Dive Gear Cleaning & Care
Caring for your SCUBA gear is necessary to keep your equipment in top shape. Some items such as BCDs need proper maintenance to function when you need them.
-
Cleaning
Fin Maintenance
Wetsuit Cleaning & Care
-
-

Clean & Deodorize Your Wetsuit
Regular cleaning with Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo prevents chlorine and salt damage (left half of photo) and keeps suits looking and feeling like new (right half of photo).
-
Step 1:
Find two clean large tubs – one for washing and one for deodorizing. Fill both tubs with enough warm or cold water to submerge your suit. To the first tub, add 2 capfuls (1/2 oz) of Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo per gallon of water.
-
Step 2:
For extra suit conditioning, add a few teaspoons of Silicone Pump™ in with your Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo when washing your suit.
-
Step 3:
Give your suit a good scrub to eliminate saltwater, chlorine, sweat, urine and other residue. Regular cleaning maintains suit suppleness, keeps colors bright and eases suit entry.
-
Step 4:
To remove residual odors and bacteria from your wet suit, add 2 capfuls (1/2 oz) of MiraZyme™ Enzyme Based Gear Deodorizer to the second tub. For stubborn odors, apply MiraZyme directly to problem areas with a spray bottle.
-
Step 5:
Dip suit to saturate all areas. Remove from tub. Do NOT rinse.
-
Step 6:
Hang suit to dry on a flexible, padded wet suit hanger. As the suit dries, MiraZyme does its work - consuming organic matter such as hair, mold, mildew, as well as algae, bacteria, pollution, waste matter and urine, leaving your suit odor-free.
Wetsuit & Drysuit Care
-
Deodorizing
Wetsuit Cleaning & Care
-
-

Clean & Deodorize Your Wetsuit
Regular cleaning with Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo prevents chlorine and salt damage (left half of photo) and keeps suits looking and feeling like new (right half of photo).
-
Step 1:
Find two clean large tubs – one for washing and one for deodorizing. Fill both tubs with enough warm or cold water to submerge your suit. To the first tub, add 2 capfuls (1/2 oz) of Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo per gallon of water.
-
Step 2:
For extra suit conditioning, add a few teaspoons of Silicone Pump™ in with your Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo when washing your suit.
-
Step 3:
Give your suit a good scrub to eliminate saltwater, chlorine, sweat, urine and other residue. Regular cleaning maintains suit suppleness, keeps colors bright and eases suit entry.
-
Step 4:
To remove residual odors and bacteria from your wet suit, add 2 capfuls (1/2 oz) of MiraZyme™ Enzyme Based Gear Deodorizer to the second tub. For stubborn odors, apply MiraZyme directly to problem areas with a spray bottle.
-
Step 5:
Dip suit to saturate all areas. Remove from tub. Do NOT rinse.
-
Step 6:
Hang suit to dry on a flexible, padded wet suit hanger. As the suit dries, MiraZyme does its work - consuming organic matter such as hair, mold, mildew, as well as algae, bacteria, pollution, waste matter and urine, leaving your suit odor-free.
-
B.C.D.s
BCD Maintenance
-
-

In addition to regular cleaning, a few simple checks after each dive will help keep your B.C. in top condition:
Look for small tears and punctures, loose stitching and stressed fasteners. Repair with Aquaseal to prevent further damage. Check for leaks by pressurizing the B.C. using the oral or power inflator, then submerging the B.C in a tub of water. Slowly rotate the B.C. in all directions, keeping an eye out for air bubbles. Mark the location of the leak, allow the B.C. to dry,then repair with Aquaseal.
-

Test the oral inflation and power inflation buttons to ensure they move freely. If they feel sticky, salt or sand could be the problem. Wash, and if problem persists, take the B.C. to your local dive shop for inspection. Use a toothbrush to remove sand from Velcro® and other nooks and crannies.
-

Store your B.C. in a cool, dry spot away from direct heat, sunlight, car exhaust and harsh chemicals. Partially inflate it with dry air to prevent mold and mildew growth. This will also keep the bladder from sticking together when stored over a long period of time.
B.C. Cleaning & Care
-
-
Maintain Your BCD
B.C. Life™ removed 4 tablespoons of salt from one B.C. (left) - some of the crystals were 1” wide! Salt crystals will abrade your B.C. bladder, hoses, O-rings and valves, irreversibly damaging this vital piece of gear.
-
Clean your B.C. regularly with B.C. Life to preserve and condition the shell, interior lining, hose and valves and to eliminate damaging salt crystals.
-
Step 1:
Pour 4 capfuls (1 oz) of B.C. Life into the mouthpiece, pressing the oral inflate button with your thumb.
-
Step 2:
Fill B.C. with fresh water and shake to mix with B.C. Life. Turn B.C. upside down and sideways to thoroughly clean all chambers.
-

