Live To Surf (Wetsuit Care)

Wetsuit Care

First off, after each use, the single most important thing you can do to preserve your wetsuit and keep it comfy is to rinse it out with fresh water. Salt water is, believe it or not, the arch enemy of neoprene. If you live by the shore, you know how salt air and water act as corrosives to just about everything there is--they eat through wood, metal and even deteriorate plastic like some wretched disease.

If you simply hose off the suit, or take it in the shower and give it a good rise after each use, to flush out the evil salt demons, you'll do wonders to keep your trusty rubber functioning flawlessly.

Second, Hang that suit on a wide wooden or plastic hanger to dry. Don't use a skinny metal hanger to dry or store your suit. First off, it will rust and leave ugly stains on your rubber; and second, the weight of the suit will cause indentations to form, and you'll end up with goofy looking "nibs" on your shoulders.

Next, Dry and store the suit in a dark or shady place. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are your suit's second worst enemy. They cause the neoprene to fade, break down and dry out. So, keep that baby out of the sun (except, of course, when in use), and it'll stay bright and supple for years to come.

Finally, every once in a blue moon, it's a good idea to give your wetsuit a shampoo bath. You don't need to do this all the time, but once or twice a season should be more than enough to give it a good cleaning and conditioning of the neoprene (and it's a lot easier than giving the dog a bath).

You want to use one of two items for this process--either 1) wetsuit shampoo (special wetsuit conditioning product made specifically for this purpose), or 2) baby shampoo. Don't use anything else! Regular shampoo or soap is much too harsh for your wetsuit, and you'll do more harm than good.

So, fill up the tub, plop in your suit, add an appropriate amount of wetsuit shampoo, and work it into the rubber. Go over the entire suit, lathering it up inside and out and let it soak for awhile (an hour is plenty).

Then, drain the tub and rinse out the suit thoroughly with fresh water (again, inside and out), and hang it up to dry as usual. This step also works like a charm to soften up that suit that's been in storage for awhile, so it's a good idea to do it at the beginning of a season.

"Don'ts"

As you may have gathered, there are a couple of absolute "Don'ts" when it comes to treating your wetsuit kindly. If all you ever do is avoid these things, you'll be far ahead on the road to wetsuit wisdom.

Don't leave your suit crumbled up in a ball or folded. Creases will form and compromise the strength of the neoprene.

Don't leave your suit in direct sunlight for long periods of time when not in use. Remember, UV is your enemy when it comes to wetsuit preservation.

Don't let salt water fester and ferment in your suit. Salt is a corrosive that destroys neoprene faster than you can cough up your next paycheck.

Don't pee in your suit. The chemistry, especially the acidity, of urine is proven to break down the molecular structure of wetsuit material (and it really makes it stink, too). Enough said.