Wetsuit Care Routine: Clean, Dry, and Store
By Tyler Garner . 8 min read . Updated June 2026
A quality wetsuit is one of the more expensive pieces of surf gear you will buy, and how you treat it between sessions determines whether it lasts two years or five. The enemies are salt buildup, bacterial growth, UV exposure, and neoprene deformed by a wire hanger or left crumpled in a bag. None of these are hard to prevent. A cold-water rinse after every session, a proper cleaner every few sessions, and a Hang 11 Foldable Wetsuit Hanger for drying make up 90 percent of the routine. The O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner does the chemical work. A small tube of Gear Aid Aquaseal FD Wetsuit Repair Adhesive handles the small tears before they become big ones.
The short answer
Rinse your wetsuit inside and out in cold fresh water immediately after every session to remove salt and bacteria. Every few sessions, soak it in cold water with O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner or JAWS Slosh to remove residue and odor. Hang it inside out on a wide Hang 11 hanger to dry, away from direct sun. Repair small tears immediately with Gear Aid Aquaseal FD before they grow.
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The rinse: why cold water and not hot
Hot water degrades neoprene and softens the adhesive bonding the seams. Cold fresh water is what you want for every rinse. Turn the suit inside out first so the inner lining, which holds most of the salt and bacteria from direct contact with your skin, gets rinsed properly. Three minutes of thorough cold rinsing immediately after a session is worth more than any cleaner if you are choosing between doing one or the other.
If you cannot rinse immediately, at least leave the suit somewhere shaded and wet rather than balling it into a bag. A damp suit in an open bag is far better than a salt-loaded suit in a hot car boot for hours. Salt drying into neoprene accelerates breakdown of both the rubber and the glued seams.
Choosing and using a wetsuit cleaner
The O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner is the default recommendation: biodegradable, non-toxic, and concentrated so a bottle lasts a long time. It cleans salt and bacteria and also conditions the neoprene to keep it supple. Use it every few sessions or whenever the suit starts to develop any odor.
For persistent odor that the standard cleaner has not solved, the Rip Curl Piss Off Wetsuit Cleaner uses an enzymatic formula specifically designed to break down urine and stubborn bacteria in neoprene. It is a targeted secondary cleaner rather than a complete care solution on its own, but it resolves the odor problem that standard cleaners sometimes cannot fully eliminate.
The JAWS Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo is the budget option at its most honest: cheap enough to use after every session without thinking about it, gentle on neoprene, and effective for routine salt and chlorine removal.
O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner
Concentrated, biodegradable cleaner and conditioner that removes salt and bacteria without degrading neoprene, from the brand that makes some of the wetsuits it cleans.
Rip Curl Piss Off Wetsuit Cleaner
Biodegradable enzymatic cleaner specifically formulated to break down urine and bacteria in neoprene, removing the odor that standard cleaners cannot fully eliminate.
JAWS Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo
Eco-friendly wetsuit cleaner free from harsh chemicals, removing chlorine, salt, and organic residue while conditioning the neoprene.
The hanger: the most overlooked piece of wetsuit care
A standard wire coat hanger does measurable damage to a wetsuit. The narrow wire concentrates the weight of a heavy, wet suit on a small area of the shoulders, permanently creasing and weakening the neoprene at that stress point. Over a season of regular use, these folds crack and begin to let water in from a direction that has nothing to do with surfing.
The Hang 11 Foldable Wetsuit Hanger is specifically designed to solve this: a wide shoulder that distributes the weight of a soaking wet suit across a broad contact area rather than concentrating it on a point. It is also foldable for easy packing in a board bag. It costs less than $20 and is worth every cent. Hang the suit inside out to allow the inner lining to dry, which is where bacterial growth occurs.
Keep the suit away from direct sunlight while it dries. UV breaks down neoprene faster than almost any amount of surfing. A shaded outdoor spot or a well-ventilated indoor area is the correct drying environment.
Hang 11 Foldable Wetsuit Hanger
Wide-shoulder foldable hanger designed specifically for wetsuits, distributing the weight of a soaking wet suit to prevent creasing and neoprene damage at the shoulder fold point.
