will deteriorate due to the prolonged exposure to saltwater.
Wetsuits and washing machine
Before we get into the subject of wetsuits and washing machines, you should be mindful that you should try to stop using washing machines if at all possible.
Fortunately, we recognise that not everyone can resist using a washing machine to clean their wetsuit, and it is possible to do so with a few basic measures.
Drying your wetsuit is never a good idea. Because of the way that excessive tumbling affects the seams, a dryer might wreck your wetsuit. Seams that leak once you reach the water are the last thing you want in your wetsuit because they are both inconvenient and ineffective at keeping you safe.
If you must clean your wetsuit in a washer, there are a few easy steps you can take to ensure that your wetsuit remains safe:
Never Use detergent-
Detergent is far too solid, and your wetsuit’s neoprene will never be able to withstand it. It will quickly become brittle and lose some of the fundamental properties that we rely on neoprene for. In a washing machine, a cup of wetsuit wash is the perfect cleanser.
Never use hot water-
When using the washing machine, make sure to use cold or lukewarm water. This can be accomplished by locating the lowest temperature possible.
The washing machine should not enter a spin cycle-
Since spinning damages all of the seams, a spin cycle will significantly impact the life expectancy of your wetsuit. Seams are critical and are responsible for keeping you warm, so you should never do something that could damage them. Instead, gently wash your wetsuit using the delicate option or the hand wash option on newer washing machines. Finally, never place another laundry in the same load as the wetsuit if you don’t want it to get damaged while it’s being washed.
Your wetsuit should be secure in the washing machine if you obey these basic measures. Keep in mind that using a washing machine will harm your wetsuit, but there are occasions when you don’t have a choice.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that it’s not only about how you wash your wetsuit; it’s also about how you dry it. To do this, make sure that you never hang your wetsuit in direct sunlight and that you fold it in half before hanging it. Hanging it by the shoulders would cause it to stretch. It’s also a good idea to keep turning it inside out when it’s drying, so it doesn’t stink.
How do you clean a stinky wetsuit?
If you own a wetsuit, there’s a fair chance you also own a wetsuit that stinks like the inside of a dead cat. That’s because, like almost anyone else who wraps their bodies in a coat of neoprene regularly, you don’t take good care of it. You cover your body in hot rubber, sweat into it, piss into it, and if you’re unlucky, shitting into it for a few hours. Then you either leave your rancid suit in a lump in your trunk to roast in the sun until the next time you surf, or you flop it over the railing to bake all the piss and sweat into it like some hideous stench-cake until the next time you surf.
Pulling your wetsuit over your head after a few months means suppressing your gag reflex and rubbing your upper lip in Vicks VapoRub like a crime scene investigator who just discovered a month-old corpse in a bathtub. Of course, this would potentially lead to problems at home. Your wife will grow tired of sleeping with someone who stinks like a hobo’s underwear, your sex life will suffer, and you will die cold and lonely. And after you’ve died, the embalmer would fail to inject formaldehyde into your veins because, frankly, the scent of death would be preferable to how you smell. It’s all because you didn’t adequately care for your wetsuit. However, there is a straightforward way to stop all of this: wash your wetsuit. This doesn’t have to be done every time you surf; once a week will suffice. But, you stinky yeast beast, you can at least rinse it after each session.
Rinse your suit correctly with freshwater-
Wash the wetsuit correctly, and after a simple rinse, you can take the next step to hang it up and folded over the waist.
Get some essential oils and distilled white vinegar (not balsamic or apple cider vinegar).
Whatever floats your boat: lavender, tea tree, cinnamon, and eucalyptus. Vinegar stinks, but it kills bacteria in your wetsuit, so the essential oils can make you smell like someone who doesn’t use vinegar for bathing. They’re said to have antibacterial properties as well, but that may be witchcraft.
Pour a few cups of vinegar into a bathtub or a large bucket, then add 10-20 drops of your chosen essential oil.
Put your suit in the tub with the vinegar/oil mixture, and break it with a paddle, your hands, or a rock. Allow it to soak for half an hour before thoroughly rinsing it.
Fold it over at the waist and hang it inside out.