Step 3:
Drain B.C. through the mouthpiece and through the bottom dump valve.
-
Step 4:
Soak B.C. in 1 oz B.C. Life to 1 gallon water for 10 minutes to clean exterior. Rinse interior and exterior thoroughly. Hang B.C. partially inflated in a cool, dry place to air dry.
-
Wetsuits
Wetsuit Storage Tip
-
-

Suit Storage
Standard clothes hangers cause extra strain to your suit’s shoulders, leading to stretching and cracking. Use a flexible, padded Flex Fashion™ Wet Suit Hanger instead. The Flex Fashion Wet Suit Hanger can be molded to accommodate any suit shape. Store your suit and all dive gear in a cool, dry closet away from direct heat or sunlight, to prevent premature aging. If you must store dive gear in the garage, use air and light tight containers to protect from exhaust fumes, temperature extremes and moisture. Leave your suit’s zipper open during storage to eliminate strain on the sealing elements.
Ease Suit Entry
-
-
Silicone Pump™
To slide right into your wet suit and booties, spray inside with Silicone Pump™ prior to suiting up.
To ease dry suit entry, put a plastic grocery bag (with an opening on both ends) or a shower cap over your head to prevent the latex neck seal from sticking to your hair.
Wetsuit Cleaning & Care
-
-

Clean & Deodorize Your Wetsuit
Regular cleaning with Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo prevents chlorine and salt damage (left half of photo) and keeps suits looking and feeling like new (right half of photo).
-
Step 1:
Find two clean large tubs – one for washing and one for deodorizing. Fill both tubs with enough warm or cold water to submerge your suit. To the first tub, add 2 capfuls (1/2 oz) of Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo per gallon of water.
-
Step 2:
For extra suit conditioning, add a few teaspoons of Silicone Pump™ in with your Wet Suit & Dry Suit Shampoo when washing your suit.
-
Step 3:
Give your suit a good scrub to eliminate saltwater, chlorine, sweat, urine and other residue. Regular cleaning maintains suit suppleness, keeps colors bright and eases suit entry.
-
Step 4:
To remove residual odors and bacteria from your wet suit, add 2 capfuls (1/2 oz) of MiraZyme™ Enzyme Based Gear Deodorizer to the second tub. For stubborn odors, apply MiraZyme directly to problem areas with a spray bottle.
-
Step 5:
Dip suit to saturate all areas. Remove from tub. Do NOT rinse.
-
Step 6:
Hang suit to dry on a flexible, padded wet suit hanger. As the suit dries, MiraZyme does its work - consuming organic matter such as hair, mold, mildew, as well as algae, bacteria, pollution, waste matter and urine, leaving your suit odor-free.
-
Drysuits
Zipper Cleaning & Care
-
-
Wetsuit & Drysuit Zippers
Regular cleaning and lubrication helps zippers last the lifetime of the suit. Without proper care (left), expensive zippers degrade and need costly replacement. Keep your wet suit, dry suit, gear bag zippers free of harmful dirt, sand and salt deposits with Zip Care™ (right).
-
Step 1:
Unzip item and use Zip Care‘s brush top to remove grit and dust.
Step 2:
Brush Zip Care generously onto zipper teeth to clean and lightly lubricate. Wipe off excess.
-
Step 3:
Carefully open and close zipper to thoroughly distribute Zip Care.
-
Zip Tech™
Zip Tech™ is preferred for multi-dive lubrication. Use Zip Tech to lubricate and protect watertight and airtight zippers on dry suits from corrosion and harmful salt, chlorine and other pollutants. To use: Open zipper and apply Zip Tech sparingly only to the outer teeth of the zipper.
-
Max Wax™
If you prefer a paraffin wax and silicone-based lubricant, Max Wax™ is great for general zipper lubrication. Note: Some suit manufacturers prefer you use silicone free formulas such as Zip Tech and Zip Care.
Gasket Protection
-
-
Use UV Tech™ to protect & restore gaskets
With exposure to sunlight, saltwater, and chlorine, synthetic gaskets degrade over time due to the loss of structural oils called plasticizers. Proper protection with UV Tech™ is essential for maximizing scuba gear life.
Drysuit Repair
-
-
Use Aquaseal to seal leaky gasket seams
Step 1:
Turn suit inside out. Clean damaged area with Cotol-240 or isopropyl alcohol. Non-fabric surfaces such as latex should first be roughened with sandpaper, then cleaned.
-
Step 2:
Apply Aquaseal in a 1/16” high bead overlapping seam edges by at least 1⁄4”. Use included brush to saturate fabric surfaces. Dry level overnight.
Dry Suit Zippers
Drysuit Care