Wetsuit Care Guide: Cleaning, Maintaining and Repairing Your Wetsuit

When having a great session in the water, there are few things that can bring your high to a low, and a leak-y wetsuit is one of those things. It is such a bummer when you have to get out of the water because the shivers are approaching. Taking care of your wetsuit and other neoprene accessories is well worth it for the added longevity of your gear.

Wetsuit technology has come a long way in the past 20 years, but the materials that wetsuits are made of are still susceptible to aging and damage. For that reason, we’ve created this comprehensive guide to go over proper wetsuit care, including post session cleaning, the occasional deep cleaning, maintenance, and, if need be, repair. Don't miss the FAQ section and what our go-to wetsuit care products are at Cleanline Surf.

Wetsuit Care Guide Overview

1. How to Clean After Each Session
2. How to Deep Clean Every Other Month
3. Best Wetsuit Care Products
4. Wetsuit Maintenance Tips
5. Wetsuit Warranty and DIY Repair
6. Wetsuit Care FAQ

Best Ways To Clean Your Wetsuit

Cleaning is the first line of preventative maintenance for any piece of rubber, and proper cleaning will pay dividends in the long run. Most surfers know that you need to clean your wetsuit, but many don’t know how to do it properly. After 40+ years of selling wetsuits and renting/cleaning them on a regular basis, we know a few things about wetsuit care. Below are the best steps for cleaning your wetsuit, starting with the quick wash after every session and leading to the necessary deep clean bi-monthly.

How to Clean After Each Session

Following these steps will pay off huge in the long run as your wetsuit will last longer and perform better. Complete the same steps while washing your surf booties, gloves, or hood.

STEP 1: After use, always wash your suit out with fresh water (inside out). A garden hose, tub of water, shower, or heck, even a creek works. If you do take it in the shower, be sure not to use hot water because it can damage neoprene fibers. Saltwater is tough on everything, including wetsuits, so washing your suit off as soon as you’re out of the water will minimize the long-term wear and tear.

STEP 2: Dry your wetsuit in the shade. The key to drying is to leave the wetsuit inside out and dry it outside in the shade. This will take an extended amount of time but will altogether protect the rubber aging from direct sunlight.

• While wet, it is important to only hang the wetsuit by the waist. 
• Once thoroughly dried to the touch, flip the wetsuit right side up and let it dry again, hanging by the waist.
• When fully dried, you won’t feel any wet spots throughout the entirety of the wetsuit. 

For proper, efficient drying, the C-Monsta V2 or Block Surf HangPro wetsuit hangers will make the process much faster and more effective. We currently use the BlockSurf Hang Pro for all of Cleanline’s rental fleet, which includes around 200 wetsuits getting frequently used.

STEP 3: Properly storing your wetsuit after it is completely dry is crucial to its longevity. Hang it correctly from a wetsuit hanger, NOT a regular hanger or clothesline, as those put too much stress on the wetsuit's small surface area and stretch out certain parts. Folding your wetsuit and putting it in a drawer will likely create creases in the wetsuit over time, so we don’t recommend this method for long-term storage.

Next, we will go through the in-depth process of how to deep clean your wetsuit. 

How to Deep Clean Every Other Month

To fully deep clean your suit, we recommend picking up two cleaning products, wetsuit shampoo and an odor eliminator. These two products will dramatically increase the life of your trusted suit. Depending on how often you use your wetsuit, we recommend you do a deep clean at least every other month.

At Cleanline Surf, we wash our rental fleet using O’Neill Wetsuit Cleaner after every use. You don’t have to use these products after every use, but they’re good to have and use when you can. As employees who surf about 4-5 days a week, we aim to deep clean our personal wetsuits and accessories every couple of months (working at the shop makes it easy).

STEP 1: First, dunk your wetsuit in fresh water. As described in the quick wash process above, a hose, a bath, a bucket, or even a creek will do the job. Again, avoid using hot water. The easiest method to completely flush your suit is to flip it inside out, put both of your hands on the inside of the shoulders of the suit, and then dunk it. The water should rush from the top of the wetsuit down and out the ankles.

