5 Worst Things for Your Wetsuit + Maintenance Tips

Want to keep your wetsuit looking and feeling like new for years to come? Here are 5 of the worst things for your wetsuit + tips on how to clean your wetsuit properly.
0:22 - 1. The Sun
0:49 - 2. Hot Water / Heat
1:32 - 3. Harsh Chemicals
2:15 - 4. Sharp Objects
3:08 - 5. Improper Care & Storage
4:00 - How to Clean Your Wetsuit
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Gear we use + discount codes: www.ourkitelife.com/p/gear-we...

[@Ian_MacGregor]

I’ve got a RipCurl full suit that I’ve had for just over 15+ years now. It’s finally started getting some small holes in the stitching this past year. But… I also live in Florida when our “winters” are usually less than 2 months and I only use it in fresh water 🤷🏻‍♂️ But I always hang it from the hips and in my shower, which I think helps it from getting too dried out

[@AlanCole]

I’ve got loads of wetsuits (windsurfing, kitesurfing, swimming, diving, kayaking etc etc) from lots of different manufacturers and have used them hundreds of times - some of them are 15 years old and have been worn over 500 times. They also all get taken off under a hot shower, they have all been washed numerous times in a standard 40°C wash cycle with standard laundry detergent and they have all been tumble dried on high heat loads of times. They are in perfectly good condition and even smell nice thanks to the constant hot wash and dry cycles. I’ve never had a problem doing any of these things to them.

[@altinsilsile36]

What brand of wetsuits are these?

[@AlanCole]

Various - C-Skins, O'Neill, Billabong, Blue Seventy, Mystic, Gul, Typhoon and probably others that I've forgotten about.@@altinsilsile36

[@o4pureh2o]

Great info. Water man of 40 years here. I wear 4/3s all year round on rotation (Flashbombs) First they do 3 winters and then 3 summers. I have never washed a suit, I have a routine so I seldom need to pee in it. Remember most people will be washing and rinsing their suits in chlorinated water. Use rain water if you can. When there's a chance of a long unplanned swim dress for the water temp not the air temp. I'm often in remote areas so take a water bladder as well.

[@noahwilliams6826]

I bought a hanger-style wetsuit dryer that circulates air throughout the suit while hanging. Is a game changer for back to back sessions as your suit will drain and dry overnight.

[@khelben1979]

This video was very informative and helpful! Thank you very much! :)

[@DoctorDibbo]

Awesome video. This was all really great advice.

[@Roepstek]

Good tips, really informative 👍🏽👍🏽

[@TheYurisam]

Very helpful video! Good stuff. 👍👍👍👍

[@calistiae]

so incredibly helpful! wow thank you!

[@abacaxifamily]

Nice to see you again, like your content very much👍🏽 there is always a point I didn’t think about. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@OurKiteLife]

Thank you 😊

[@georgeskassir6117]

Great video like always! To protect a new wetsuit, When it is sunny but cold and if I put on my new wetsuit I add to it a long Lycra and a board short to protect it from the sun and if I sit down after my session on a rock or wood etc..! When it is not sunny I don't make the effort LOL!

[@NefariaAdventures]

Great info, thanks!

[@upwindstockholm961]

Great advice! I use to wash the wetsuitwith the warm water in the showe but definitively will stop doing that and use only cold water :)

[@joemiller8029]

Ah! Vindicated for wearing shorts over my suits! I wear a rash guard over the top too - but just to keep my long hair from getting tangled in the velcro. Thanks for posting!

[@danielingrey8185]

Just a quick note on donning your suits. If you're having problems with finger nail stick at the ankles, wrists, put your feet, hands in carrier bags first, the neoprene will slide over your feet, hands a lot easier. Similarly talc will do it as will suit lube. If you cannot get suit lube from your regular surf outlets, try diving outlets. Alternatively, from agricultural outlets you can get a similar product, that is used by vets......

[@thomasryan5681]

Great video. Glad you showed using a plastic tub in the bathtub. Sand will gather in the plumbing and you'll have problems later. After a session I rinse my suit, squeeze out as much water as I can then hang it to dry, especially the 4/3.

[@leeedwards4068]

Everything I needed to know, thank you! My suits last 5-7 years for windsurfing but keen to get as much life as possible out of my suits. I've had a summer suit go thin in the shoulders from hanging vertical so always hang folded at the waist now.

[@davidmoore8397]

Geez, if your getting up to 7 years life out of your wetsuit, then why are you trying to get any more life?

