That last stroke, the peeling off of your blueseventy suit after a long lake swim or a hard race effort - it’s a ritual every open-water swimmer knows. But what you do in the next 20 minutes makes a real difference in how long that suit stays flexible, buoyant, and ready for the next entry. Drying a swim-specific wetsuit isn’t complicated, but it does need a little care. Here’s the short course on getting it right.
Step 1: A thorough freshwater rinse
Before you even think about drying, flush out whatever you swam in - chlorine, salt, sand, silt. Fill a tub or use a gentle hose spray and rinse the suit inside and out. Salt crystals can abrade neoprene as it dries, and chlorine quietly breaks down the material over time. Cool or lukewarm water is ideal; hot water can damage the wetsuit’s structure.
Step 2: Turn it inside out - gently
Wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water between your skin and the suit. That inner lining (often a smooth jersey or our Zirconium thermal lining on the Thermal Reaction) needs to dry completely to avoid mildew and that swampy wetsuit smell. Turn the suit inside out carefully, avoiding yanking on seams, and let the interior face out. After a few hours, when the lining feels dry to the touch, turn it right-side out again so the outer neoprene can finish drying.
Blueseventy suits use Yamamoto neoprene - 38, 39, and 40-cell grades depending on the model - which is chosen for its flexibility and buoyancy. Treating it gently during the turning process helps preserve that feel for the water.
Step 3: Hang it wisely or lay it flat
Forget the coat hanger. Hanging a wet wetsuit by the shoulders will stretch the neoprene over time, especially on a performance suit like the Helix where the shoulder material is exceptionally thin for maximum freedom. Instead:
- Drape the suit over a wide, padded drying rack or a thick towel bar, folded at the waist.
- If you must hang, use a wide, curved hanger designed for wetsuits and hang it by the waist or mid-section, never by the shoulder straps.
- Laying it flat on a clean, dry towel indoors works just as well - flip it once or twice to encourage even drying.
Step 4: Air dry in the shade, away from heat
Neoprene hates direct sunlight (UV rays degrade it) and it really hates direct heat. Never put a swimming wetsuit in a dryer, lean it against a radiator, or leave it baking in the back of a hot car. Even prolonged direct summer sun on a clothesline can damage the rubber. Pick a shaded spot with good airflow - a breezy porch, a spare room with a fan, or a well-ventilated garage. The suit will dry in a few hours, and the materials will thank you.
What never to do
- No wringing. Twisting the suit to force out water strains seams and deforms the neoprene.
- No heat sources. A hair dryer or space heater aimed at the suit will cook the material, void your warranty, and ruin the suit’s buoyancy.
- No prolonged shoulder hanging. Even stored dry, keep it folded or laid flat. Long-term hanging by the shoulders invites permanent stretch.
A quick note on storage
Once fully dry, store your blueseventy suit loosely folded in a cool, dry place - not crumpled under a heap of gear. Avoid plastic bags that trap moisture. If a small tear does appear, our Aquaseal neoprene cement can make a clean field repair and keep you swimming.
Treat your suit right after every swim and it will deliver season after season of the buoyancy, body-position lift, and shoulder freedom that make blueseventy wetsuits your quiet race-day advantage. Need a refresher on donning, fit, or suit selection? Dive into our fit guide or browse the full wetsuit collection at blueseventy.com. Happy swimming!
