Cleaning My Wetsuit & Boots

[ILee]

I have been just rinseing my suit with fresh water and ever now and again I use some suit shampoo for good measure but I've only worn my boots a couple of time and already they STINK. I have rinsed them in fresh water and also used shampoo but still no joy can I pop them in the washing machine if I put them in a pillow case to protect them? Can I do same with the suit & gloves etc?

Cheers.

[Sar]

ive heard that you can put your suit and stuff in the washing machine but never tried it myself. I think that if you pee in your wetsuit it will all filter down to your boots so that might explain the extra stink.

I just used a mild washing liquid on my very stinky stuff this weekend and its smelling lovely now.

[alimac2411]

try a cool handwash in the sink. I have the same problem with my gloves but that normally does the trick

[Johno]

Av put my booties in the washing machine with no problems wouldnt put my wetyy in thow, if it ruins your booties it only coast £ 20 - 30 for a new pair and av put boiling water in mine straight from the ketle no problems

[Johno]

For got to ask, what house hold detergent do you use on your wettys???? i just normaly soak mine in clean cold water

I think its proberly bit of a gimik buying special shampoo for ya wetty

[Sar]

a really realy weak solution of ecover washing up liquid or just regular detergent. may be bad but it still hasnt fallen apart

[Dr Rev]

I think you can get a cleaner called P-Off ? i saw it advertised somewhere ?

[Chris369]

How strange ... I was thinking of starting a thread to ask how you clean boots because mine absolutely stink too. Can I put disinfectant in them with some water?

[Sillysausage]

best thing is to let them air, but if they smell bad for a while, i wouldn't wear them if you have a cut on your foot incase of infection

[essex sucks]

yep mine go in the washing machine too

[Granite]

My boots really stink too. I rinse in shower with whatever shower gel or soap is to hand, then tie them on a bit of string and toss them out my window to air/dry. Might not work that well but at least they ain't indoors stinking out my flat!

Might give is a go in washing machine. I'd imagine its ok now and again, but not regular as the neoprene will deterioate over time.

[Johno]

Bootie washer machine all the way - wetty in washer no no cold soak an hang to dry

[myate]

After a session, i just hang all on a washing line outside, spray with the hose and leave to air dry. No smells at all! I did just buy that hangair thing to try for the winter, seems good.

[Hang11]

Does anybody else on here enjoy emptying their pee filled boots over a mate's head when they're getting changed?

[Dr Rev]

Does anybody else on here enjoy emptying their pee filled boots over a mate's head when they're getting changed?

No, i think that might be just you !

Mental note to myself, dont go surfing with Hang 11 !

[Bewilderbeast]

Does anybody else on here enjoy emptying their pee filled boots over a mate's head when they're getting changed?

After a mate of mine took a heavy beating and was looking a little on the concussed side of things, I nearly got him to DRINK the piss/sea water soup contained in my boots

Unfortunately a goody goody friend of his stopped him before he did the deed.

Damn you Ellen!!

[billie_morini]

The primary reason booties begin to smell is because they don't get dried thorougly. Here is what to do.

1. Clean the interior of the boots with a wet suit shampoo that contains nonoxynol-9. This is a proven anti-fungalcide. Many soaps and detergents contain it. The one I buy is called, "500psi Wetsuit/BC Wash & Conditioner" (http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-166/030124/Innovative-500psi-Wetsuit-BC-Wash---Conditioner.html). When you use it all the time and dry your booties completely all the time, you'll have no fungus growth and, therefore, no odor. If the booties stink a lot, then mix this stuff in real high concentration directly in the boot. Slosh it around a good while. Then drain, rinse, and go to step 2 below. By the way, where I live I can only surf using a suit and booites. I use this stuff on my suit, boots, and hat every time I finish surfing.

2. Dry the booties thoroughly every time after use/cleaning. I use a convection dryer from a hunting supply outfitter (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006605810205a&type=product&cmCat=Search_Results_NYR&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=dryer&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=dryer&noImage=0&_requestid=149329). They are presently on sale for $29.95 and worth every penny. My light weight booties dry in 5 hours. My heavy booties dry in 8 hours. Since I have been using these dryers, i have never had wet booties on the following morning. My booties don't ever smell either. Neoprene booties nearly close at the ankle around the upright dryer support. This significantly reduces air flow and booties won't dry. You must prevent a seal from forming between bootie ankle and dryer support. I've placed one 6 inch piece of 3/4inch tubing (PVC on one, galvanized metal tubing on the other) on each upright dryer support. They're held in place by rubber bands and allow air to circulate. I'm tinkering around with better ways to do this, but can send a photo to anyone that needs it. Just PM me.

[Real Pol]

The primary reason booties begin to smell is because they don't get dried thorougly. Here is what to do.

1. Clean the interior of the boots with a wet suit shampoo that contains nonoxynol-9. This is a proven anti-fungalcide. Many soaps and detergents contain it. The one I buy is called, "500psi Wetsuit/BC Wash & Conditioner" (http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-166/030124/Innovative-500psi-Wetsuit-BC-Wash---Conditioner.html). When you use it all the time and dry your booties completely all the time, you'll have no fungus growth and, therefore, no odor. If the booties stink a lot, then mix this stuff in real high concentration directly in the boot. Slosh it around a good while. Then drain, rinse, and go to step 2 below. By the way, where I live I can only surf using a suit and booites. I use this stuff on my suit, boots, and hat every time I finish surfing.

2. Dry the booties thoroughly every time after use/cleaning. I use a convection dryer from a hunting supply outfitter (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006605810205a&type=product&cmCat=Search_Results_NYR&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=dryer&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=dryer&noImage=0&_requestid=149329). They are presently on sale for $29.95 and worth every penny. My light weight booties dry in 5 hours. My heavy booties dry in 8 hours. Since I have been using these dryers, i have never had wet booties on the following morning. My booties don't ever smell either. Neoprene booties nearly close at the ankle around the upright dryer support. This significantly reduces air flow and booties won't dry. You must prevent a seal from forming between bootie ankle and dryer support. I've placed one 6 inch piece of 3/4inch tubing (PVC on one, galvanized metal tubing on the other) on each upright dryer support. They're held in place by rubber bands and allow air to circulate. I'm tinkering around with better ways to do this, but can send a photo to anyone that needs it. Just PM me.

Alternatively you could do what I do:

1. Keep your nose away from your booties
2. Get on with your life!

[ILee]

Alternatively you could do what I do:

1. Keep your nose away from your booties
2. Get on with your life!

Trouble is you don't have to get near them to smell them.

Soaked them in a really weak mix of Ecover for an hour and smell gone cheers.

[dawnpatrolman]

Hi,

I don't know if you can buy an old fashioned blue and white soap bar (the one people used to do the laundry before the washing machine)...if you can use it to wash you wetsuit and booties in cold water.

A friend of mine had sume funghi (?) problems and his dermathologist told him to regularly wash the wetsuit with traditional soap (it is an highly efective disinfectant).

cheers from Portugal!
p