posted by admin on Apr 27
A wetsuit is a piece of skintight and lightweight clothing that are mostly worn by water sports athletes. Made of a special material called neoprene, it helps divers, swimmers and surfers retain their body heat by creating a layer of water between their body and the suit. Buying a wetsuit will benefit you, since it is said to boost your performance greatly.
However, not all of us, especially beginners, are adept at taking care of a wetsuit. Thankfully for us, it is not that complicated and not easy to pick up. Here are some tips on wetsuit maintenance:
1) Storage. When you first get your wetsuit, you will probably be amazed at how stiff it feels. However, like other pieces of clothing, it’ll soon be softer the more times you wear it. However, you don’t want it to be too soft and lumpy the next time you put it on. So, the best way to maintain its crisp and solid feel is to store it properly.
If possible, always hang your suit, instead of folding it. That way, you will avoid creases which may lead to cracks and eventually to tears. So, find a solid, beefy hanger, not those thin wire hangers you use to hang your shirts with. Those can dig deep to the heavy suit and cause cracks.
2) Soiling it. It’s the ultimate question asked by every first-time diver; can you relieve yourself in the wetsuit while you’re diving? The answer will delight those with small bladders. Yes, you can pee in a wetsuit while you’re underwater. It won’t harm your suit in any way, since urine is sterile and don’t contain any materials that might corrode neoprene, unless you have a urinary tract infection, that is.
The only effect that noticeable is a warm tingling sensation around your groin, which incidentally may warm you up for a while, but will cool your body heat in the long run. That, and the fact that a dark yellow cloud might appear between your legs. So, if you feel your bladder won’t hold out when you’re in a wetsuit and diving, drink plenty of water. It’ll decolorize your urine and make it invisible.
3) Cleaning it. Most surf shops should sell a special shampoo that can be used for wetsuit maintenance. Do not clean it in a washing machine with all the other clothes, lest you want to damage the suit. Hand-wash it once every two weeks if you are using it regularly. If you want to keep it from smelling, spray on some wetsuit deodorizer to disinfect it.
Wetsuit maintenance is a very important aspect of owning a wetsuit. Take good care of a wetsuit and it’ll stay with your for many years.
Author: Clement C.
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