Rinse your wetsuit in fresh water, dry it completely inside and out, and keep it out of heat and sunlight. That is the single most useful thing you can do right now. If you are working out how to store a wetsuit properly, start with a clean, fully dry suit before choosing a hanger, shelf, or storage bin. How to store a wetsuit properly comes down to avoiding three problems: trapped moisture, crushed neoprene, and long exposure to heat or UV.
A wetsuit does not need complicated care, but it does need a little space. Salt, chlorine, sweat, sunscreen, sand, and wet booties stuffed inside a suit all make long-term storage harder on the material. The aim is simple: put the suit away dry, relaxed, supported, and protected from extreme conditions.
How to store a wetsuit properly before putting it away
Rinse the suit thoroughly with cool or lukewarm fresh water after its last dive. Turn it inside out for the first rinse if that is the side that contacted your skin, sunscreen, or urine. Then turn it right-side out and rinse the exterior too. Pay extra attention to the neck, cuffs, zipper area, knees, and any seams that trapped sand.
If the wetsuit has a noticeable odor, body oils, or sunscreen residue, use a wetsuit cleaner made for neoprene and follow its dilution instructions. A mild cleaner can be useful before seasonal storage, especially after a busy trip. Do not use laundry detergent, bleach, fabric softener, stain remover, or household disinfectant unless the wetsuit manufacturer specifically approves it. Those products can leave residue or affect glues, lining, prints, and flexible panels.
Zip the suit open while rinsing and washing. For a back-zip suit, flush fresh water through both sides of the zipper. For a chest-zip or zipperless suit, rinse behind the internal entry flap and around the drain holes. If you use a separate hood, boots, or gloves, wash and dry them separately. A damp pair of boots inside a dry suit is an easy way to create mildew odor before the next season.
Check the suit while it is wet and clean. Look for lifted seam tape, loose stitching, worn knee panels, small nicks, and zipper teeth that need attention. A small repair is easier to deal with before storage than the night before a dive trip. If a seam has opened or neoprene has torn, use a repair method recommended for wetsuits or take it to a repair specialist. Do not assume ordinary super glue will remain flexible enough for neoprene.
Dry the neoprene fully and slowly
Drying is where many wetsuits get damaged. Hang the suit in shade with good airflow, away from direct sun, heaters, radiators, hot cars, tumble dryers, and clothes dryers. High heat can affect neoprene foam, adhesive, seam tape, and printed logos. Direct sunlight also fades fabric and can shorten the life of exposed rubber over time.
Start by drying the inside, since that side usually holds more moisture after a dive. Turn the wetsuit inside out and hang it on a broad wetsuit hanger, a purpose-made drying rack, or folded over a wide bar. Once the lining feels dry, turn it right-side out to finish the exterior. Thick 5 mm or 7 mm suits can feel dry on the surface while the ankle cuffs, armpits, zipper flap, and hood remain damp. Check those areas with your hand before packing the suit away.
Give a heavy cold-water suit extra time. Depending on humidity and airflow, it may need a day or longer. A fan moving room-temperature air nearby helps. Do not point a space heater at the neoprene. If you live somewhere humid, dry the suit indoors with ventilation rather than leaving it in a garage that stays damp for days.
Never put a wetsuit into a sealed tote, vacuum bag, suitcase, or closet while it is even slightly wet. The odor that develops is unpleasant, but trapped moisture can also encourage mildew on fabric linings. If you already stored a suit damp, take it out, rinse it again, clean it with a wetsuit-safe cleaner if needed, and let it dry fully before returning it to storage.
Choose the right long-term storage position
For long-term storage, a wetsuit is best kept either flat with no sharp folds or hung on a wide hanger that supports the shoulders. The best choice depends on your available space and the suit’s thickness. A thin 2 mm shorty is forgiving. A thick 7 mm semi-dry suit has more weight and benefits from better support.
| Storage method | Best use | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat on a shelf | Long off-season storage, especially thick suits | Keep the surface dry and avoid tight creases or heavy gear on top |
| Broad wetsuit hanger | Closets with enough vertical space | Use wide shoulders and make sure the suit does not drag on the floor |
| Folded over a wide bar | Shorter storage periods or drying | Use a smooth, wide support and avoid a narrow fold across the waist |
| Loose, breathable storage bag | Dust protection after the suit is dry | Do not use airtight bags or compress the neoprene |
If you store the suit flat, lay it on a clean shelf, under-bed platform, or large drawer. Smooth the arms and legs out. A gentle curve is fine, but avoid folding the same point sharply at the waist, chest, knees, or shoulders. Do not stack tanks, weight belts, fins, cameras, or full gear bags on top. Compression can leave creases in neoprene and can flatten the foam over time.
If hanging is your only practical option, use the widest hanger you can fit inside the shoulders. Purpose-made wetsuit hangers are useful because they spread the load across a broad area. A sturdy plastic hanger with wide, rounded shoulders can also work. Avoid wire hangers, narrow wooden hangers, and standard thin shirt hangers. They concentrate the suit’s weight at a small point and can stretch the shoulder area, particularly with heavier suits.
