What's the best way to clean my wetsuit after swimming in the ocean?

Question

Even though I clean my wetsuit with mild soap after going in the ocean, my skin breaks out and itches afterward. Is there a more effective way to clean it?

Answer 1

Since I live walking distance tot the beach I wear my wetsuit home and remove it while in the shower.  Then I just leave it sitting on the floor of the shower while I clean up.  I kind of step around on it to get water pushed all through it and stuff and then hang it up inside out on a branch outside to dry.  I try to always dry my suit inside out just in case I want to go surfing again before it is fully dry.  That way at least the inside is dry and I don't have to try to put on a cold wet wetsuit (gross).

Answer 2

simple fresh water with the occasional soaking in warm water mixed with hair conditioner to soften the neoprene. Sometimes I drive home with my suit on and take it off in the shower. Sometimes I leave it in the bucket and just fill it with hose water. Other times I lay it out and hose it off and then turn it inside out and hose it off.

Answer 3

Dude, maybe your skin breaks out and itches because of the soap. I usually just wash mine out with water and leave it to dry outside.

Answer 4

Stay away from the soap, get the wetsuit into a deep bucket of fresh water and soak, dry properly. Wash yourself down with fresh water only and dry quickly. If the rash continues, treat it and stay out of the water for a while to settle. there are other types of materials used for wetsuits. check out suppliers.

Answer 5

dont use soap, it will ruin the material, after i get done with a session i soak my wetsuit in fresh water for like 10-15 min. it gets all the salt out,eventhough it may no seem like its clean, it is. maby the soap is making you break out.

Answer 6

Nothing beats good old fresh water.  I always hose mine down after a day of surfing and usually about once a weak (especially if I am using it a lot) will soak mine in a tub to make sure to get all the salt out.

They do make wet suit shampoos especially formulated for neoprene but I have never really bought into these.  I have friends that swear by them but I have never had a problem not using them.  Check out some of the links if interested.