How To Wash & Maintain Your Diving Wetsuits?

Wetsuits are incredibly great gear for any water adventure sports, which help save you from any sea creature stings. They are made from a special technological material called Neoprene. It’s a rubber-like material that requires special care and maintenance. Over time, it loses its flexibility but that is after a long time of usage. But, how it is maintained after every use matters a lot in how long it will last. The flexible neoprene material loses its elasticity when it comes in contact with salt water naturally. Neoprene and hot water are enemies; hence wetsuits should never be washed with hot water. Only lukewarm water to soak it for 15-20 minutes helps to clean and save the material from being degraded.

MAINTENANCE OF THE WETSUITS

Wetsuits are typically used for water sports; they are used by people during sporting activities. Some people may make it a habit, while some use it only during holidays. So the time period, when it is not used determines the life of the wetsuit, since proper dry storage is important for wetsuits to live longer and for maintaining its flexibility too.

Largely, wetsuits with different materials require different care and maintenance. Although there are no set standards or specifications for its use or storage, every material needs to be treated differently so that optimum use can be utilized from the diving wetsuits.

MATERIALS OF THE WETSUITS

Neoprene is the most common wetsuit material; it’s a rubber foam material. It is laminated with other materials to get the desired functions. Neoprene should be avoided from hot water contact; otherwise it will lose its flexibility faster.

Standard nylon is used for the outer lining of the wetsuit; it's very durable material to avoid the usual wear and tear of the diving wetsuits. Care should be taken to avoid the material from being snagged, cutting or abrasions. If there is any cut, it can be glued with a special wetsuit glue.

Thermo-skin material is used inside of the wetsuit; it has a smooth skin type surface. The material has heat reflective properties and provides a proper sealing surface that is very similar to the standard skin materials. Sharp shooting materials need to be avoided by getting in touch with the wetsuit. Additional care is undertaken to prevent cuttings even while putting it in storage.

X-Flex neoprene – This is a special type of material that is designed to give high stretch compared to conventional material. Since these materials are highly stretchable they are even more prone to snagging. The fasteners can also cause snagging and pilling of the materials. It is better to prevent excess abrasion and snagging of the material.

WETSUIT CARE DURING THE DIVE

The exteriors of the wetsuit are made to keep it totally out of the usual wear and tear. However, they may be damaged due to sharp abrasive surfaces, underwater or while diving. The exterior nylon can severely lead to the entire wetsuit unusable hence care should be taken to avoid such cuts.

WETSUIT CARE AFTER THE DIVE

A wetsuit is a strong but delicate material. There are too many zippers involved hence while removing the wetsuit after the use, care should be taken to first unzip all zippers completely. Remove each section at a time with patience and care. If you hurry up the process, it may lead to puncturing of the skin surface panels with fingernails.

Clean your wetsuit with lukewarm water so that all dirt and salt water residue is out. Saltwater leads to drying out of the neoprene material, losing its flexibility. Thoroughly, soak the material in lukewarm water for 15 minutes, and then clean it again with fresh water. After the cleaning, turn it inside out for drying not exposing to the sun. Open all the zippers while drying so that maximum air circulation will entirely dry out the diving wetsuits.

STORING OF THE WETSUITS

A wetsuit can have a permanent crease if it is left folded for a long period of time. The best way to store it is to lay flat; the other option is to hang it on a thick hanger for better supporting of its weight. Store the wetsuit in a clean dry place and keep it away from the direct sunlight.

Wetsuits should not be stored in a garage since if the garage is used to park the vehicle, the exhaust emissions can cause damage to the material over an extended period of time. Avoid pulling the zipper too long from extended angles. You can take assistance from your training or dive buddies. Avoid contacts with chemical solvents like oil, aerosol, and gasoline.