Wetsuit can last for a season or a good couple of years, depending on how much you use it and how you take care of it. Here are the Do and Don’t of the wetsuit care, but remember after all – the sport is what really matters, don’t let your equipment get in the way of your enjoyment.

WETSUIT CARE OR 13 DO’s AND DONT’s TO MAKE YOUR WETSUIT LIVE LONGER

Some wetsuit care can make you wetsuit last longer. Which can be the difference between one season or a good couple of years (depending on how much you use). So take good care of your wetsuit and it will keep you warm. Here are the Do and Don’t of the wetsuit care, but remember after all the sport is what really matters, don’t let your equipment get in the way of your enjoyment.

1. HOT WATER RUINS NEOPRENE

In hot water neoprene looses some of the flexibility, so if you like to change in your shower after a cold water session take of your wetsuit first, then soak yourself in warmth.

2. SUN & UV RAYS AGE NEOPRENE

Do not leave your wetsuit on the sun! Sun is the neoprene worst enemy. Dry your wetsuit in the shadow if you can. UV rays cause the neoprene to age much quicker, it gets hard and looses its flexibility.

3. HOT TRUNK IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR A WETSUIT

Do not leave you wettie in the trunk of your car in a parking lot on a hot day. Cooking wetsuits can’t be good, raw are much better.

4. DRY YOUR WETSUIT INSIDE OUT

Dry your wetsuit inside out. So you will keep the flexibility of the outer side and if the wetsuit is not completely dry when you are putting it on – you will still crawl into a drier side.

5. STORE IT NICELY

Store your wetsuit on flat surface or wide coat hanger. Do not mesh it into a small drawer. It says so in the wetsuit instructions for a reason.

6. CLEAN AND DRY YOUR WETSUIT QUICKLY

Do not leave you wet wetsuit to rot inside a bag, box wherever… all messy and sandy. Clean it and dry it. Regular care ands quite some time to the wetsuit lifespan.

7. SURF WAX ON NEOPRENE PROBLEM

Surf wax sticks to neoprene, get over it! There is no elegant way to put it off and it will rub on quickly again anyway.

8. THE MESSY DRESSING RULE

A wet wetsuit full of sand and mud is a riot to put on (not really). So when taking it off, stand on grass, on a rock, pavement, telephone booth, wetsuit changing bag, hotel carpet… just not in the middle of the sandy beach (or wash it out in the sea after you change).

9. WASHING MACHINE NO NO

You do not wash you wetsuit in the washing machine and dry it in a dryer! So keep you mum, wife or girlfriend away from your dirty wetsuit. Clean it yourself.

10. IRONING? YOU ARE KIDDING, RIGHT?

It is not very wise to iron your wetsuit. Duh! Just by the look of it you can assume that rubbery stuff is not the place to put your hot iron. But still, this is the standard warning in the wetsuit instructions.

11. BLEACH? ANOTHER NO BRAINER

You should never use bleach or strong washing powder on your wetsuit. But there are some mild washing powders made especially for washing your wetsuits. Washing your wetsuit by hand!

12. MY WETSUIT STINKS NO.1

If your wetsuit stinks to much, above average smell is usually there because you left you wet wetsuit in a plastic bag for a while and you did not wash it right away. The smell is also the result of a normal sweat and body oils and odors that our bodies produce. These are breeding ground for the bacteria which are in fact the thing that smell bad in the wetsuit.

13. MY WETSUIT SMELLS FUNNY NO.2

The other reason for odor is your urine. Try not to pee (as much) in it, because pee also deteriorates the neoprene and leaves the worst smell of them all. There is a sollution to wetsuit odor.

The source of these tips is the wetsuit maintenance and wetsuit care tips .

GET RID OF THE WETSUIT SMELL

There is a special soap for washing the odor off your wetsuit. One of the brands for instance is called PISS OFF. Then recently I came across another easier way of getting rid of the smell. Once every couple weeks, throw your wetsuit in a tub of fresh warm water (not hot) with a couple caps of dishwashing detergent. Wash it and the detergent will break down the body oils and wash away the bacteria that leads to smelliness. Rinse your wetsuit in fresh water so you get all the detergent off, then dry your wetsuit in the fresh air. Try to repeat this every few weeks and your wetsuit will be odor free.

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