Submitted by: Steve W

Your wetsuit should give you several years of good service, even with heavy usage, provided you follow a few basic precautions. Remember, it?s just a lot of really thin bubbles tied together between a couple of equally thin layers of nylon fabric. Treat it well, and it can last you for years. But if you forget a few key vulnerabilities, it may be headed for the recycling bin years ahead of its time.

Your wetsuit should give you several years of good service, even with heavy usage, provided you follow a few basic precautions. Remember, it?s just a lot of really thin bubbles tied together between a couple of equally thin layers of nylon fabric. Treat it well, and it can last you for years. But if you forget a few key vulnerabilities, it may be headed for the recycling bin years ahead of its time.

Here are ten tips to ensure your wetsuit gives you years of service:

1. Keep it cool

High temperatures will ruin the elasticity and shape of your wetsuit. Keep them cool at all times, and you?ll find they?ll last a lot longer.

2. Keep it in the shade

Ultra-violet rays break down just about anything, but neoprene, more quickly. Don?t dry or store your suit where sunlight can reach it, and it?ll stay much ?healthier?.

3. Keep it clean

Rinse your suit out thoroughly, immediately after each use, and let it air-dry in the shade, inside-out. That way, the outer surface is protected from any stray UV rays and the inside will be dry first, in case you need it again in a hurry.

4. Store it gently

Don?t store you suit tightly folded or stuffed into a drawer. If you can?t hang it on a broad hanger (most suppliers carry broad hangers made for the purpose), then fold it as loosely and as few times as possible.

5. Live with the wax

Surfers already know that surf wax LOVES to stick to neoprene. You can get some of it off, but it?ll be back on it by tomorrow. Live with it.

6. Get the sand out

You?ll save yourself a very unpleasant experience if you take the time to rinse all the sand out of your wetsuit before it dries. Imagine crawling into an outfit made of steel wool. ?Nuff said?

7. Don?t get lazy

If you think a cold wash cycle in that washing machine is a good idea, think again. Even in cold water with mild detergent, your suit can pick up enough residues to shorten its life.

Need we mention that the drier is an even worse idea?

8. Keep away from chemicals

If you get a stain on your suit, don?t get inventive about how to clean it. If a mild dishwashing soap doesn?t do the trick, see your supplier for something especially designed for cleaning wetsuits. Don?t be your suit?s worst enemy.

9. Keep it smelling sweet

Body oil, perspiration, skin flakes, urine, mildew, bacteria and dead no-see-ums? these all can give your suit a powerful odor. So take your rinsing chore seriously, or even the cat won?t want to be in the same room with you.

10. Keep it oil-free

If you want to lubricate your zippers, use beeswax. It won?t hurt anything and it won?t spread. If you try something like petroleum jelly, your wetsuit cement will never be able to bond where it?s been.

Conclusion

I?ve seen people get 8 or 10 years of heavy use out of their suit, simply by giving it conscientious care. Keep it clean, out of the sun, away from chemicals and away from heat, and you can use yours that long too.

After a great day of heavy surf or a long dive in cold water, everyone wants to relax and warm up. But taking care of your equipment needs to come first, if you don?t want to be re-investing in a new wetsuit long before it should be necessary.

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