STEP 2: Next, dunk your suit in wetsuit shampoo, which cleans any algae, bacteria, and salt deposits from the rubber. Mix the shampoo and water in proportion to the amounts listed on the product label of the suit shampoo you’re using. For one set of gear, it doesn’t take heaps of shampoo to properly clean. If you use a wetsuit-changing tote or bucket in your car to store your wet gear, just fill it up with water, and you’re ready to wash. Simple as that!

STEP 3: Lastly, dunk your wetsuit in the odor eliminator. Mirazyme and Pau Pilau kill all the microbial odors that get trapped in your gear. They can even mask the stank from your booties, which are always, by far, the worst-smelling wetsuit accessory. It’s important that this is the last step before drying because in order for it to work properly, it needs to dry on the suit. At the shop, we call this stuff liquid gold because it works incredibly well and also costs a pretty penny. So, with that being said, less is more with this stuff, and a little bit goes a long way.

After the three deep cleaning steps above, remember to follow the drying tips previously mentioned.

Best Wetsuit Care Products

• O’Neill Wetsuit Cleaner - Trusted wetsuit shampoo that is frequently used on all of Cleanline Surf's rental fleet.
• Gear Aid RVX Wet & Dry Suit Shampoo - Another popular option that works well on wetsuits, drysuits, triathlon suits, life jackets, fishing waders, booties, and gloves.
• Pau Pilau Wetsuit Cleaner - One of my personal favorites due to it being a combination of wetsuit shampoo and odor eliminator. It’s an all-in-one cleaner, and you can avoid the need for an odor eliminator. 
• Gear Aid Revivex Oder Eliminator - This is used in the third and final step to deep cleaning your wetsuit. It will get rid of any strong odors that your wetsuit and wetsuit accessories develop.

Next, we’ll discuss the best wetsuit maintenance tips to further extend a wetsuit's longevity.

Wetsuit Maintenance Tips

There are many maintenance tips for keeping your wetsuit high-performing, but these are the biggest ones that we see make a difference.

How to Store Your Wetsuit

Don’t leave your wetsuit wadded up in the trunk of your car for days after use. Hang it out to dry. Leaving your wetsuit wet and balled up somewhere not only isn’t ideal, but it’s also gross(as seen in the image above). For hanging, we recommend picking up a wetsuit hanger and sloping the suit over at the torso. This put little to no stress on the suit while it’s drying and done drying.

How to Put on and Take Off Your Wetsuit Without Damaging It

When putting on or taking off a wetsuit, be sure to pull with your fingertips, NOT your nails. This is more of a beginner tip, but we see countless new suits every year that are damaged by people pulling on their rubber (especially smooth skin sections) with their fingernails.

Also, take your time getting in and out of a suit; the more evenly and consistently you put on or remove a wetsuit, the longer it should last. Remember not to rush and rip your wetsuit when you’re frothing on the perfect sets rolling in. Also, pay attention to your zippers, and don’t yank ‘em too hard. Check out our in-depth review of How to Put On a Wetsuit properly.

Caring for Zip-Free Wetsuits

Zipper less or Zip-free wetsuits are notorious for experiencing stretched out cinch cords. Before putting on/taking off the suit, make sure to release any tension on the cord. If you try to put on the suit while there is tension in the cord, it causes irreversible damage by stretching it out. In general, the cord is pretty delicate, so handling with the utmost care is highly advised. 

Pay Attention to your Surroundings

It’s smart to watch where you put a suit on or off. Getting into a suit in a rough parking lot with trash, broken glass, etc., is a quick way to damage it. Also, make sure to use a changing mat or wetsuit tote under your feet. Stepping on your wetsuit with the rough road or rocks underneath can easily cause tears or rips. The Rip Curl Fusion Bucket Bag is a great option that is collapsible and easy to use.

Other Things to Avoid

1. Avoid Putting a Wetsuit in the Washing Machine or Dryer: Wetsuits are not built to be swished around and crunched together, and neoprene is not meant to be dried by machine. Either of these methods can quickly diminish your wetsuit life.
2. Peeing In Your Wetsuit: After having that morning brew while scoping the waves, try to use the restroom before getting into your suit. We’ve all done it, but peeing in your wetsuit can damage the crotch portion of the wetsuit through uric acid, kreatin, and potassium salts. If possible, avoid doing so to prolong the life of your suit and keep that nasty urine stank out of your neoprene.
3. Washing with Hot Water: There is not much to this one. Simply put, neoprene and hot water don’t match well.
4. Pro-long Repair: Similar to the common phrase “See Something Say Something,” it is important to warranty or repair your wetsuit before damage acts as a domino effect. I know it’s hard, but if you want to preserve the performance of your suit, there are those days you have to turn down the session.

