Cleaning Dry Suits

[LukeJ]

Hi all,

I'm just getting into diving in a dry suit and have borrowed another club members neoprene suit whilst I complete my training. I also have the option to buy it from them.

What tips do you all have for keeping it clean and in good condition?

[MikeTonge]

Hi all,

I'm just getting into diving in a dry suit and have borrowed another club members neoprene suit whilst I complete my training. I also have the option to buy it from them.

What tips do you all have for keeping it clean and in good condition?

Rinse it after every trip.
Leave the zip open when your storing it for long periods.
Keep it out of the sun where ever possible.
Occasionally you can wash it in luke warm water with a little bit of a special soap designed for dry suits.
Wax the zip with bees wax.
Use the thickest hanger you can get (not a wire hanger) to spread the suits weight.

Latex Seals

Seals should be talced before suit use, and cleaned with fresh water and re-talced before storage after use.
Be extremely careful when using suntan lotion as contact with the seal will cause irreversible damage.

Neoprene Seals

Seals may be lubricated with baby lotion, ky jelly, or something similar on the smooth skin side and should be cleaned with fresh water after use.

[LukeJ]

Rinse it after every trip.
Leave the zip open when your storing it for long periods.
Keep it out of the sun where ever possible.
Occasionally you can wash it in luke warm water with a little bit of a special soap designed for dry suits.
Wax the zip with bees wax.
Use the thickest hanger you can get (not a wire hanger) to spread the suits weight.

Latex Seals

Seals should be talced before suit use, and cleaned with fresh water and re-talced before storage after use.
Be extremely careful when using suntan lotion as contact with the seal will cause irreversible damage.

Neoprene Seals

Seals may be lubricated with baby lotion, ky jelly, or something similar on the smooth skin side and should be cleaned with fresh water after use.


This might sound like a silly question but should i rinse inside and out?

[MikeTonge]

You only need to rinse the outside but you'll get some water in the inside anyway.

I would rinse the inside on mine after each trip but that's because I can turn it fully inside out and it dries extremely quickly. I don't think you really need to rinse the inside since it shouldn't be getting salt water in it normally anyway.

Mike

[PeteM]

This might sound like a silly question but should i rinse inside and out?

I hose mine out once or twice a year. I have boot hangers so it drains easily.

[Maria CM]

I hose mine out once or twice a year. I have boot hangers so it drains easily.

I vote for boot hangers :D

Mine gets rinsed and waxed, and a very occasional slosh around in a lukewarm bath with Johnsons 'top to toe' wash in it (def done if I get a leak as I am convinced it will grow algae otherwise:eek: ). I'm sure this may well contain some horrible chemical that dissolves drysuits but it seems OK so far....

I also shove a tumble dryer sheet (or three) in it when it is not being used for a while so it smells all lovely and delicious next time I put it on:)

best wishes,

Maria

[Terry]

Mine does not have boots so it gets thrown in the bath with the rest of my kit when I get out. Then,as with the rest, rinse and hang to dry.
The under suit goes in the wash and tumble dryer.

Terry

[LukeJ]

Thanks all, i particularly like the tumble dryer sheet idea to keep it smelling good!

[northern_diver]

I also shove a tumble dryer sheet (or three) in it when it is not being used for a while so it smells all lovely and delicious next time I put it on


do explain, i like the sound of that maria can you get bold flavoured one's for example:D

john

[Maria CM]

do explain, i like the sound of that maria can you get bold flavoured one's for example:D

john

Bounce 'summer breeze' last time I think;) :D

best wishes,

Maria

p.s. I have a bit of a tendency to shove them all over the place - as I recall the original use was in DH's trainers and workboots to solve that problem!:eek: