“How can I get rid of the foul odor from my wetsuit?” This question is considered one of the most frequently asked questions by scuba divers in scuba equipment maintenance forums.

The design of the wetsuit doesn’t work like other outwear that is made of cotton or fabric that makes it breathe well in the open air. On the other hand, neoprene which a wetsuit is made from contains tiny bubbles that trap the air inside it and insulates a diver wearing it against the elements. They also trap urine, bacteria, sweat, and other undesirable substances. These toxic elements make it hard and a challenge to keep a wetsuit odor-free.

Luckily, we’re here to help you with some tips to follow when your wetsuit smells funky and also you will find at the end of this article some cleaning products that you can use to care for your scuba suit.

Why your wetsuit smells funky

If your wetsuit smells funky, there are three possible reasons:

• You probably left your wetsuit in a bin, bag, or any other closed environment and didn’t wash it after using it.
• Body oils, sweat, and other bad odors coming from the body. (The wetsuit trap these elements inside it when scuba diving, snorkeling, or practicing other watersports that make us sweat a lot.)
• Wetsuit may have a bad odor when you go pee-pee while you are wearing it. Urine can leave the worst smell of them all, and you’ll find it hard to remove.

Bacteria breed in all of these situations, and are responsible for that funky smell in your wetsuit.

How should you clean a funky wetsuit?

After we know the causes of this funky smell, it’s time to discuss how we can clean a funky wetsuit. Here are a few simple and essential steps you should do when your wetsuit smells funky to clean it:

Rinse your wetsuit

Although washing your wetsuit after using it can’t only give off that funky smell, it is a must to eliminate any contaminants, and here’s how to do it in the proper way:

1. Take off your wetsuit, then turn it inside out.
2. Rinse your wetsuit completely in the freshwater, then shake it for some minutes.

If there is not a tub in your house or hotel room, you can use a hose in the rinsing step. This method will take more time but you will be sure that all areas of your wetsuit are cleaned.

Can you use a washing machine to wash a wetsuit?

Generally, a wetsuit shouldn’t be washed in the washing machine since it can be damaged. It is also forbidden to put it in the dryer . But if the washing machine us the only option that available to you, there are some vital tips to keep in mind:

• Don’t ever use detergent.
• Never use hot water.
• Don’t spin your washing machine while cleaning your wetsuit.

Air dry your wetsuit

After washing your wetsuit, you must air it out because if you leave it, the water inside the neoprene will make it stagnant and stinky. Follow the next steps when you dry your scuba wetsuit:

• Hang your wetsuit inside out in a well-ventilated place.
• After this section dry, turn your wetsuit right side, then dry the outside.
• In the drying step, leave it in a cool place away from direct sunlight, as it won’t last long in case of UV exposure. 

Deodorize your wetsuit

If you’re wondering about the right way to deodorize your scuba wetsuit, experienced scuba divers and cleaning brands offer you many solutions to removing wetsuit odors, regardless of the source of this bad odor..

Many scuba divers use some tried-and-tested, non-commercial detergent to get rid of the bad odor of the wetsuit. It is considered an ingenious solution to dunk your wetsuit in a bucket of freshwater with a cap of Woolite, Febreze, Dettol, or any mild deodorizer or fabric cleaner. Just ensure to dry your wetsuit inside out before you repeat this process, if needed.

What are your options for wetsuit cleaning?

For all scuba divers who want to prevent damaging their scuba diving wetsuits during the cleaning process, buying one of the following wetsuit shampoos and deodorizers that are available on the market is a good option. These special cleaners for wetsuits are fantastic at getting rid of any stinky smell.

• JAWS Slosh Wet/Dry Suit Shampoo, Cleaner, & Conditioner
• Sink the Stink 4 fl. oz. (118ml) Bottle
• 500 PSI Wetsuit & BCD Cleaner
• Seasoft Lemon GrenAIDE Enzymatic Wetsuit Cleanser
• McNett MiraZyme Enzyme-Based Odor Eliminator