How bad is washing a wetsuit in a washing machine?

[flots am]

TL;DR: is it so bad if I wash my 5 mm wetsuit in a washing machine?

I'm not asking whether it's good or bad: I perfectly know that it's not good. What I'd really like to know is: how bad is it? E.g.: if my wetsuit is expected to last at least 10 years, if I use the washing machine regularly, how will be the new life expectation? 5 years (good for me)? Just 1 year (bad for me)?

It's perfectly fine in a large front-load machine with wetsuit-safe detergents. Our shop washes the wetsuits after each rental and they last a really long time. The sun and pool chemicals kill them faster than the washer.

If you put your suit in a top loader, it will rip. Maybe the first time, maybe the 20th time. Nobody knows. Eventually, it will catch on something and the agitator will destroy it.

flots

 

[kelemvor]

I ruined a trilam lavacore in a washing machine once. Never again for me.

I usually rinse my gear in my swimming pool, I setup a nice hanger in the garage and put a dehumidifier under it blowing up onto the gear for a few hours. Gits 'er done.

Also, commercial pools generally are not as well maintained as mine with daily test/dosing. They also require much higher FC levels for sanitation due to higher bather loads. I wouldn't expect a dive shop to get away with washing in the pool.