How to Care for Your Wetsuit After Every Swim

Why Wetsuit Care Is More Important Than You Think

Here's something that surprises a lot of swimmers: the better your wetsuit, the more vulnerable it is. Premium, high-performance neoprene is softer, more flexible, and more pliable than budget alternatives. Those qualities are exactly what make it feel incredible in the water, but they also make it more fragile, not tougher.

Splitting seams cause an estimated 90% of premature wetsuit failures. The good news? Almost all of them are preventable with a simple care routine.

Without proper care, even a top-tier wetsuit can deteriorate within 6 to 12 months. With consistent attention, that same suit can last 4 to 10 years or more. That's the difference between replacing your wetsuit every season and getting years of reliable performance from a single investment.

Drawing on over 35 years of specialist swim retail experience, our team at Swim T3 knows this firsthand. We've seen countless wetsuits come through our repair service, and the pattern is always the same: a few minutes of care after every swim adds entire seasons of life. For triathletes and Ironman competitors, where a wetsuit failure on race day can be catastrophic, this routine is genuine race-day insurance.

This guide covers the five key areas that matter most: dressing technique, rinsing, drying, storage, and repair.

The Damage Starts Before You Hit the Water

Most wetsuit damage doesn't happen in the ocean or the pool. It happens in the car park and the changing room. How you put your wetsuit on (and take it off) has a huge impact on its lifespan.

The Inside-Out Dressing Method

Start by turning the suit inside out before pulling it on. This reduces stress on the exterior neoprene and the seams, spreading the load across the tougher lining material instead.

Pinch and Pull, Never Grab

Use the flat of your thumb and the side of your forefinger to grip and pull the neoprene into position. Never use your fingertips or nails. Fingernail nicks are one of the most common causes of wetsuit damage, and high-performance single-lined neoprene (like the material used in our GLYDE wetsuits) is especially susceptible. A tiny nick today becomes a full tear next week.

Try sliding plastic bags or socks over your feet before pulling the suit up your legs. This prevents nail catches and makes the whole process much smoother.

Watch Your Lubricants

Petroleum-based products like Vaseline are active rubber degraders. The hydrocarbons break down neoprene's chemical structure, making it inelastic and brittle over time. Some sunscreens contain similar compounds, so check the ingredients before applying anything near your suit.

Stick to wetsuit-safe lubricants only: Body Glide, TriSlide, or water-based alternatives work well for chafe-prone areas without harming the neoprene.

Close Your Velcro

Always close or cover Velcro fastenings before putting on, packing, or storing your wetsuit. Open Velcro catches and pulls on delicate neoprene fibres, causing bobbling and weakening the material. It's a small habit that prevents real damage.

The Post-Swim Rinse: The Single Most Important Step

If you do only one thing for your wetsuit after every swim, make it this: rinse it with cool fresh water immediately. This is universally considered the single most important wetsuit care step, and it's the advice our team gives to every customer, from learn-to-swim families through to seasoned Ironman competitors.

A thorough rinse removes salt crystals, chlorine, sand, and organic matter like sweat and skin cells. Left to dry on the neoprene, these substances actively degrade the material and feed the bacteria that cause that unmistakable wetsuit stench.

Rinse both the inside and the outside thoroughly. Don't skip the interior lining; that's where sweat and bacteria accumulate fastest.

Use cool water only. Hot water permanently alters neoprene's chemical structure and weakens the adhesives holding seams together. Even warm water from a garden hose on a hot day is fine, but avoid anything steaming.

Pay special attention to the zipper. Salt and sand corrode zipper mechanisms, and a broken zipper often means replacing the entire wetsuit. Rinse it thoroughly after every single use.

The Deeper Clean

Every few uses, or after heavily chlorinated pool sessions, give your suit a deeper clean with a specialist wetsuit shampoo. This eliminates embedded odours, removes fine dirt and sand, and prevents mould from taking hold.

Never use a washing machine, bleach, fabric softener, or regular laundry detergent. The agitation and harsh chemicals damage neoprene fibres and can permanently stretch seams.

Drying and Storing Your Wetsuit the Right Way

How you dry and store your wetsuit matters just as much as how you clean it. Get this wrong, and you'll undo all the good work of your post-swim rinse.

