Your wetsuit is more than gear. It's what gets you into the water on the chilly mornings, the late-season swells, and every session in between. A well-loved wetsuit can last for years, but only if you treat it right. Here's everything you need to know to keep your wetsuit performing (and smelling fresh) for the long haul.
1. Rinse It Every Single Time
This is the single most important habit you can build. Salt water, chlorine, and sand break down neoprene over time, so give your suit a thorough rinse in cool, fresh water immediately after every session, even if you're tired, even if it's cold, even if the car is calling your name.
Tip: Turn the suit inside out after an outer rinse to make sure the interior lining gets flushed too. That's where sweat and body oils build up fastest.
2. Skip the Hot Water
Heat is neoprene's enemy. Hot water breaks down the glue in the seams and causes the material to lose its stretch and flexibility over time. Always use cool or lukewarm water, never hot, for rinsing or washing.
3. Use a Proper Wetsuit Shampoo
Regular soap, laundry detergent, and body wash can strip the natural oils from neoprene and degrade it faster. Once every few weeks (or after a particularly sweaty or muddy session), wash your suit with a wetsuit-specific cleaner. These are designed to lift odor-causing bacteria without damaging the material's flexibility.
4. Dry It the Right Way: Inside Out, Out of the Sun
Direct sunlight is another silent suit-killer. UV rays cause neoprene to become brittle and fade over time, so always dry your wetsuit in the shade, in a well-ventilated spot.
Here's the drying routine that works best:
-
Turn the suit inside out first and let the interior dry.
-
Once the inside is dry, flip it right-side out to finish drying the exterior.
-
Hang it over a wide hanger (a wetsuit-specific hanger or a pool noodle looped through a regular hanger works great) rather than a thin wire one, since this prevents shoulder creasing and stretching.
5. Never Wring It Out
It's tempting after a session, but wringing or twisting your wetsuit stresses the neoprene fibers and can cause permanent creasing or tears. Instead, gently press out excess water with your hands, or lay it flat on a towel and roll it up to absorb moisture.
6. Mind the Zipper
Zippers are often the first thing to fail on a wetsuit, but a little care goes a long way:
-
Rinse the zipper track after every use to clear out sand and salt.
-
Apply a bit of zipper wax or paraffin occasionally to keep it gliding smoothly.
-
Always fully undo the zipper before removing the suit; never force it off half-zipped.
7. Ease Into It (and Out of It)
Struggling to pull a suit on or off can stress seams and cause premature tearing, especially around the shoulders, hips, and ankles.
-
Roll the material down in sections rather than yanking, especially when peeling off a snug fit.
-
Trim your nails or wear thin gloves when suiting up if you tend to snag the neoprene.
8. Store It Properly Between Sessions
Once your suit is fully dry:
-
Hang it on a wide hanger in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat sources (never in a hot car or garage in summer).
-
Avoid folding it for long periods, since permanent creases can form at the fold lines.
-
If you're storing it for an off-season stretch, make sure it's bone dry first to prevent mildew and lingering odor.
9. Patch Small Tears Early
A tiny nick or seam separation can turn into a much bigger repair if you ignore it. Keep a tube of neoprene cement or a wetsuit repair kit on hand, and patch small issues as soon as you notice them. It's a five-minute fix that can add real years to your wetsuit's life.
10. Rotate If You Can
If you're surfing or swimming frequently, having two wetsuits to rotate between sessions lets each one fully dry out and rest before its next use. This cuts down on bacteria buildup, odor, and overall wear, plus it means you're never stuck pulling on a damp suit at 6 a.m. - not the best feeling!
The bottom line: your wetsuit is built to handle the elements, but a little post-session TLC (rinse, gentle dry, smart storage) is what keeps it fitting and performing like new, session after session. Treat it well, and it'll keep you warm and confident in the water for years to come!
How to Care For Your Wetsuit to Make it Last
Your wetsuit is more than gear. It's what gets you into the water on the chilly mornings, the late-season swells, and every session in between. A well-loved wetsuit can last for years, but only if you treat it right. Here's everything you need to know to keep your wetsuit performing (and smelling fresh) for the long haul.
1. Rinse It Every Single Time
This is the single most important habit you can build. Salt water, chlorine, and sand break down neoprene over time, so give your suit a thorough rinse in cool, fresh water immediately after every session, even if you're tired, even if it's cold, even if the car is calling your name.
Tip: Turn the suit inside out after an outer rinse to make sure the interior lining gets flushed too. That's where sweat and body oils build up fastest.
2. Skip the Hot Water
Heat is neoprene's enemy. Hot water breaks down the glue in the seams and causes the material to lose its stretch and flexibility over time. Always use cool or lukewarm water, never hot, for rinsing or washing.
3. Use a Proper Wetsuit Shampoo
Regular soap, laundry detergent, and body wash can strip the natural oils from neoprene and degrade it faster. Once every few weeks (or after a particularly sweaty or muddy session), wash your suit with a wetsuit-specific cleaner. These are designed to lift odor-causing bacteria without damaging the material's flexibility.
4. Dry It the Right Way: Inside Out, Out of the Sun
Direct sunlight is another silent suit-killer. UV rays cause neoprene to become brittle and fade over time, so always dry your wetsuit in the shade, in a well-ventilated spot.
Here's the drying routine that works best:
Turn the suit inside out first and let the interior dry.
Once the inside is dry, flip it right-side out to finish drying the exterior.
Hang it over a wide hanger (a wetsuit-specific hanger or a pool noodle looped through a regular hanger works great) rather than a thin wire one, since this prevents shoulder creasing and stretching.
5. Never Wring It Out
It's tempting after a session, but wringing or twisting your wetsuit stresses the neoprene fibers and can cause permanent creasing or tears. Instead, gently press out excess water with your hands, or lay it flat on a towel and roll it up to absorb moisture.
6. Mind the Zipper
Zippers are often the first thing to fail on a wetsuit, but a little care goes a long way:
Rinse the zipper track after every use to clear out sand and salt.
Apply a bit of zipper wax or paraffin occasionally to keep it gliding smoothly.
Always fully undo the zipper before removing the suit; never force it off half-zipped.
7. Ease Into It (and Out of It)
Struggling to pull a suit on or off can stress seams and cause premature tearing, especially around the shoulders, hips, and ankles.
Roll the material down in sections rather than yanking, especially when peeling off a snug fit.
Trim your nails or wear thin gloves when suiting up if you tend to snag the neoprene.
8. Store It Properly Between Sessions
Once your suit is fully dry:
Hang it on a wide hanger in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat sources (never in a hot car or garage in summer).
Avoid folding it for long periods, since permanent creases can form at the fold lines.
If you're storing it for an off-season stretch, make sure it's bone dry first to prevent mildew and lingering odor.
9. Patch Small Tears Early
A tiny nick or seam separation can turn into a much bigger repair if you ignore it. Keep a tube of neoprene cement or a wetsuit repair kit on hand, and patch small issues as soon as you notice them. It's a five-minute fix that can add real years to your wetsuit's life.
10. Rotate If You Can
If you're surfing or swimming frequently, having two wetsuits to rotate between sessions lets each one fully dry out and rest before its next use. This cuts down on bacteria buildup, odor, and overall wear, plus it means you're never stuck pulling on a damp suit at 6 a.m. - not the best feeling!
The bottom line: your wetsuit is built to handle the elements, but a little post-session TLC (rinse, gentle dry, smart storage) is what keeps it fitting and performing like new, session after session. Treat it well, and it'll keep you warm and confident in the water for years to come!