Investing in a wetsuit is exciting as it can result in prolonging your adventures out on the water. Like all sporting equipment, a wetsuit needs to be cared for in order to get the best from it.
Maintaining your wetsuit is essential to its longevity. Although it might seem like an inconvenience, it’s worthwhile caring for and storing your wetsuit properly. If not, it can greatly hinder its quality and potential performance.
It doesn’t have to be difficult at all. Following a few simple steps, you can maintain your wetsuit’s shape and ensure it lasts for many more surfing adventures.
Washing a wetsuit
Wetsuits are not machine washable, nor can they be tumble-dried. Instead, after wearing your wetsuit, it should always be hand washed in fresh, cold water. Avoid hot water as this can lead to neoprene losing its flexibility.
The good news is that it isn’t time consuming to clean and care for your wetsuit. You can soak it for around 20 minutes and then gently rinse further – whether it’s in the bath, shower or a container. Just make sure salt, sand and chlorine are thoroughly rinsed out – inside and outside – as they can wear neoprene significantly.
People often use special wetsuit detergents to remove odours, which is fine. However, conventional laundry products are not widely recommended and it’s advisable to use cleaning products which are designed specifically for wetsuits – for example, wetsuit shampoo. Rather than using a brush to scrub the wetsuit with soap, it’s better to carefully rub two parts of the wetsuit together.
Drying a wetsuit
Following a fresh water rinse, turn your wetsuit inside out to dry thoroughly. This should preferably be done indoors, as the direct sunlight can degrade a wetsuit and prompt fading.
Simply hang it inside out over a thick or padded hanger (or a wetsuit hanger if you own one). It’s better to drape it over a hanger around the waist area instead of the neck in order to reduce damage to the material and best maintain its shape. Once dried on the inside, turn it back out and repeat the drying process until the whole suit is completely dry.
Storing a wetsuit
It’s no secret that bundling your wetsuit in a draw, or even folding it, can have a detrimental effect on its shape, construction and potential to insulate. Not only does it stop it from airing out, but it can encourage the build-up of mildew between creases too.
Once it’s fully dried, lying the wetsuit as flat as possible is preferable – although it can be hung halfway over a hanger too. It must be stored in a cool, dry place without direct sunlight. Some people have been known to keep their wetsuits in their car, which is not ideal as exhaust fumes can affect neoprene’s quality.
Caring for your wetsuit
It’s worth checking your wetsuit after each time it’s used, just to ensure there are no little holes which could easily stretch. If you find any small patches, you can use neoprene patches or neoprene glue to make repairs.
Another tip is to always take care when handling your wetsuit. Try not to tug too quickly or wear accessories which can create snags – such as a watch or false nails. You don’t want to put the seams under too much unnecessary pressure.
Need a new wetsuit?
By ensuring you follow these easy-care steps every time you wear your wetsuit, you’ll be sure to keep it in top condition.
If you think your wetsuit is beyond repair, or fancy a new style, Two Bare Feet offer an extensive range of quality wetsuits and accessories.
We specialise in expertly designed wetsuits, offering a wide-range to suit an array of water sport disciplines, styles and budgets.Take a look at wetsuits for men, women, kids and babies.