Drying

Hang the wetsuit doubled over at the waist on a wide, padded hanger. Never hang it by the shoulders on a thin hanger. The weight of a wet suit will permanently stretch and deform the shoulder area, ruining the fit.

Dry it inside-out first so the lining dries completely. Then turn it right-side out to finish drying the exterior neoprene. This also means the suit is ready to wear again without damp material against your skin.

Choose a cool, shaded, well-ventilated area. Never dry your wetsuit in direct sunlight. UV rays and ozone break down the chemical bonds in neoprene, making it brittle, stiff, and prone to cracking. A new wetsuit can be severely damaged in a matter of weeks if left in direct sun.

Never put a wetsuit in a tumble dryer. The heat will destroy it.

The Hot Car Warning

This is one of the most common and damaging mistakes we see: leaving a wetsuit in a car boot after training or a race. Heat permanently alters neoprene, causing it to shrink, lose elasticity, and become brittle. It also weakens seam glues. On a warm New Zealand summer day, a car boot can reach temperatures that cause irreversible damage in hours. Get your suit out of the car as soon as you get home.

Long-Term Storage

Only store your wetsuit when it is completely dry on both sides. Storing a damp suit creates the perfect environment for mould, mildew, and bacterial growth.

For off-season storage, lay the suit flat or loosely rolled. Never fold it tightly or stuff it into a bag. Tight folds create permanent creases that damage neoprene's closed-cell structure, producing weak points and reducing flexibility.

Apply zipper wax monthly and make sure the zipper is clean and dry before putting the suit away for the season.

Repairing Your Wetsuit: When to DIY and When to Call the Experts

Small tears and seam splits should be repaired immediately. A small nick left unrepaired quickly becomes a larger, unrepairable tear. Remember: splitting seams cause an estimated 90% of premature wetsuit failures, and catching them early is the key to prevention.

Minor DIY Repairs

For small surface nicks, use neoprene-specific cement only. Apply two thin coats to both surfaces, allow each coat to become tacky, then press the surfaces firmly together. Standard superglue or all-purpose adhesives won't work properly.

There's a critical consideration for premium swim wetsuits, though. Standard retail glues lack the same stretch as high-performance single-lined neoprene. The repair creates a stiff spot that can tear away from the surrounding material, potentially making the damage worse. This is especially relevant for GLYDE wetsuit owners and anyone with a high-end triathlon suit.

Check Your Warranty First

Before attempting any DIY repair, always check your manufacturer warranty. Home repairs typically void most wetsuit warranties, and professional warranty service may be available at no cost. It's worth a quick check before you reach for the glue.

Professional Repair

For premium suits, seam failures, or any repair where you're unsure, we recommend bringing your wetsuit to Swim T3 for professional repair. Our team has the tools, materials, and experience to handle repairs properly, and we can assess whether a repair or replacement makes the most sense for your situation.

Repair vs. Replace

As a general guide: repair if the damage is isolated and the suit otherwise fits and performs well. Replace if seams are failing in multiple areas, the neoprene has become stiff or brittle, or the suit no longer provides adequate warmth or buoyancy.

Your Wetsuit Care Checklist at a Glance

• Rinse with cool fresh water immediately after every swim, inside and out
• Use cool water only (never hot)
• Hang doubled over a wide, padded hanger in the shade
• Dry inside-out first, then right-side out
• Never leave your wetsuit in a hot car or direct sunlight
• Use wetsuit-safe lubricants only (Body Glide, TriSlide, or water-based)
• Close all Velcro fastenings before storing or packing
• Apply zipper wax monthly
• Deep clean with wetsuit shampoo every few uses
• Store completely dry in a cool, dark place (flat or loosely rolled)
• Repair small damage immediately with neoprene cement
• Check your warranty before attempting any DIY repair

With consistent care, a quality wetsuit used multiple times per week can last seven years. The routine takes minutes after each session but adds entire seasons of performance and reliability.

Our team at Swim T3 are swimmers, coaches, triathletes, and Ironman competitors ourselves. We're available in-store and at events across Aotearoa for wetsuit fitting, repair, and honest advice. Our GLYDE wetsuit line, including the Amphibian SwimRun suit, was created by swimmers, for swimmers, and we genuinely want to hear about your experience. If you have questions about caring for your wetsuit, need a repair, or want to share feedback on your GLYDE gear, get in touch. We're here to help you get the most out of every swim.