For a two-piece suit, store the jacket and pants separately if possible. For a farmer john or long john style, do not hang it by one strap. Support both shoulders. For a hooded suit, make sure the hood is not crumpled inside the chest panel. Let it lie naturally or rest it on top of the folded suit.
Set up a good long-term storage space
A cool, dry, dark indoor space is ideal. A spare closet, interior wardrobe, or dry room in the house is generally better than an attic, shed, car trunk, or uninsulated garage. Those spaces often get hot, cold, damp, or all three across a year. Neoprene and glued seams do better with stable conditions.
Keep the suit away from windows, sunlight, heaters, boilers, water heaters, and appliances that throw off heat. Do not leave it near pool chemicals, fuel, solvents, paint, or cleaning products. Strong chemical fumes are not a sensible storage companion for rubber, glues, or fabric linings. Keep it away from pets too. Cats can claw neoprene, and a curious dog can make quick work of a dangling cuff.
A breathable garment bag can keep dust off a fully dry wetsuit, but it should not squeeze the suit. Cotton or mesh is preferable to sealed plastic. If you need to transport the suit in a bag before storing it, unpack it as soon as you get home. Dive bags are designed for carrying gear, not necessarily for months of compressed storage.
For a small apartment, flat storage under a bed can work well. Put down a clean sheet or large towel, lay the dry suit flat, and cover it loosely with another sheet to keep dust off. Check occasionally that nothing heavy has been pushed onto it. This setup takes more room than hanging, but it avoids shoulder stress and sharp folds.
Common storage mistakes to avoid
- Leaving it in the car: A car can get far hotter than the outdoor temperature. Even a clean suit can suffer when left there repeatedly.
- Using a thin hanger: This can stretch shoulders and create pressure points in thicker neoprene.
- Folding it tightly into a gear bin: Tight, repeated creases can become permanent-looking lines and put stress on linings and seams.
- Storing it salty or chlorinated: Rinse after ocean and pool dives. Residue also makes the next rinse less pleasant.
- Sealing in moisture: Damp neoprene and a closed container create the conditions for mildew odor.
- Applying random oils or sprays: Use only products approved by the manufacturer for the zipper or neoprene. Oil-based products can cause problems with some materials.
Velcro deserves a quick mention. Close Velcro tabs before storage so they do not snag the suit lining or other gear. For a zipper, follow the maker’s care guidance. Some zippers benefit from a specific zipper lubricant, while others simply need rinsing and drying. Avoid forcing a stiff zipper. Sand or salt may be the real issue, and cleaning it first is safer than adding an unknown product.
Check the suit before the next dive season
Take the wetsuit out a few days before you need it. Unfold or unhang it, inspect the seams, and run the zipper slowly. Check for mildew odor, sticky patches, flattened areas, or damage from storage pests. A light fresh-water rinse and air dry can remove dust before your first dive.
Try the suit on before a trip if your body size has changed or it has been stored for many months. Neoprene does not usually shrink in storage when cared for correctly, but a suit can feel different after time away from diving. Do not force yourself into a suit that causes pain, restricted breathing, numbness, or unusual discomfort. Proper exposure protection fit matters for warmth and comfort, so ask a certified instructor or a qualified dive shop professional for fit guidance if you are unsure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I store a wetsuit folded?
Yes, provided the suit is fully dry and folded loosely with no hard creases. Flat storage is often a good choice for an off-season period, particularly for thick neoprene. Avoid folding it into a small square, stuffing it under heavy equipment, or leaving the same sharp bend in place for months.
Is it better to hang or lay a wetsuit flat?
Both can work. Flat storage puts the least stress on the shoulders and is my preference when there is enough shelf or under-bed space. A broad wetsuit hanger is practical for closet storage and works well when the suit has room to hang naturally. Thin hangers are the problem, not hanging itself.
Can I keep my wetsuit in a garage?
A climate-stable garage can be acceptable, but many garages become hot in summer, cold in winter, and damp after rain. An indoor closet is usually the safer choice. If the garage is your only option, keep the suit high, dry, covered with a breathable layer, and well away from chemicals, engines, and direct sunlight.
How long should a wetsuit dry before storage?
Dry it until both the lining and exterior feel dry, including cuffs, zipper flaps, armpits, and the hood. A thin suit in dry weather may be ready overnight. A thick wetsuit in humid weather can need longer. Do not rely only on the outer fabric, because the inside can retain moisture after the surface feels dry.
Should I use a vacuum bag for a wetsuit?
No. Vacuum bags save space, but they keep neoprene compressed and can trap residual moisture. Use a loose, breathable bag only after the suit is fully dry, or store it flat without a bag. Save compression bags for travel only when space forces the issue, then unpack the suit promptly.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not dive training or medical advice. Always train with a certified instructor and consult a doctor before diving if you have any health concerns. Gear specs, pricing, site conditions, and operator schedules change, so verify current details directly with the manufacturer or dive operator.
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