Washing That Funky Wetsuit

by Marissa Zumbo, November 2020

As you may know, Big Waves Laundromat is near the ocean and many of our customers are avid beach goers. The warm water we had in Southern California (for a whopping three days) is now yielding to the cold currents from up north and it's getting chilly in the ocean!

As we’re approaching winter, the temperatures are dropping anyway, and surfers, bodyboarders, kiteboarders, divers, and swimmers across the Southland are pulling those thicker wetsuits out of storage.

Wetsuits are both delicate and expensive. As a result, many people are scared to wash their wetsuit themselves. But, have no fear!

You just need to be careful and follow these guidelines:

Always wash in cold water. Hot water will stretch or melt your precious suit. Use cold water only.
Never use laundry detergent. Wetsuits are a delicate garment, combining different heavy materials together. Most laundry detergents contain cleaning chemicals that can deteriorate the fabric and bonding agents within the suit. Instead, use these:
(A) White distilled vinegar (~2 cups). This will kill the bacteria and microbes living on your wetsuit without destroying the fabric.
(B) Essential oil (~15 drops). Choose from your favorite: lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, etc. The essential oils should win the fragrance battle with the vinegar and have your wetsuit smelling better than ever.
Wash on the “Delicate” Cycle. Or whatever the most gentle option is. The delicate setting will make the machine spin slower, which will help protect the suit against a lot of friction.
Hang dry. Avoid the dryer at all costs - it can literally melt your wetsuit. Instead, hang dry the suit in a place that does not get direct sunlight. When the outside of the suit is dry, turn the suit inside out, and allow the inside of the suit to dry as well.

Now your wetsuit is clean and smelling fresh, and you’re ready to keep warm in the waves of winter.