Defeating Open-Cell Microbes

[Lazuli]

Hello all, I just wanted to take this opportunity to tap into your collective wisdom with this query....

I have just acquired my first single lined open-cell spearfishing wetsuit made of Yamamoto 39. I am aware of how microbes and bacteria can build up in the rubber causing rashes and worse (folliculitis etc). I was thinking up strategies for washing and cleansing my suit after dives and the thought crossed my mind of using chlorinated water to cleanse the suit at the microbial level.

We currently have zero warmth and sunshine here in Cornwall to dry suits off after a dive (being winter!). I won't use Dettol disinfectant as it stinks too awful to dry the suit inside. Chlorine, therefore, seemed like a possibility.

I'm just a bit worried that the chlorine may bleach the outer of the suit or, worse, damage the structure of the suit.

Grateful for any input on this.

Laz

 

[azapa]

fresh air!

After each use hose down, inside and out. If I have time I do inside: leave to dry in fresh air, outiside, leave to dry, then store.

See this:http://forums.deeperblue.com/beach-bar/73870-what.html

I have about 1.5 years of diving (and peeing in) the suit, at least 6 times/month, and all is fine. I don't like the way the conditioner fragrance lingers though, but I guess its better that pee fragrance.

 

[Lazuli]

fresh air!

I am not so sure that will cut it with our current weather conditions here in the UK. Damp air is all we seem to have.

 

[azapa]

hang it over the shower (or bathtub in the UK and when dryer in the living room with the heat on. or, it will still dry outside under an awning. putting a suit away damp is the biggest and most common problem, probably ..

 

[Janner]

I had allot of problems with this, (had to take antibiotics a couple of times to cure a couple of nasty rashes) the best cure i found was to simply turn the suit inside out and leave to dry after rinsing out the suit as per normal. Rinsing it out and hanging it up as per normal won't kill off the 'nastys' as our UK climate isn't hot enough for the inside of the suit to dry properly.

I also find a few hours of sunshine (when we get it) every now and then when the suit is turned inside out is beneficial as the UV rays help kill off the 'nastys'.

Cheers Ian

 

[hudasmt]

I rinse my suit in fresh water in the bath tub then spin it dry in the washing machine for 2 to 3 mins then hang it to fully dry inside my room. I used it once a week minimum, twice if i get lucky with my time.

 

[Lazuli]

Thanks for all the input.
I went to the supermarket and bought a bottle of "Milton Fluid" steriliser. If it's safe enough to wash a baby's bottle in, at least it won't wreck my suit. Plus it's odourless unlike certain disinfectants (or so they say). A few squirts when I rinse my suit should give some added cleansing.

 

[foxfish]

Use antibacterial hand wash to lube the suit, I mix this with warm water in a 1ltr plastic bottle shake it up & pour into the suit.
I have done this for the last 5 years & seems to work well.

 

[samdive]

I use a weak solution of Milton baby sterilising fluid - just put 2 or 3 cupfuls in a warm bath and swish the suit around then leave it to soak for a couple of hours - it might bleach the suit very slightly if you get the mix wrong but it does get rid of the bugs

S

 

[podge]

I must confess that I use Detol to clean my suit with, just a weekish solution in the bath. I turn my suit inside out and let it soak for 10 minutes or so then give it a rinse and hang it in my orangery to dry so no problems with the after sent of the Detol.