Looking For A Safe 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.

A lot of laundry soaps and the new style tablets have ingredients to boost power. These may contain harmful bleaches or other substances; which could, over time, effect the integrity of the neoprene. It may not be worth the risk of damage to a perfectly good wet-suit to put it in a washer with laundry soap.

Regular wet-suit wearers may find that gentle hand washing with a mild laundry soap or soap suitable for a baby's delicate skin are an effective way to remove most dirt and grime. However, when the suit is really smelly and anti-bacterial agent will be much more effective at restoring its fresh smell.

Specialist diving shops and scuba outlets are likely stock a cleaning solution for neoprene. If you do not have a store like this near you or your store does not carry this product then a search of the internet will be needed. There are several different brands available for mail order via reputable online retailers.

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.

Cleaning your favorite shorty or full-suit need not be a disaster with the wrong soap or maybe damaging it in the washer. With a specialist product that has been fully tested you are sure to get great results and not offend your dive buddy's nose. Once it is smelling great you can look forward to more fantastic dives at your favorite site; perhaps The Red Sea or Barrier Reef.




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