Wetsuit Warranty and DIY Repair

This is where things really get interesting. Before we go into repair materials and techniques, it’s super important to bring up the fact that every wetsuit we sell carries at least a 1-year warranty on manufacturer’s defects. Some (Patagonia and Rip Curl) brands are longer, so it’s well worth checking a brand’s warranty policy before attempting a repair.

Any home repair will void your warranty. If you have any chance of using your warranty, you should take it. We see this mistake all too commonly, so save yourself the cash and hassle and have a professional warranty service person fix your suit if possible.

That being said, there are definitely situations where a home repair is the best option. Suits that are older and outside of any warranty coverage can be given a second life with some basic repair materials. We recommend using the following for any repairs when your suit is out of warranty:

Aquaseal/Contact Cement:

This urethane repair adhesive comes in a toothpaste-style tube and works wonders on fixing leaks, tears, and cuts. We use the 4oz bottle for repairs on the rental fleet at the shop, and it works great. This stuff was designed for wetsuits but has many different applications and can even work with synthetic fabrics like a GORE-Tex rain jacket.

Simply apply a thin layer with a popsicle stick or plastic knife and let it dry overnight. We recommend using a few layers, especially if it’s a deeper cut or tear. If you’re trying to patch a hole, you can use clear packing tape as a backer on one side and work out the solution. This means that once the outside area has dried, you can remove the packing tape and apply the aqua seal to that side as well. Otherwise, we’d recommend something more heavy-duty for anything larger than a dime.

Iron-On:

Also known as Iron Mend, this is the kit you need to make a heavy-duty repair simple. If you’ve ever ironed on a patch onto a shirt, this stuff works in the same way. If you haven’t, it’s easier than it sounds. All you need is a clothing iron, and you’re good to go. If you have a tear or wide hold through the wetsuit or an area that’s simply thinning, we highly recommend picking up some Iron-On.

Dental Floss/Fishing Line:

This is the last resort option but if you have a suit that is ripping at the seam, you can McGuyver it back to life by sewing the two panels together using fishing line. If you have the patience, you could double stitch it and then apply layers of aqua seal over the stitching, followed by an Iron-On patch.

Wetsuit Care FAQ

How to take good care of a wetsuit?  

Follow the care guide instructions and take the time to properly clean, maintain, and repair. 

Do I need to rinse my wetsuit after every use?

We highly recommend washing it with clean water after each use. It is not necessary but will keep your wetsuit from aging in the long run. Not washing your wetsuit with fresh water is one of the quickest ways to wear it out.

How can I make my wetsuit last longer?

Clean with water each use and do the occasional deep clean. Store properly. 

Is wetsuit shampoo worth it?

Wetsuit shampoo is totally worth it! It will replenish the fibers in your neoprene and liner, making it stronger and longer lasting. 

What happens if you don't wash your wetsuit? 

The ocean's toxic salt water will eat at the neoprene and make it stiff, uncomfortable, and prone to tear.

Can a wetsuit go in the washing machine? 

Simply put, no. Washing machines and driers will quickly diminish your wetsuit.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, proper wetsuit care is essential for extending the life and performance of your gear. By following these simple yet effective maintenance practices—rinsing after each use, storing it away from direct sunlight, and avoiding harsh chemicals—you'll ensure your wetsuit remains in top condition.

Remember, a little effort goes a long way in preserving the quality and functionality of your wetsuit, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: enjoying the water and embracing the thrill of your next surf session at the beach. Happy surfing and performing at your highest level possible!

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James

James grew up as a snowboarder in the Wasatch Mountain range, with an admiration of the sea. After catching his first wave and soaking up the sea breeze, he gained an eternal love for surfing. Nowadays, he lives to ride sideways and is stoked to share his passions with others while writing blogs and working on the Customer Service team. If you don’t see him at the surf break, he’ll be pumping a bowl or ripping down a mountain.