You can now go about your day for the rest of your life without fear of being ruined because you smell like someone who bathes in ferret urine. As a bonus, properly caring for your wetsuit will ensure that it lasts much longer.
Can you machine wash neoprene?
Cleaning neoprene in a vacuum can be done but only in a peaceful environment. To avoid creasing, wash it in cold water and remove it as soon as the laundry cycle is over.
Some of the best wetsuit cleaners
When it comes to Warmth and comfort in cold and windy weather, a wetsuit is your “second skin.” It also protects the skin from the sun when riding the waves in the ocean. If you want to buy a decent wetsuit, you will have to spend a little more money.
As a result, taking care of wetsuits is not the same as doing the washing. More importantly, rinsing it with clean water and hanging it to dry isn’t the best option. There are various wetsuit shampoos and cleaner brands to choose from if you want your wetsuit to last a long time.
1.Slosh Wetsuit Cleaner
The JAWS Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo & Conditioner is a one-of-a-kind wetsuit shampoo on the market. The JAWS Slosh does not contain any harmful chemicals, unlike most wetsuit cleaners. It efficiently eliminates salt, odour, chlorine, and organic residue while extending the life of your wetsuit.
It can be used on any form of water sportswear. It also contains drying agents and has a pleasant smell. This wetsuit cleaner is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.
2.Wetsuit Cleaner and Neoprene wash by Seavenger.
Either you enjoy diving deep underwater or like to surf on the big waves, your wetsuit can go through several hazards. Fortunately, you can now give it a refresh with the Seavenger Wetsuit Cleaner.
This product can be used for a tight spot clean on small areas and a complete deep clean gear soak. It’s made with a non-toxic, biodegradable formula that’s good for you and the environment. You won’t have to worry about your wetsuit being ruined because it’s alcohol-free. This refreshing wetsuit cleaner is a must-have item with a great formula that can last up to 15 soaks.
It also has a neoprene wash that extracts grime and bacteria from water sports such as scuba diving and surfing. This product can be beneficial and convenient if your wetsuit requires a fast refresh or a deep soak cleaning application.
3.Rip Curl’s Piss off wetsuit cleaner
Rip Curl Piss Off Wetsuit Shampoo is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly super-stretch neoprene conditioner and disinfectant. This 250 ml solution keeps your wetsuit supple and fresh. This wetsuit cleaner can also be used on other neoprene-based items like gloves, boots, hoods, and rash vests.
This wetsuit shampoo is a go-to product if you’re having trouble getting rid of the stench of urine from your last outing. This is a typical surfer’s option for removing odour caused by urine, sand, dirt, and body oils as an antimicrobial disinfectant.
As a result, this biodegradable wetsuit disinfectant also doubles as a shampoo and conditioner. A good wash will help your gear stay fresh, smelling nice, stretchy, and in good shape.
Tips for wetsuit maintenance
- When we’re finished with our activity, it’s best to take 2 minutes to rinse the wetsuit in freshwater. We’ll be able to get rid of the saltpetre this way. You risk salt crystals forming after the water evaporates if you don’t clean it thoroughly. It will wear down your wetsuit over time and allow water to pass through.
- Since a wetsuit that has been soaked will weigh more, hanging it with a small hanger will result in an indentation in the shoulders and ruin our wetsuit.
- This is particularly important for those with back zippers. Ensure the Velcro doesn’t stick to the wetsuit, which could cause microdamage that will worsen with time.
- Please don’t leave it out in the sun for too long, and when it’s dry, turn it inside out. The wetsuit interior will dry first in this manner, and it is preferable if the interior receives sunlight. The wetsuit’s fabrics are damaged by the radiation, which causes it to lose elasticity and eventually break. In the long run, you’ll find the water is getting into the wetsuit more and more.
- This is one of the wetsuit’s weakest points. It is essential to clean the zippers with fresh water thoroughly. If you’re going to use wax to keep it clean, make sure it’s a special wax.
- Never pull a thread if you see one. Cut it with scissors or burn it with a lighter if you are the know-how.
- Wetsuits, like all neoprene products, have a finite lifespan. If we use the suit more, its properties will begin to deteriorate. It will loosen, water will join, and it will become less warm. With these essential tips, you will begin to extend the life of your wetsuit and keep it in good condition.