[@eric9895]

How often do you use it?

[@Jim-fe2xz]

In cooler damper weather I've found hanging it in shade in front of a fan speeds up the drying process a lot.

[@Chris_PerthWA]

Great content again

[@OurKiteLife]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Mannsy83]

Great tips. I usually walk home from beach and take wetsuit off and put over shower door. I always thought people used the showers at beach just to get sand off not salt. I should really buy a 2nd one as I surf pretty much every day.

[@VK-pl1nd]

My life hack is to squeeze it in a centrifuge with low speed before flying home or making it dry at home (when it dries very slow). And I wash it with special shampoo before the storage.

[@madmadz1624]

I got a new wetsuit today so timing couldn’t be better, thanks

[@OurKiteLife]

That is great timing! 😀

[@vinny61389]

Great tips! I recently started using a towel to pat dry the ends of the legs/arms after it drip dries for an hour or so, then hanging in front of a fan overnight. Typically 90% dry by morning and a little more time right side out will get the rest. Has been a game changer for us, letting us get multiple days in while having a dry suit each time.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks for sharing - will have to give this a try!

[@davidmoore8397]

Tip....get 2 wetsuits, so you always have one 'dry', and don't go through all of that hassle every time. Just a thought!

[@vinny61389]

@@davidmoore8397 Not a bad idea if you've got the space to store a second one!

[@reubenjensen1007]

I use the washing machine spin cycle to partially dry it and add a tiny bit of antiseptic to the fresh water rinse

[@paddleboarddog]

Great tips and presentation. I'm guilty of just leaving mine hanging in the vehicle between sessions.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks :)

[@420Jon69]

Good tips. I always hang it in the sun. I won’t do that anymore

[@mikemiller774]

Wash in a washing machine on a gentle program and warm water, with a neoprene detergent. Also low speed drying e.g. 400 rpm. In summer time just dry outside. Winter - dry using a special dryer hanger with ventilator. Usually wash when it starts to smell.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks for sharing :)

[@XTC95]

My brandnew flashbomb wetsuit started to break on the neck seal after just 3-4 sessions... I'm assuming from sunscreen. Also climbed over a small brickwall after a session and damaged the stitching in the crotch area :/ now always wearing board shorts over it. Might look dumb but will hopefully protect the suit.

[@chrro466]

I use two wetsuits in rotation, salt water only use, one I stick on the washing machine on a rinse n spin cycle and the other I rinse with a garden hose. They are both then air dried in the same place. The suit that goes in the machine stays more flexible and looks like new. The hose pipe washed one feels rougher and stiffer. Both identical suits bought at the same time. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@OurKiteLife]

Interesting observation - I would've expected the opposite. Thanks for sharing!

[@RobManser77]

I've always rolled my wetsuits for storage. They do crease a little, but obviously take up far less room than lying flat.

[@OurKiteLife]

Haven't tried that before - thanks for sharing!

[@user-nn7mg3bp4u]

that sweet spot

[@user-uw1cn9dt6y]

hell yeah

[@bobswhatnowchannel8028]

I use a dress suit hanger with a pool noodle (or pipe insulation) over it. If it doesn't have one, put a longitudinal slit in the tube and poke a hole through the center for the hanger hook. I cut it long enough so it goes into the arms a bit. Use zip ties to hold it on. That helps to hold it open for drying and offers added support, not all on the shoulders. Too long and you can't get it in. I use thinner pipe insulation for hangers that hold rash guards. It holds them open for drying too.

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@gboates]

Good ideas - I also take some of the weight off the hanger by supporting the legs slightly resting on a small cardboard box although I realize not everyone has the closet space. I also place a plastic bag over the suits to about 3/4 of its length to inhibit airflow - in my mind this reduces oxidation and other contamination largely due to air pollution (Red Windy can show you how much and what you have). Avoiding city water with its minimum of 28 added chemical compounds has been central to my suits' longevity and using a dehumidifier under a wooden clothing rack to expedite drying without heat is seen as beneficial. Remember our skin is detoxifying as we sweat. The undershirt is a good idea as a sweat barrier. I shampoo with a natural product. Test on your hands, if it's easy to rinse off then it's a good choice - you don't want a chemical buildup or residue. If you suit ever gives you a rash stop wearing it and try a different suit. If you won't put it in your mouth don't put it on your skin.

[@richardjones2811]

I thoroughly enjoyed the video, I haven't got a wetsuit but seeing you in yours had me hooked.

[@nickroyal8619]

I’ll be honest - in summer I just sling it on the washing line. Bad practice for the suit, but the time / cost of damage caused by damp requiring house repairs trumps it for me. In winter, I can recommend a dehumidifier pointed at the suit hung in the shower. Close the bathroom door to create a hot dry room. A couple of hours each side suit is dry (at least dry enough to avoid the fear of wearing it next day). Caution - never leave the house like this, I suspect it’s a minor fire risk….

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks for sharing! The dehumidifier method makes sense - may have to give it a try this winter :)

[@dragonfist]

I am still using 3mm wetsuit that I have for 11 years(bough it for 20 GBP on must-go sale lol), I used it for freediving in both depth (1k+ dives on over -30m) and pool - if you store it correctly and wash it with water after every use it will last for ages!

[@OurKiteLife]

11 years is impressive!!

[@KitesurfingAcademy]

Same here! I have 2 of my wetsuits for over 15 years now, use 'em in the ocean water, NEVER rinsed them, wear rash guards as a base layer for cleaning, wash them at the end of a season (does it even exist?), and they still going strong! :) Maybe the quality was better back then??

[@indiecraze5227]

there are lycra suits you can use that make wetsuits really easy to put in

[@bjpastoor]

Great video! What product do you use for lubricating the zipper?

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks! It’s a wetsuit zipper wax product

[@logothaironsides2942]

If you can install a towel rail over the bath, that is a great place to hang wet suits to dry.

[@SK-iv6kc]

Hello, I would be interested in a tutorial for jumping (high) with foil kites, including the big sizes, heli loops with big sizes and the power settings of your kite. I cannot really find any information about this on the internet. This year I got my first foil and I had a lot of overfly issues. Now I still struggle with low wind and jumping because I’ll pendulum under my kite..

[@OurKiteLife]

That’s something we can look into making, thanks for the question/suggestion

[@IRWE905]

Always better to wear Rash shirt and shorts under your neoprene. I find flipping up the legs of my wetsuit ~ 4 cm makes it much easier to don and doff with less stretch at the legs. Great Tips as always!

[@OurKiteLife]

Good to know, thanks for sharing 🙂

[@rtinmotion]

I learned a lot from this video but the one thing I was searching for I didn't get what kind of detergent do I use? I've got some stains on the outside

[@OurKiteLife]

I use wetsuit detergent (“Gear Aid Revivex Wetsuit + Drysuit Shampoo”). Hope that helps!

[@o4pureh2o]

Here's a question. Why don't impact vests have a pouch for my water bladder and a pocket for my EPIRB?

[@sashavoitoff7514]

can I use surfing wax with my boogie board

[@juliayurimkim8031]

What brand is the blue wetsuit you are wearing in this video? So pretty!

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks ☺️ it’s Billabong

[@nicolasboudet9302]

I follow most of your recommendations, but for drying, I often use my washing machine for a low speed spinning section. After that , I hang it and use some old newspapers folded at the ends (arms and legs) to suck a good remaining part of the moisture, and this help to a fast dry 😎 Any views on this technique, especially spinning???🤗

[@OurKiteLife]

Haven't tried that before - curious if others have though! Thanks for sharing :)

[@nicolasboudet9302]

@@OurKiteLife it saves about 1 day of drying. I sometimes make 2 spinning cycle, one on each side of the wetsuit! It is not perfect as it may affect the zip or the scratches…but it clearly reduces the risk of bad smell with a poor slow drying.😇

[@WaterfallWhispering]

I don’t think you needed to be in a wetsuit to talk for this vid, but it keeped my attention! 😂

[@OurKiteLife]

😂😂😂

[@halfsoft]

If you want to dry it outside, throw a towel on top of it, it will still dry but the UV will not destroy it.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks for the tip!

[@madmadz1624]

Doesn’t salt preserve stuff so it last longer and therefor it would be better to not wash the salt out?

[@OurKiteLife]

Once salt water dries, the salt crystals solidify in the neoprene and destroy the fibres

[@altinsilsile36]

What do you lubricate the zipper with?

[@OurKiteLife]

Wetsuit zipper wax

[@djizzah]

Most of these tips are good and common sense, but I surf everyday and no matter what I do the wetsuits only last a season, new wetsuit beginning of winter will last all winter before it becomes porous, new wetsuit beginning of summer will last that summer then you either throw them away or you can cut them down to to make a cheap spring suit to use on hot days

[@OurKiteLife]

That's too bad! We (unfortunately) don't use our wetsuits as frequently as you do - usually only a few times per week, and different wetsuits depending on the time of year/ water+air temp.

