Wetsuit Care & Repair Guide: How to Make Your Wetsuit Last

A high-quality wetsuit is a serious investment in your comfort, performance, and safety. But have you ever been disappointed when a suit that felt amazing on day one becomes stiff, smelly, or starts falling apart after just a season or two? More often than not, this premature death isn't a fault of the suit, but a result of neglect.

The truth is, a well-made neoprene wetsuit is a surprisingly resilient piece of technical gear, and its lifespan can be dramatically extended with a simple care and maintenance routine. Think of it like a high-performance car; it needs regular, simple maintenance to keep running at its peak. This is your ultimate guide to wetsuit care and basic repair. As the material engineers at https://neoprenecustom.com who create the durable foundation for these suits, we want to help you get the most out of your investment.

Part 1: The Maintenance Routine (The 3 Golden Rules)

This simple 10-minute routine after every session will double the life of your suit.

1. Rinse Thoroughly with Fresh Water (The #1 Rule)

• Why: Saltwater, chlorine, and organic matter are corrosive. They will slowly eat away at the neoprene foam and the stitching if left to dry.

• How: As soon as you take it off, give your suit a thorough rinse, inside and out, with cool, fresh water. A hose or a shower is perfect. Pay extra attention to zippers to flush out sand and salt. Never use hot water, as it accelerates the aging of the neoprene.

2. Wash Occasionally with Wetsuit Shampoo

• Why: A simple rinse won't remove body oils, bacteria, and other things that cause a wetsuit to get "funky."

• How: Every 5-6 sessions, hand-wash your suit in a large tub of cool water with a capful of specialized wetsuit shampoo. These shampoos are formulated to be gentle on neoprene, unlike regular detergents which can strip its natural oils. Let it soak, gently knead it, then rinse thoroughly.

3. Dry Correctly (The Most Common Mistake)

• Why: Improper drying is the fastest way to kill a wetsuit.

• The Deadly Sins:

  • NEVER dry it in direct sunlight. The sun's UV rays will destroy the neoprene, making it brittle and faded.

  • NEVER hang it from the shoulders on a thin wire hanger. The weight of the wet suit will permanently stretch out and damage the shoulder material.

• The Professional Method: Hang your wetsuit inside-out and folded in half over the waist on a thick plastic hanger or a railing. Place it in a shady, well-ventilated area. Once the inside is dry, flip it right-side-out to dry the exterior.

Part 2: The DIY Repair Guide

A small tear or a fingernail cut doesn't mean your suit is ruined! A high-quality neoprene suit is built to be repairable.

What You'll Need: A small tube of neoprene cement (also called wetsuit glue). This is a special, flexible contact adhesive. Do not use regular super glue!

How to Fix a "Fingernail Cut" (A Surface Slice)

1. Clean: Make sure the area is clean and dry.

2. Apply: Fold the cut open to expose the two inner surfaces. Apply a thin, even layer of neoprene cement to both surfaces with a small brush.

3. Wait: This is the most important step. Let the cement air dry for 5-10 minutes until it is tacky to the touch, but not wet.

4. Press: Carefully and precisely press the two sides of the cut together. The bond is instant and permanent. Press firmly for about 10 seconds.

5. Cure: Let the repair cure for at least 6-8 hours before using the suit.

How to Fix a Full Tear or a Seam Split
For a tear that goes all the way through, the process is similar but requires more care. For a very strong repair, many professionals will first do a simple "butt stitch" with a needle and dental floss to hold the two edges together before applying the glue for a waterproof seal.

You can follow every step of this guide, but a suit's potential for a long life is determined from the day it was made. It's determined by the quality of the neoprene material.

• Why Cheap Suits Fail (High-SBR Blends):

  • Low Durability: Low-grade SBR foam has poor tear resistance, meaning small nicks turn into big rips easily.

  • Poor Resilience: The foam "packs out" and gets permanently thin, a problem that no amount of care can fix.

  • Weak Lamination: The fabric lining is more likely to peel (delaminate) from the foam core, especially with repeated washing.

• Why Premium Suits Endure (High-CR Blends):

  • Superior Durability: A high-quality neoprene, like the 100% CR and high-CR SCR blends we engineer at https://neoprenecustom.com, has a much higher tear strength and abrasion resistance. It's simply a tougher material.

  • Excellent Resilience: The strong, dense cell structure resists compression and maintains its thickness and warmth for many seasons.

  • A Foundation Worth Repairing: Because the core material is so resilient, it's worth taking the time to repair a small cut. The suit has years of life left in it. A cheap suit is often not worth the effort to fix.

An investment in a wetsuit made from a premium material, combined with a simple care routine, is the secret to a piece of high-performance gear that serves you well for years, not just months.

For brands that want to build a reputation on durability and long-term value, it all starts at the source. Contact our material expert, Kevin, at kevin@neoprenecustom.com.