Hot water is a fast way to shorten the life of a blueseventy wetsuit. Heat attacks the neoprene, the glue that holds the seams together, and the fabric lining. You may see some shrinkage, but the more common result is a suit that loses flexibility and starts peeling at the seams.
Does hot water shrink it?
Some shrinkage can happen if the suit sits in hot water for long enough, especially in the arms, legs, or torso. It won't shrink evenly like a wool sweater. The more serious problem is what heat does to the materials. A suit that comes out of a hot wash may look fine at first, then start lifting at a seam or wrist cuff after another swim or two.
What heat does to neoprene and seams
Every blueseventy wetsuit uses Yamamoto neoprene in 38, 39, or 40 cell grades. Higher cell numbers mean more flexibility, which is why the arms and shoulders in a race suit move so freely. That flexibility depends on the closed-cell structure of the neoprene and on the adhesive bonds that hold the panels and seam tape together. Hot water softens those adhesives. It can also cause the neoprene cells to contract or warp.
Thin race neoprene is the most vulnerable. A suit like the Helix is built for race-day flexibility, and its neoprene is thinner and more delicate than a training-focused suit. A hot wash can age that suit faster than a full season of normal use.
The right way to wash a blueseventy wetsuit
Use cool or lukewarm water. If it feels hot to your hand, it is too hot for the suit. Hand washing is the safest method.
- Rinse after every swim in cool, fresh water. Salt, chlorine, and lake water all break down neoprene over time, so a quick rinse after every swim removes the residue that would otherwise shorten the life of the suit and make the neoprene stiff.
- Hand wash in cool or lukewarm water if the suit needs more than a rinse. Use a mild soap or a wetsuit-specific cleaner. Skip hot water, bleach, and fabric softener.
- Avoid machine washing. Even a cold cycle can stress glued seams and cause the lining to pill.
- Turn the suit inside out and rinse again. The inner lining holds sweat, sunscreen, and river or ocean residue.
- Never use a dryer, iron, radiator, or direct sun to speed drying. Heat is the enemy.
Drying and storage matter too
After rinsing, gently press water out. Do not wring or twist the neoprene. Hang the suit over a wide hanger at the waist, or lay it flat on a towel, out of direct sunlight. Let one side dry, then turn it inside out and dry the lining. Store the suit only after it is fully dry. Keep it flat or on a wide hanger, not folded under heavy gear, and never in a hot car or garage.
If it already went through a hot wash
Rinse it in cool water and let it air dry. Inspect the seam tape, zipper, and neoprene for stiffness or lifting. Small surface tears respond well to Aquaseal neoprene cement, which blueseventy sells for neoprene repairs. Heat damage to seams or a zipper is not a manufacturing defect, so the one-year warranty does not cover it. If the suit feels stiff, has peeling seams, or no longer lies flat along the zipper, email us at us@blueseventy.com before using it in open water. A damaged suit is more likely to tear further during a swim.
Keep your suit away from heat, and you will keep more of the flexibility you paid for.