Zipper maintenance
Wetsuit zippers operate in salt water constantly and need regular care to keep running smoothly. The Gear Aid Wetsuit and Drysuit Zipper Lubricant is a silicone-free zipper lubricant that keeps the zip teeth moving freely and prevents the corrosion that causes sticking and eventual failure.
Apply it to the zip teeth every few weeks or whenever the zip starts to drag or require more force than usual. A zip that is forced repeatedly wears faster than one kept lubricated.
Gear Aid Wetsuit and Drysuit Zipper Lubricant
Silicone-free zipper lubricant that keeps wetsuit and drysuit zippers running smoothly and prevents corrosion without contaminating the neoprene.
Repairing small tears before they become big ones
Small tears in neoprene and split seams are normal after extended use. The key is catching them immediately and making the repair before the tear grows. The Gear Aid Aquaseal FD Wetsuit Repair Adhesive adhesive is the standard for this job: it bonds to neoprene and cures to a flexible, waterproof seal that moves with the suit without cracking.
Apply the adhesive to a dry surface, allow the full 8 to 12 hour cure time before getting the suit wet again, and the repair holds well. Rushing the cure and taking the suit back in the water before it has fully cured is the most common reason repairs fail.
Gear Aid Aquaseal FD Wetsuit Repair Adhesive
The go-to neoprene and rubber adhesive for repairing small tears, split seams, and delamination in wetsuits and dive gear, with a flexible cure that moves with the suit.
Featured in this guide
O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner
Concentrated, biodegradable cleaner and conditioner that removes salt and bacteria without degrading neoprene, from the brand that makes some of the wetsuits it cleans.
Rip Curl Piss Off Wetsuit Cleaner
Biodegradable enzymatic cleaner specifically formulated to break down urine and bacteria in neoprene, removing the odor that standard cleaners cannot fully eliminate.
JAWS Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo
Eco-friendly wetsuit cleaner free from harsh chemicals, removing chlorine, salt, and organic residue while conditioning the neoprene.
Hang 11 Foldable Wetsuit Hanger
Wide-shoulder foldable hanger designed specifically for wetsuits, distributing the weight of a soaking wet suit to prevent creasing and neoprene damage at the shoulder fold point.
Gear Aid Wetsuit and Drysuit Zipper Lubricant
Silicone-free zipper lubricant that keeps wetsuit and drysuit zippers running smoothly and prevents corrosion without contaminating the neoprene.
Gear Aid Aquaseal FD Wetsuit Repair Adhesive
The go-to neoprene and rubber adhesive for repairing small tears, split seams, and delamination in wetsuits and dive gear, with a flexible cure that moves with the suit.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How often should I wash my wetsuit?+
Rinse in cold fresh water after every single session. This is non-negotiable for wetsuit longevity since salt left to dry in neoprene degrades the material quickly. A full wash with a wetsuit cleaner is needed every few sessions or whenever any odor develops. Never use hot water, a washing machine, or household detergent.
Why does my wetsuit smell even though I rinse it?+
The smell comes from bacteria living in the neoprene, particularly on the inner lining where it contacts your skin directly. Rinsing removes salt but does not always eliminate bacteria. Turn the suit inside out to rinse and dry so the inner lining gets proper treatment. Use a dedicated wetsuit cleaner with antibacterial properties, such as the O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner, every few sessions. For persistent odor, the Rip Curl Piss Off enzymatic cleaner is specifically formulated to break down the bacteria causing it.
Can I put my wetsuit in a washing machine?+
No. A washing machine's agitation and spin cycle stress the glued seams and degrade the neoprene, even on a gentle cycle. Hand-wash in a bucket or tub of cold water with a specific wetsuit cleaner, squeeze gently, and rinse thoroughly. It takes about ten minutes and significantly extends the life of the suit compared to machine washing.
How do I repair a small tear in my wetsuit?+
Use a flexible neoprene repair adhesive like Gear Aid Aquaseal FD. Clean and dry the area thoroughly, apply the adhesive to both sides of the tear, press together, and allow the full cure time before getting the suit wet again. The cure is typically 8 to 12 hours. Do not rush this; a repair that did not cure fully will fail quickly in the water.