We haven’t been able to find a good guide to preventing the dreaded wetsuit boot stench online so we thought we would make our own. Surfing in the cold takes a lot more effort, dedication and gear. Wetsuits and accessories certainly aren’t cheap, so learn to take care of yours and make them last.
We’ll start off with Booties. They get smelly, fast. Exponential foot odor fermentation.
Why do they get so bad? Because they don’t dry out before bacteria take over. The same glues and materials that keep the water from getting in fast also prevent its escape.
One of the best solutions I have found is to rinse with freshwater and then turn the booties completely inside out. This is a pain but it’s the only way I’ve gotten them to dry completely. Now, this may not be recommended by the manufacturers as it could potentially put some stress in places that were not meant to handle it. You have been warned. I’ve been doing this regularly with my Xcel boots with no issues for well over a year. Another option is just to roll the cuff down, hang them upside down and hope it drips out. From what I’ve heard, this doesn’t really do the trick.
If your booties have already gotten smelly or you think they just need a good washing, there are some cleaning products available that have been specifically designed for wetsuits.
Why not just use regular soap? Typical soap and detergents can be rather harsh on wetsuit materials…glues, rubber, etc. We offer two cleaners. One from Ripcurl called Piss Off and one called Cat5 which claims to be non-toxic, reusable and biodegradable.
How about caring for your suit? Here are a few tips from Patagonia —
- Avoid taking off your wetsuit while standing on hard or rough surfaces (asphalt comes to mind…). Instead, use a bucket or lay down a towel.
- Rinse your wetsuit with fresh water and hang-dry it inside out.
- Hand wash with mild non-detergent soap as needed.
- Never use a washing machine, dryer, drycleaner or bleach.
- Watch out for rings and fingernails…they can catch the fabric and tear it.
- Do not dry or store in direct sun (don’t leave it to get crunchy in the back of your truck).
- Avoid folding to prevent creases.
- And finally….
Our final tip is use a proper wetsuit hanger or any hanger with broad arms. If you use a thin hanger, the weight of the wetsuit is going to stretch the material thin in the shoulders. If you purchase a suit and don’t already have a hanger at home, make sure to ask the employee for one.
Happy surfing!
