How to Care for a Triathlon Wetsuit (2026 Maintenance Guide)

After every swim: rinse with cool fresh water, dry inside-out on a wide hanger in shade, then store flat or rolled. Never fold, never expose to direct sunlight, never use hot water, and never machine-wash. A well-cared-for wetsuit lasts 4–6 seasons; a neglected one fails in 12–18 months.

The rules are simple but unforgiving — neoprene is rubber-like foam glued together, and heat, UV, chlorine, and petroleum products all dissolve the bonds. For wetsuit selection before you buy, see our wetsuit buyer's guide.

Three minutes of work after each swim doubles your wetsuit's lifespan.

Step 1 — Rinse immediately. As soon as you're out of the water, rinse with cool fresh water from a hose or shower. Don't let salt or chlorine dry on the neoprene.

Step 2 — Turn inside-out. Pull the suit inside out (the lining side faces out). This is the side that touches your skin — sweat and body oils accumulate here and need to dry.

Step 3 — Hang on a wide hanger. Use a wetsuit-specific hanger (wide plastic, 4–6 inches across) folded at the waist. Drying it shoulders-up on a thin metal hanger creates permanent dimples in the shoulders within 5–10 uses.

Step 4 — Dry in shade. Indoors, garage, or covered patio. Never in direct sun — UV degrades neoprene faster than any other factor.

Step 5 — Once dry, turn right-side-out and store. Either keep on the wide hanger or roll loosely (never fold) in a cool dry place.

Do a proper wash every 8–12 swims (or after open water sessions in murky lakes/oceans).

You'll need: Wetsuit-specific shampoo (Sink the Stink, Mirazyme, or Piss Off — yes that's the brand), a bathtub, and cool water.

Method:

1. Fill the tub with cool water (max 25 °C / 77 °F).
2. Add the recommended dose of wetsuit shampoo.
3. Submerge the inside-out suit for 10–15 minutes.
4. Gently agitate — do NOT scrub or wring.
5. Drain, rinse with fresh cool water, and dry as normal.

Never use:

• Regular laundry detergent (strips neoprene oils)
• Bleach (instantly degrades glue)
• Hot water (delaminates the panels)
• A washing machine or dryer (these will destroy the suit in one cycle)

Most wetsuit failures aren't bad luck — they're avoidable.

1. Pool training in a tri wetsuit. Chlorine destroys neoprene 5× faster than salt or fresh water. If you must pool-train in it, rinse within 10 minutes.

2. Petroleum-based lubricants. Vaseline, baby oil, and most cheap chafe sticks dissolve neoprene at contact points. Use only: TriSlide, Body Glide Anti-Chafe (the original stick), or a wetsuit-specific lube.

3. Long fingernails when putting it on. Most tears happen during dressing. Use plastic bags over feet, pull from the inside-out fabric (not the rubber), and never yank with fingertips.

4. Storing folded in a bag. Permanent creases form within weeks and become weak spots. Roll or hang.

5. Direct sunlight drying. A wetsuit can lose 30% of its flexibility from one summer of UV abuse.

6. Trunk of a hot car. Internal car temps reach 60 °C+ (140 °F+) and accelerate glue breakdown. Bring the suit inside after races.

Small tears, fingernail nicks, and seam separations are easy to fix at home. Don't bother sending a $400 suit to a $80 repair shop for a 2 cm cut.

Materials (~$15 total):

• Neoprene cement (Aquaseal, Black Witch, or Stormsure)
• A toothpick or applicator
• Cotton swabs
• 24 hours of dry time

Method:

1. Make sure the suit is bone dry and clean.
2. Hold the tear edges open. Apply a thin layer of cement to BOTH sides of the tear.
3. Wait 3–5 minutes (per glue instructions) for it to become tacky.
4. Press the edges together firmly for 30 seconds.
5. Apply a second thin coat over the top to seal.
6. Let cure 12–24 hours flat before next swim.

Larger tears (5+ cm), shoulder seam blowouts, or zipper failures should go to a professional wetsuit repair service ($30–$80 typical).

With proper care: 4–6 seasons of regular use (40–80 swims per year).

Signs it's time to retire:

• Multiple panel delaminations (white glue lines showing)
• Loss of buoyancy — you sit noticeably lower than 2 seasons ago
• Zipper failure that can't be re-stitched
• Chronic shoulder fatigue from hardened, less-flexible neoprene

Most age-groupers replace wetsuits because their swim improves and they want a thinner, more flexible suit — not because the old one failed. For race-day execution, see our open water swimming guide and wetsuit buying guide.