I know I’m not the only one who has stepped foot into my car to quickly realize that I had left my soaking wetsuit in there all night, and that the soured aroma has pierced the air all around.
If you have been here too, it may be your time to invest in some wetsuit shampoo.
If you ever find yourself in this situation again, with the use of wetsuit shampoo, your car won’t be left smelling like an old wetsuit for weeks.
What Wetsuit Shampoo is — and Why It Matters
After wearing your wetsuit over and over again, odor and bacteria are destined to latch on.
Of course, you don't want to be the cause of the smell before paddling out.
Even though wetsuit shampoo is the perfect way to combat this issue, not many surfers know about it — or actually utilize it.
Wetsuit shampoo operates as a cleaner and conditioner that will improve your wetsuit's lifespan and eliminate any unpleasant odors.
How to Use Wetsuit Shampoo
There are a few steps to follow to get the best use of your wetsuit shampoo:
1: Mix your shampoo with cold water in a bucket.
If you use hot water it can cause your wetsuit neoprene to lose its flexibility.
2: Flip your wetsuit inside out and place it in the bucket.
3: Mix the wetsuit in with the shampoo and let it soak.
4: Wash all the shampoo off with cold water and leave your clean wetsuit to dry.
5 Wetsuit Shampoos to Consider
O’Neill Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner
O’Neill’s Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner is known for being one of the best on the market right now.
For only $15.95, this product ensures that it will increase the lifespan of your wetsuit, eliminate the daunting old wetsuit odors, and clean any and all bacteria.
This 2 in 1 cleaner and conditioner is non-toxic and biodegradable, so you won’t be causing any harm to yourself or the environment.
It's currently sold out on O’Neill’s website, but don’t worry, you can still purchase the same product on Amazon for just $4 more.
Learn more about this wetsuit shampoo option.
JAWS Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo
JAWS Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo comes in a variety of sizes from:
single ounce container
4 ounces
even as much as a gallon of wetsuit shampoo
If you are in the business of wetsuit rentals or surf lessons, this gallon of wetsuit shampoo may be exactly what you need to get all your wetsuits dialed.
For just $9 for a 4 ounce container, the Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo brings a refreshing scent to your wetsuit, removes all chlorine and salt, and contains conditioning agents.
This product is also hypo-allergenic so it won’t have any negative effects on your skin.
Laern more about this wetsuit shampoo option.
Pau Pilau Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner
The Pau Pilau Wetsuit Cleaner and Conditioner is made of all natural ingredients that combats bacteria and organic waste that may be harmful to you.
This wetsuit shampoo was created by a surfer who was working for a cleaning company at the time and decided to put together his knowledge in both areas to combat this common issue.
At $9 for 16 ounces, Pau Pilau has some of the cheapest wetsuit cleaners and conditioners which means you are getting a large amount of product for such a cheap price.
Learn more about this wetsuit shampoo option.
Wetsuit Shampoo DIY
Although these wetsuit shampoos are all great options for cleaning your wetsuit, you may be able to tackle this problem just with ingredients that you find around your house and doing it yourself.
Some alternatives may include
baking soda
mouthwash
baby shampoo
plant-based disinfectant
white vinegar
If you find any of these items, all you need to do is mix one of them in with cold water and soak your wetsuit as you would with any traditional wetsuit shampoo and conditioner.
All these options work great at removing oil, wax, and bacteria from your wetsuit and leaving it looking better than it did before.
The Bottom Line: Wetsuit Shampoo
Buying a new wetsuit can get extremely expensive and frustrating.
However, wetsuit shampoo maintains the flexibility of the neoprene, removes bacteria, and brings a refreshing new smell, so that your wetsuits can last longer.
With all that being said, wetsuit shampoo generally won’t break the bank and you're still getting all these amazing benefits.
So, it’s time to get in the habit of regularly washing your wetsuit with one of these options or with the ingredients you find around your home!