Wetsuits are warm in cool water and sooner or later, surfers, snorkelers and scuba divers are shopping for wetsuits. The next question is how to care for your new wetsuit. Can you wash a wetsuit in a washing machine? Here is what I found:
Wetsuits should be washed after each use to keep them in good condition, preferably by hand washing with surf soap, neoprene cleaner or baby shampoo. Washing machines can damage neoprene. If you must use a washing machine, use a slow spin cycle and cool water.
In this article, I am going to take a closer look at how you should care for your wetsuit. I will discuss machine washing and hand washing. I am also going to cover the basics of caring for your wetsuit, along with other tips on how to get the most out of your wetsuit.
Washing Machine Care
Wetsuits are made of neoprene. This is a rubber-like material that contains small bubbles of nitrogen gas. This is what keeps divers, snorkelers and surfers warm when the water is cool.
Can You Wash a Wetsuit in a Washing Machine? Washing machines have the power to clean much more efficiently than if you wash them by hand. However, washing machines have, a well-earned a reputation for destroying valuable and delicate clothing items. This includes wetsuits. The same can be said for a wetsuit.
"washing machines have a well-earned a reputation for destroying valuable and delicate clothing"
According to the Wetsuit Wearhouse, the neoprene found in wetsuits can be damaged by the washing machine. Can You Wash a Wetsuit in a Washing Machine? Only if you can afford to replace your wetsuit every year, depending upon your use. If you use your wetsuit regularly, machine washing means you may have to replace your wetsuit every year.
Wetsuits are simply foam and ones that are used regularly may need to be replaced regularly, regardless of how you wash them. If you must clean your wetsuit in a washing machine, be sure that you use cold water, and use a slow spin cycle.
Hand Washing Care
You are going to need to replace your wetsuit every year if you clean it in the machine. Therefore, it’s recommended that you wash your wetsuit by hand. This requires more effort, but greatly reduces the wear-and-tear on your wetsuit and uses less energy. This can have a significant impact on your utility bill. The following method is the best way to clean your wetsuit by hand, according to the website Surfing Waves.
"fill your bathtub with warm water and your preferred brand of surf soap"
Can You Wash a Wetsuit in a Washing Machine? Partly fill your bathtub with warm water and your preferred brand of surf soap. Check with your local surf shop where you PADI certified or have taken lessons, surf, dive or snorkel and they should have something on hand or something to recommend.
Recommended Wetsuit Cleaners
Any neoprene cleaner should be acceptable and there are many brands available online. Examples include Cressi Dln 5000 Neoprene Clean Detergent, Stormsure Wetsuits Cleaning Shampoo, McNett Wetsuit & Drysuit Shampoo and McNett Wet&Dry Suit Shampoo.
If you don’t have wetsuit soap, a small amount of baby shampoo will do. Gently clean your wetsuit by working up a good cleaning lather. Rinse the suit thoroughly to make sure that it has no soap left. Hang to dry
General Makeup
Cleaning your wetsuit after each use is recommended because it is in direct contact with your skin. Washing it by hand is an environmentally responsible. Besides, getting your wetsuit fresh and clean will also make your wetsuit last longer. Besides, you will know it’s clean when you use it next time.
Wetsuits are an example of applied sportswear technology. They allow divers, snorkelers and surfers to stay relatively warm and dry while surfing, snorkeling or scuba diving in cold waters. Wetsuits allow you to surf longer in colder conditions. One of the best reasons to own a wetsuit is because you don’t have to rent one every time you get into cold water.
Can You Wash a Wetsuit in a Washing Machine?
Generally people think of wetsuits with the foam for water sports in warmer conditions. However, wetsuits are available with and without the nitrogen bubble foam. You should wash your wetsuit after each use to keep it clean and fresh for the next use.
The price of wetsuits can range from between $50 to $500, depending on many factors. Some of these factors include the quality of the materials used, fitting and the level of water tightness. High-end wetsuits, commonly used by professionals, can cost around $500 and more.
Other Tips
Wetsuits can be quite pricey for most hobbyists and casual swimmers, as I discussed in the above section. Because this is a larger expense, it’s natural to want to know how to get the most value out of this investment. Fortunately, Surfer Magazine has provided a list of tips for getting the most out of your wetsuit.
- Be sure to take your wetsuit off slowly and gently.
- Wash the sand off before washing.
- Don’t wash your wetsuit in the sink.
- Wash your wetsuit with shampoo.
- Thoroughly rinse your suit after washing.
- Turn the suit inside out frequently until it’s dry.
- Hang up your wetsuit and store it properly.
There is another way to clean your wetsuit with vinegar.
Conclusions
In conclusion, it’s okay to wash a wetsuit in the washing machine provided that you use cold water and wash the wetsuit in a slow spin cycle. However, this will cause some wear and tear on the neoprene in the wet suit.
To protect your your wetsuit, wash it by hand. Use surf soap, neoprene shampoo, or you can use baby shampoo. Be sure to rinse your wetsuit in warm water and hang it to dry. Taking your wetsuit off slowly, cleaning it properly and hanging your wetsuit until fully dry will go a long way towards making it last longer. Now you know the proper way to care for your wetsuit. Enjoy!
https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/