Wetsuit washing

[freeze43]

Hi guys,
I was just wondering what is the best way to wash your wetsuit? I've been to different stores and the all suggest different things (one said use "scuba soap", another said fresh water dunks, another said use warm water in the shower).

What is the most effective method?

 

[spectrum]

A few quick dunks in sun warmed water is almost all that we ever need to do. Hang them to dry in a breezy well ventilated place, out of the sun, like our dive locker. Once in a great while we can get into water that has a bio-load and we can smell the rotting organisms before we get home. That's a good time to ad some sink-stink or other enzyme cleaner to the dunk tank. Let them marinade and then hang to dry (do not rinse), the cleaner will continue to work while drying.

Other than that no other products are needed and there's no need to submit it to the stress of a washing machine.

More

Pete

 

[blue steal]

I think spectrum has pretty much summed it up.

 

[FM1520]

I throw all my stuff - 7mm suit, gloves, boots and hood straight into my front loading washing machine, add a half cup of backing soda, put it on warm water and extra rinse. When it's done I hang it up and let it drip dry. Everything comes out like new. I learned this from other divers in my dive club. I would not do it with a top loader that has an agitator and if I do a beach entry I'll rinse the sand off first. It's makes post dive clean up very easy.

 

[TMHeimer]

I use a hose to wash inside and out. As soon as possible after the dive. Haven't soaked it at all in 7 years, and it was used when I bought it. I don't bother to hang it up inside out unless I'm diving soon again. I usually have at least a week between dives and it's plenty dry by then on the inside. I use some "wetsuit cleaner" (I think baby shampoo would be OK too, like I use for the inside of the BC) maybe twice a year to ward off smell. But with the regular rinsing, I have yet to smell anything (dive salt water). Don't think the cleaner is really needed. Then again, my wife says I can't smell anything.

 

[pheel]

I put suit, gloves, hoods and even boots in my front loading machine. I have been doing this for years. I go easy on the spin cycle though.

 

[psiborg1812]

The most important thing to do with washing a wetsuit is to do it as soon as possible after a dive. Allowing it to dry makes it much more difficult to get the grime and salt out of the neoprene.

I'm a Bathtub washer. First rinse with baking soda, then refill the tub with hot water and throw in a dryer sheet (fabric softener.) It'll keep the neoprene smelling good and help it last longer.

 

[DandyDon]

You might also spray it first...

 

[Angry Turtle]

You might also spray it first...

Awesome that they include a scientific black light, I dread to think of what you would find with a pseudo-scientific one.

 

[DandyDon]

Awesome that they include a scientific black light, I dread to think of what you would find with a pseudo-scientific one.

Black light is extra.

I buy cheaper product at a dollar store.