Ways to keep your wetsuit from getting smelly???

[Wayward Son]

Sport Wash works great.

 

[waymarkee]

It seems that after a couple days on vacation with my suit never really drying well it began to stink even though it was new. My thoughts were that it's likely due to mildew and/or fungus (thus some people have very smelly boots -- I bet you suffer with athletes foot if your boots really smell). Humid air, wet equipment, poorly ventilated storage lockers combine to create the perfect environment for all sorts of smelly fungus.

The easiest, cheapest, and quickest fix is to rinse your suit in water with vinegar added to it. Dump in a quart or so for about 10 gallons of water (more if needed) and really rinse your gear well. Vinegar doesn't seem to have any adverse effect on the neoprene, lycra, spandex, rubber, nylon, plastic, or any other material used for ALL your dive gear (suits, regs, masks, etc.)

A gallon of store brand vinegar at the local grocer shouldn't cost much more than a couple bucks. It also works great applied to your skin if you get sunburned, swimmer's itch, jellyfish stings, athlete's foot, jock itch, etc.

 

[runamonk]

Rinse with fresh water. Soak in Antibacterial soap, Rinse with fresh water and let hang dry.

 

[El Tiburon]

A cup of vinegar in a dunk tank works for me. The acidity in the vinegar kills any bacteria from fresh water, urine, etc. and dissolves saltt crystals. I use it religously and my gear never ever smells.

 

[ShanChan]

I use antibacterial dish soap, like Palmolive. I just throw my booties and suit in the tub with a little soap, leave it to soak a while, and then waaaaa laaaa.

I admit: Sometimes I have to scrub the booties, to make sure the soap gets in there. Those booties.... they can get baaaaaad.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Add some "Simple Green" to a tub of water and soak. Biodegradeable and smells like mint.

 

[spectrum]

It's as much about your local water at any given time as anything else. Most odor comes from bio load that you swim in and take from the water. As it lives, dies and rots on your suit it will stink. I can go for dozens of dives and suddenly after a single dive it blooms. I have had it happen in salt as well as fresh water.

We accept that a clean fresh water barrel dunking cleans the neoprene adequately of salt sand, debris and residual pee. When something starts to reek it's time to add one of the enzyme based odor killers to the rinse. Remember that these want to be added to the rinsewater , the suit dipped and allowed to marinade as the suit dries. Do NOT rinse the suit in plain water after dipping in the enzyme product. My biggest problem is leaving the suit alone long enough to dry to get the full effect.

Pete

 

[markfm]

Kids 'N Pets is what I use, an enzymatic cleaner available in grocery stores around the rug and upholstery cleaners. About $6/quart.
Suit and boots go in a tub of warm water with this, sit for a couple of hours, then down to the basement to dry over another tub (dehumidifier keeps my basement dry).

 

[Scuba Jerm]

We do rinse out the suits REALLY thoroughly after each day of diving, but we still have the problem.

...any other thoughts?

Make sure after a thorough rinse you also allow enough time for the thing to dry. I've had a ton of wetsuits between surfing and diving and the best thing for them is a good rinse, and to completely dry out of the sun. Hang them up to dry, never had any problem with terrible odors if i did that.

 

[Sperbonzo]

Add some "Simple Green" to a tub of water and soak. Biodegradeable and smells like mint.

Do you rinse out the simple green afterwards?