What Can I Use As A Wetsuit Cleaner

By Dorothy Collins


If you are a regular scuba diver it is likely that you own your own kit; wetsuit, BCD, regulators and so forth. You will also probably be familiar with the process of rinsing your kit after each dive to get off any sand, salt water or mud that is on it. However, from time to time you may find that body oils and fluids have made it necessary to use a wetsuit cleaner or suitable alternative.

The way neoprene is composed means that over a period of time the trapped oils and fluids can build up. This breeds bacteria which creates a very bad odor. Nobody wants s smelly full-suit or shorty hung in the cupboard and it would be very unpleasant to wear.

Unlike normal fabrics, neoprene cannot be laundered like regular clothes. It can be very heavy and damage a small washer or be damaged by the washer itself; the agitator in a top loader can do much harm to a wet-suit. Front loading machines on a cold cycle with slow or no spin is possible, but the laundry soap could also do harm the suit.

Today's detergents contain ingredients to whiten, soften and even starch. These could damage the neoprene's structure and make your expensive suit a worthless piece of rubber. Putting your suit in the washer with ordinary detergents could be a very costly mistake.

Many professional diving staff recommend hand washing your suit in a mild detergent suitable for babies. This can be effective but when the neoprene has become really smelly and nasty, you will need a proper cleaning solution. Many neoprene cleaners have antibacterial formulas and and very effective at dealing with the odours.

A local scuba diving shop or sports store is probably going to stock a type of cleaner for neoprene. Should the store not have one, or there is not a store locally, then the internet is an ideal solution. Many scuba shops and other retailers can supply the products required at the click of a button.

These products are designed and tested specifically for neoprene and will not damage your favorite shorty with nasty chemicals. There are cleaners which contain anti-bacterial agents to remove the bacteria responsible for the awful odor. You can shop by price or brand and pick which suits your needs best. As with anything you are using for the first time, make sure to read all the instructions and follow them to get the most from the product.

A prized shorty or perfect fitting full-suit need not be threatened by the need for cleaning. While manufacturers produce excellent products to remove even the worst odors it is possible to have a regularly used favorite which does not offend the nose of those around it. Once the suit has a lovely fresh aroma it can be packed to go to the next adventure; Maldives or The Red Sea maybe.




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