One of the most frequently asked questions by divers in scuba equipment maintenance forums is “How do I get rid of that foul odor from my wetsuit?”

A wetsuit’s design doesn’t work like cotton or fabric outerwear that breathes well in the open air. Neoprene contains tiny bubbles that trap the air inside the wetsuit and insulates divers against the elements. They also trap sweat, urine, bacteria, and other undesirable substances. These toxic elements make keeping an odor-free wetsuit a never-ending challenge.

Luckily, we’re here to help you keep that “wetsuit smell” away with some tips and products that you can use in cleaning (and caring) for your scuba suit….

Why does your wetsuit smell funky?

If your wetsuit is exceptionally malodorous, there are two possible reasons for the stench: 

Leaving your wetsuit in a bag, a bin, or any other closed environment and not washing it after use; or

Sweat, body oils, and odors coming from the body. (These elements get trapped inside your suit as scuba diving, snorkeling, and other watersports causes us to sweat a lot.)

Bacteria breeds in all of these situations, and these organisms cause that funky smell in your wetsuit.

Wetsuit odors may also stem from going pee-pee while you’re wearing it. Urine leaves the worst smell of them all, and you’ll find it hard to remove.

How should you clean a smelly wetsuit?

Now that we’ve tackled what makes your wetsuit smell, it’s time to discuss wetsuit cleaning. Here are a few essential steps you should do in cleaning your trusty suit.

Rinse your wetsuit

As we’ve already mentioned, not washing your wetsuit after using it can give off that unpleasant smell. Rinsing your diving wetsuit to eliminate contaminants is a must, and here’s how to do it:

1. Take your suit off and turn it inside out.
   2. Dunk the wetsuit completely in a freshwater tub, then shake it for a few minutes.

If you don’t have a tub in your house or hotel room, you can use a hose to rinse your wetsuit. This method will take more of your time but it ensures that all areas of your suit are flushed clean.

Can you wash a wetsuit in the washing machine?

Generally, you shouldn’t wash your suit in your washing machine since the latter can damage your wetsuit. Putting it into a dryer is a no-no, too. But if you’re cleaning your suit with a washing machine, always remember these vital tips:

Don’t use detergent.

Don’t use hot water.

Your washing machine shouldn’t spin while you clean your wetsuit.

Air dry your wetsuit

Once you’ve washed your wetsuit, you’ll need to air it out, or the water inside the neoprene will turn stagnant and stinky. Follow the steps below when drying your scuba wetsuit:

Hang your suit inside out in a well-ventilated area.

Turn your suit right side in once this section is dry, then dry the outside.

Also, keep in mind that your wetsuit won’t last long with UV exposure. So don’t leave it to dry in the sun.