How to Clean and Care for your Drysuit: Our Top Tips

Keeping your gear in peak condition is the difference between a legendary day on the water and a damp, cold disappointment. Whether you’re shredding the rapids on a whitewater adventure or touring the coast, your drysuit is your most vital piece of armour.

At NorthShore Watersports, we stock the best drysuits from brands like Palm, Peak, and Typhoon, but even the toughest suit needs a little TLC to stay watertight. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to keep your suit performing as hard as you do, along with a few product recommendations to keep your drysuit in top condition. 

Key Takeaways: TL;DR

• Rinse After Every Session: Salt and grit are the primary enemies of gaskets and zippers.
• Storage Matters: Never “scrunch” your suit; folding correctly prevents permanent delamination and zipper kinks.
• Lubrication is King: Keeping your drysuit zippers lubed using products like Typhoon Care 4 Zip or Mcnett ZIP TECH is the easiest way to prevent expensive repairs.

Our Top Tips:

1. Washing and Drying: Keeping it Fresh
2. Storage and Folding: Maintaining Shape
3. Repairs: Fix It Before It Fails
4. Donning Your Suit: The Right Way to Suit Up

1. Washing and Drying: Keeping it Fresh

After a heavy session, your suit is likely covered in salt, sand, or river silt. Leaving these on the fabric can degrade the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating and damage the latex seals. Learn how to clean your drysuit properly with these top tips. 

How to wash a drysuit

Don’t just throw it in the machine with your regular laundry! Doing this will damage the suit and compromise its water repellency.

1. Hand wash only: Use a bathtub or a large plastic tub filled with lukewarm water.
2. Use tech-wash: Avoid standard detergents. Use a specialist cleaner (like Nikwax Tech Wash) that won’t strip the waterproof membrane.
3. Agitate gently: Swish the suit around, focusing on high-wear areas like the armpits and seat.

How to clean a drysuit (spot cleaning)

If you just have a few muddy patches, use a soft sponge and fresh water. Avoid stiff brushes, as they can abrade the face fabric and compromise waterproofing.

How to dry a drysuit

1. Inside out first: Flip the suit inside out to let the interior moisture evaporate.
2. Hang it right: Use a thick, padded hanger to avoid stressing the shoulders.
3. Avoid the sun: Never dry your suit in direct sunlight; UV rays are the fastest way to kill latex seals.
4. Finish right-side out: Once the inside is dry, flip it back to air-dry the exterior.

2. Storage and Folding: Maintaining Shape

Proper storage is key in your drysuit care routine. How you store your suit during the off-season (or even between weekends) dictates how many seasons it will last.

How to fold a drysuit

Learn how to properly fold your drysuit for safe transport from home to the waterside.

1. Open the zippers: Always leave the main entry zipper and relief zipper open during folding to prevent stress on the teeth.
2. The “Roll” Method: Lay the suit flat on its back. Fold the arms across the chest. Fold the legs up towards the middle, then gently roll from the bottom up.
3. Avoid Creasing: Do not place heavy equipment on a folded suit, as this can cause permanent creases in the fabric.

How to store a drysuit

• Short Term: Hang it on a wide-shouldered hanger in a cool, dry place.
• Long Term: If you aren’t paddling for a few months, store the suit folded loosely using the above method in a breathable bag. Keep it away from high-heat areas (like boiler cupboards) and ozone-producing motors (like fridges), which can cause latex to perish.

3. Repairs: Fix It Before It Fails

Small leaks happen, but they don’t have to end your season. Here are our top tips on how to repair a drysuit.

How to repair a drysuit

• Find the leak: Turn the suit inside out and spray with soapy water. Seal the neck and wrists, blow air into the suit and look for bubbles.
• Patching: For nicks and tears in neoprene, rubber, or latex, use Mcnett Black Witch Neoprene Adhesive. It’s a contact cement that cures in just 30-60 minutes, making it perfect for rapid “grab-and-hold” repairs so you don’t miss the tide.
• Seam Maintenance: Use Typhoon Care 4 Seals to lubricate and maintain your seams, preventing wear and cracking before a leak even starts.
• Seal Care: If a latex seal has a small nick, you can sometimes “stop” it with a tiny dab of Mcnett Black Witch Adhesive, but usually, a full seal replacement is the safest bet for extending the life of your drysuit!

4. Donning Your Suit: The Right Way to Suit Up

Most damage happens before you even hit the water! Learning how to put on a drysuit properly will save your gaskets.

1. Remove Jewellery: Watches and rings are the #1 cause of torn wrist seals.
2. Lube the Zips: Before stepping in, ensure your zips move freely. Use Typhoon Care 4 Zip with its unique brush top to scrub away sand and salt before applying the lubricant. For high-tech airtight zippers, applying Mcnett ZIP TECH or Peak Tizip Lube ensures the zipper does its job without snagging.
3. The “Two-Finger” Rule: When pulling the neck seal over your head, use your fingers to stretch the latex outward, not upward. Never use your fingernails.
4. Burp the Suit: Once on, squat down and pull the neck seal open slightly to let out excess air. Doing this prevents the “Michelin Man” effect when you hit the water!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Sticky Zippers: If the zip is hard to pull, don’t force it! Use Mcnett ZIP TECH to protect against rust and salt. It’s biodegradable and silicone-free, perfect for sensitive gear.
• Perishing Seals: If your seals feel “tacky” or show signs of cracking, treat them immediately with Typhoon Care 4 Seals to extend their life.

Extend the life of your drysuit with NorthShore Watersports

A well-maintained drysuit is the key to year-round paddling. By following these steps and using the right maintenance products, you’re ensuring that your kit is as ready for adventure as you are while also protecting your investment.

Shop the products used in this guide:

Product	Benefit
Typhoon Care 4 Zip	Keep your zips gliding and grit-free.
Mcnett ZIP TECH	High-performance zipper lubricant for watertight and airtight zippers
Mcnett Black Witch Adhesive	The essential “emergency kit” for tears.
Peak Tizip Lube	Make your suit more waterproof and easier to use.
Typhoon Care 4 Seals	Prevent cracks and maintain your suit’s integrity.

Or, are you ready to invest in a drysuit to extend your watersports season? Shop our full range of drysuits here at Northshore Watersports.

Your next read:

• Wetsuit vs. Drysuit: Which Winter Armour is Better for Cold Water Adventure?
• The Best Drysuit for Your Water Sport: Your Ultimate Guide
• What Is a Drysuit and Why Is It Essential for Cold Water Adventures?