Cleaning Lycra Dive Skins

[gle]

I have an Evo nylon/lycra dive skin that I often wear in place of a wetsuit. I rinse it off after every dive with fresh water, but it has started to acquire an undesirable odor. There is plenty of information for cleaning neoprene, but I have not seen any for cleaning lycra. I would imagine that nylon/lycra would not mix well with dryers. But, is it safe to just put it in the washing machine with laundry detergent?

 

[saltwater taffy]

Since this is the same material that most of your fine swimsuits are made from, I would just wash it on delicated with something like woollite. I don't think I'd put it in the dryer. If you still have a smell, spritz with Febreeze.

Good luck,
SWT

 

[ReneeC]

I toss mine in the wash and it is 7 years old and still going strong! But I do hang it to dry.

 

[gle]

Thanks for the advice. It seems that using the machine is all right. Do you use regular laundry detergent? What about fabric softener?

 

[metaldector]

My 10 year old lycra skin is kind of shop worn, and ripped at the elbows but otherwise okay. I wash it in the washer with other clothing (no special setting) but turn it inside out so the zipper doesn't snag on anything. I hang it to dry or tumble dry on air only for a few minutes before hanging.

 

[ReneeC]

Just plain old laundry detergent. When I get home I toss it, my damp clothes and towels and run everything through. No smelly skins for me!

 

[miketsp]

Hand or machine wash in lukewarm water. Never use chlorine bleach on any fabric containing Lycra. Either drip dry or machine dry using low temperature settings. No iron.