No. Even a gentle cycle puts a swimming wetsuit through two forces it was never built to handle: agitation and spin. The result is usually a stretched, weakened suit rather than a cleaner one.
Why a gentle cycle is still too rough
blueseventy wetsuits use Yamamoto neoprene in 38, 39, and 40 cell grades. Higher cell numbers mean more flexibility. On a race suit like the Helix, the shoulder and arm panels are thin and pliable so you can reach and rotate without fighting the suit. That same flexible construction is exactly what a washing machine works against.
As the drum turns, the suit twists and folds against itself. Each rotation pulls glued seams and zipper tape in different directions, so a cycle labeled gentle still works against the suit's construction. Then the spin cycle starts. It extracts water by spinning the load at speed, and that force tugs every seam and stresses the zipper. If the suit catches on another item or the door seal, a small snag can become a tear.
Laundry detergent adds a second problem. Detergents are formulated to break down sweat, body oil, and sunscreen. They can also strip the oils that keep neoprene supple and weaken seam tape over repeated exposure. Cool water helps, but the drum motion and detergent remain.
How to clean a blueseventy wetsuit after swimming
Rinse the suit after every swim, whether the water was chlorinated, salty, or fresh. Chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and body oil dry into the neoprene and make it stiffer over time. Use cool fresh water from a shower or tap, never hot water.
- Rinse the outside of the suit thoroughly. Let water run over the collar, underarms, and along the zipper track.
- Open the zipper, turn the suit inside out, and rinse the interior.
- If the suit needs more than a rinse, fill a tub or sink with cool water and add a wetsuit-specific cleaner or a very small amount of mild soap. Swish the suit gently, then knead it by hand. Do not scrub the seams, and do not wring the neoprene.
- Drain, refill with cool water, and repeat until no suds remain.
- Press excess water out with your hands. Do not twist the suit.
Drying and storage
A wet wetsuit hung by the shoulders can stretch under its own water weight. Fold it once at the waist and hang it over a wide bar, padded hanger, or the edge of a door. If you have room, lay it flat on a dry towel. Dry the inside first, then turn it right side out to finish. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, dryers, and car trunks.
Store the suit only after it is completely dry. A damp suit in a bag or folded in a drawer traps moisture and encourages odor and seam tape breakdown. Keep it in a cool, dry spot, folded at the waist or rolled loosely.
Small repairs before they become big ones
After any accidental machine wash, inspect the suit. Look at the seams under the arms, at the collar, and along the zipper. If the neoprene looks stretched or the zipper sits wavy, rinse and dry it carefully, then contact blueseventy at us@blueseventy.com if the fit has changed.
For a small fingernail nick or shallow cut, repair it before it grows. Clean and dry the area, then apply a thin coat of Aquaseal neoprene cement, press the edges together, and let it cure according to the package instructions. blueseventy carries Aquaseal for exactly this kind of repair.
blueseventy's warranty covers manufacturing and material defects for the original owner for one year. It does not cover zipper damage from force, heat damage, or general wear and tear. Machine agitation, warm wash water, and spin force create those stress patterns. Hand washing keeps the suit within normal use, which is what the warranty is designed to cover.
Happy swimming.