[@snowchaser75]

2:30 pro tip, when putting on tight legs, put your foot in a plastic shopping bag (the thin bad for the world type) and the suit will slip right over your heel, then pull the bag off and slip it over your other foot. Put your wet wetsuit in the bag for the trip home. 😉

[@OurKiteLife]

Great trick! Thanks for sharing

[@Vladishit_Putler]

do you dry it and keep it inside-out or standard?

[@OurKiteLife]

We dry our wetsuits inside out, flip to dry the outside, then storing it standard

[@eliasshedd]

Okay so no hot water or cold water, no salt water fresh water or chlorine water, no pee no water no stretching no dryer and avoid placing it onto a human as they smell. If you're wondering what happens if you do to any of these things it becomes dry and brittle! Only kidding thank you very much! If you love me, leave me a heart.❤

[@MickeAndersson67]

6. Pull on the suit grabbing the inside. 7. But a top quality but less expensive wetsuit. Like a needessential for instance.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks for sharing!

[@justelis5179]

I have neylpryde wetsuit. But it gives me hard time. After i take it off i realy wanna scratch my legs and arms. I even use medicine for that. I think its dermatite happening. Any suggestions what should i do to prevent that? Because i dont realy wanna buy drysuit :(

[@OurKiteLife]

Sorry to hear that! I'm not sure what it could be. You could try a wearing a rashguard under your wetsuit to see if that helps.

[@frankyfrench5279]

sun is indeed bad, but salt is not so bad, the neoprene does not need to be washed. Sweet water sessions can be bad in summer, as bacteries grow fast and suit may start to smell. To my experience, wetsuit can handle chlorine well as well standard washing machine with detergent. It is perfectly safe to put put WETSUIT inside out into the washing machine, put some chlorine and let it soak for some time,(prewash), then wash short program cold, 30degree with ordinairy soap powder, program silk, or wool, do not spindry the machine fast, but take it out WET. Also for stinky shoes putting them in chlorine first than wash is best way. Done lots of times different suits, it's totally fine fore me.

[@OurKiteLife]

If it works for you that’s great!

[@hanswillemdeleeuw3201]

@@OurKiteLife please test it and make a video about it? Washing a wetsuit in washing machine and use of some cholorine, you’ll be surpriced, totally as brand new and undamaged

[@420Jon69]

I like that you were also wearing a wetsuit during this video haha

[@AndrewPattullo]

Great youve gone bk on ..wearing shorts over wetsuits 😊 as its cheaper to buy a new pair of surfshorts... than replace wetsuit as youve ripped butt out of it 😉

[@DS-zs4ge]

For years I have been spinning at 1400 rpm wetsuit, gloves and even the neopren shoes with soles. No damages so far and it dries much quicker. I never wash it, as it will get rinsed thoroughly the next time I go kitesurfing or wingfoiling ;-)

[@OurKiteLife]

Good to know! Thanks for the insight

[@rolotomassi3197]

😍

[@twopaste]

hey!

[@OurKiteLife]

hello

[@s2oooo]

Laura god damn my wifes just told me off for having my mouth open 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@pontes1]

She doesn't like pansh users 😁

[@OurKiteLife]

😂 😂 😂

[@s2oooo]

@@pontes1 exactly pansh user's would take her for a slap-up meal at McDonald's 🤣

[@KiteTurbine]

Move to a country with little sunshine so you can dry it outside. Tie the arms to your washing line so it doesn't blow away. Pee as soon as your big toe hits the water to keep warm. Washing in the shower is fine.

[@manfredanderson2080]

Great advice, sounds terrible but I have never "washed" my own wetsuits, just rinsed them . Must try that baby shampoo. Agree with rinsing after use in salt water.

[@OurKiteLife]

Thanks Fred 😊 We were in the same boat - rinsing but not washing. I was shocked how much dirt came out with just a bit of wetsuit detergent though!

[@staalburger6305]

Is it ok to pee in your wetsuit? It warms things up for a bit, but is it bad?

[@OurKiteLife]

It’s not good for it, but unless it’s done excessively it shouldn’t damage your wetsuit. Definitely best to wash it after you pee though

[@davidmoore8397]

How to complicate caring for your wetsuit? Simple solution, wash it out in fresh water after each use, and hang it in a shaded area to dry. No more than that!

[@KK15940]

uhmm