Question Neoprene Suit Sterilisation Recommendations

[oakendal]

At the aquarium where I volunteer, we use diluted chlorine, for soaking all wetsuits (at least 15 minutes) between dives for two reasons. Keep from mixing anything from one tank to another tank and diver hygienics. We use another chemical for all regulators, but I'd have to research that for you if you are interested? If I were you, I'd contact several commercial aquariums and talk to their Diving Safety Officer or Diver Control Board for additional help. They deal with simular situations daily.

Regulators are less relevant to me as it’s far from the site of infection, however I’d still be very happy to hear what you guys use in the professional sphere!

 

[Allen-1]

At the aquarium where I volunteer, we use diluted chlorine, for soaking all wetsuits (at least 15 minutes) between dives for two reasons. Keep from mixing anything from one tank to another tank and diver hygienics. We use another chemical for all regulators, but I'd have to research that for you if you are interested? If I were you, I'd contact several commercial aquariums and talk to their Diving Safety Officer or Diver Control Board for additional help. They deal with simular situations daily.

I recently purchased my first wetsuit, and made some notes about caring for it, they include not subjecting it to chlorine if possible.

Checking Henderson's web site just now because of reading your post, I find:

• For proper care of your product, after every use rinse with fresh water & hang it out to dry.
• Occasionally hand wash your product with a mild wetsuit cleaner or mild dish soap.
• Do not machine wash, dry clean, or bleach.
• Do not hang or leave your product in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
• Do not put in the dryer.
• Chlorinated water will fade fabric.
• Always store in a cool, dry place.

Fading of fabric seems like a fair trade off for killing germs.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Here is a link with more information on Steramine for you to research:

Steramine Multi-Purpose Sanitizer

Sanitize your rebreather loop, regulator second stages, dive mask, BCD oral inflator and other dive equipment with Steramine.

www.divegearexpress.com

 

[DanBMW]

Here is a link with more information on Steramine for you to research:

Steramine Multi-Purpose Sanitizer

Sanitize your rebreather loop, regulator second stages, dive mask, BCD oral inflator and other dive equipment with Steramine.

www.divegearexpress.com

We are concerned about cross contamination from one tank to another and do not care about wet suit fading. We used to wash in hot water but that really damaged the wetsuits. Diluted chlorine seems to work best for us. Our water is monitored by biologist several times a day.

 

[DanBMW]

Here is a link with more information on Steramine for you to research:

Steramine Multi-Purpose Sanitizer

Sanitize your rebreather loop, regulator second stages, dive mask, BCD oral inflator and other dive equipment with Steramine.

www.divegearexpress.com

YES ! This is what we use for all regulators. 6 tablets and about 2 gallons of water. Soak and don't rinse.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Steramine is what we use to disinfect rebreathers.

 

[oakendal]

Thanks so much for all the help guys! I’ve definitely got a lot to read up on. I currently only have access to Milton’s (Troclosine sodium) so for now it will have to do. Fingers crossed. I just want to get back to the water.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Hello everybody, this is my first thread here on ScubaBoard so if I’ve put it in the wrong category, my apologies.

Anyway, I’ve had a recent bout of MRSA and as an instructor I am constantly using my wetsuit. Therefore, I’m going to have to start sterilising my wetsuit instead of just regular cleaning in order to keep instructing - doctor’s orders.

I’ve found a couple of tables online that rate how a chemical interacts with neoprene (that is, damage to the neoprene). I found that Sodium hypochlorite in very low concentration is supposed to have little effect on neoprene, however I was not able to find any information on Sodium troclosine (dichloroisocyanurate). This is what Milton’s sterilising tablets contain at ~20% wbv per tablet; this is what is available to me at the moment.

If anybody has experience using disinfecting agents on neoprene and has suggestions I’d be very happy to hear from you.

Thanks very much.

Where on/in your body was the MRSA infection?

Best regards,
DDM

 

[sea_ledford]

Vikron is what we use for aquarium diving, but that is intended to prevent fish disease cross contamination. Not sure how it would do against MRSA. https://syndel.com/product/virkon-aquatic/

You also might want to swap to a smooth skin-in freediving wetsuit to make things a bit easier to clean. But definitely NOT an open cell suit!

 

[jellycatsdad]

I wonder if Steramine would work? It is widely used in the food industry and also in the scuba industry for sterilizing equipment. The bottle does say that it kills CA-MRSA. I soak my regulator 2nd stages and wing mouthpiece in it as part of my equipment rinsing process. Not sure if it would work on neoprene or not, but may be worth investigating.

Steramine is a quaternary ammonium disinfectant. Quats are based on benzalkonium choride. Lysol and many other household/janitorial disinfectants use quat chemistry. It’s the most inert of the disinfectants(in a use dilution or ready-to-use like a wipe) but they have a few issues - reduced efficacy in hard water/organic soil, not effective against certain bugs.