Buying your own wetsuit is well worth it. But even though we invest a lot of money in them it’s easy to get lazy and start to make some serious wetsuit maintenance mistakes.
So to extend your suits lifespan and keep it looking and feeling like new, here are five things you should avoid.
1) Hot Water
Taking a hot shower with your wetsuit on may feel fantastic after a dive but it’s not fantastic for your wetsuit. Hot water can cause neoprene to loose it’s flexibility.
Similarly don’t leave a damp wetsuit to cook in the boot of your car.
2) Harsh Chemicals
Rinsing with freshwater after every use is effective in getting rid of sand and salt. However to get rid of sweat and more stubborn odours you may be tempted to use stronger detergents. Don’t!
Harsh chemicals and even chlorine damages the neoprene causing it to degrade faster. Instead use special wetsuit shampoo, wool wash, baby shampoo or bicarbonate soda. One tbsp of bicarbonate for each wetsuit is sufficient. This helps to get rid of bacteria that break down the fabric.
Leave the wetsuit to soak. Then rinse thoroughly with fresh water. Never put a wetsuit in the washing machine or tumble dryer!
3) Hanging by the Shoulders
Wetsuits are heavy when wet. So hanging them from the shoulders, especially on a narrow line or hangar, causes the neoprene to stretch and eventually break.
Hang wetsuits by folding at the waist and use a thick wetsuit hangar or a curtain rod. This helps to evenly distribute the weight. Gently squeeze excess water out to prevent this dragging the material down.
4) Don’t dry in the sun
Of course your wetsuit needs to be dry before you pack it away. This stops it from smelling funky. But don’t be tempted to dry It in the sun!
Ozone and UV rays in sunlight causes neoprene to become stiff, less stretchy, and less colourful over time. Therefore the longer you leave your wetsuit in the sun, the quicker it will deteriorate.
To dry it properly hang it in a shaded but well ventilated area. Begin by hanging it inside out. That prevents you putting damp neoprene next to your skin if you’re going to use it again soon. Then turn it back.
Avoid hanging in close proximity to a vehicle. Exhaust fumes can also have a damaging effect.
5) Don’t Ignore Rips & Tears
Sometimes we’re in a rush to get in the water. I get it. However we need to be careful not to rip or tear our suits out of enthusiasm.
Keep fingernails short, or avoid using them all together. Wear a rash guard or skin suit to help you slip in easier (and keep the neoprene clean). Use a plastic bag or even better a wetchute to speed up the process. And lastly invest in a changing mat, towel or bucket to avoid scraping your wetsuit along rough ground.
If you do get a rip or seams start unravelling, treat it straight away. Carefully stitch it up and seal it using a special wetsuit glue like black witch or aqua seal. It’s much harder to get a wetsuit fixed once you let the panels start coming apart.
Close velcro to prevent it catching the lining and that zippers with wetsuit wax to stop them sticking.
Conclusion
By working in them almost everyday, I am always very careful with my wetsuit maintenance. Otherwise it gets expensive fast.
Following these basic wetsuit maintenance principles I have managed to make my 5mm last over 5 years. The only thing prompting me to get a new one being the fact the material has compressed from exposure to high pressures.
So there’s nothing stopping you from following these simple steps to make your wetsuit last as long as possible!
