Personal Kit Maintenance

Seb · 24 February 2005, 18:04

Apart from washing my drysuit, waterproofs, lifejackets etc with freshwater after an outing and leaving to drip dry, is there anything else that i should be doing?

i.e. are ther any specials products that are available/should be used to ensure that materials stay undamaged and actually remain waterproof?

Is soapy water and a scrub now and again likely to cause any damage to the material?

Louise · 24 February 2005, 20:04

Seb, to keep your drysuit zips in tip top condition you should grease/lubricate them. Ravenspring sell packs of suitable stuff. We also Vaseline the studs on our Gecko helmets.

Regarding scrubbing with soap, have a read of the care label/tag or contact the manufacturer. We bung our waterproofs in the washing machine with half a soap powder tablet and they seem to be OK, but I wouldn't like to promise that all fabrics would be OK!

And don't forget to check your lifejacket regularly, e.g. gas cylinder is properly screwed in, within date and nothing is punctured.

HTH

Pete7 · 24 February 2005, 20:07

Seb, always chuck me stuff in the bath and give it a squirt of soap powder, especially the dry suit which can smell a bit after weeks solid diving

just don't try it with an auto inflate life jacket.

Pete

Louise · 24 February 2005, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Seb, always chuck me stuff in the bath and give it a squirt of soap powder

Agree with Pete. We use the old fashioned soap flakes as they are quite 'gentle' but I guess Pete might need all the harsh modern chemicals he can get after wearing his suit for a week!

Pete7 · 24 February 2005, 20:13

Aye lass nothing wrong with a bit of northern sweat

Seb · 24 February 2005, 20:15

Cool - cheers for that

Seems pretty much what ive always done but as ive got myself a few new bits of kit i thought i check before i go ahead and ruin them!

Andy · 24 February 2005, 20:49

My drysuit gets dumped in the lockup. Occasionally I lube the zip (which is the most expensive part) and occasionally I powder the seals & wash it if its going to sit for ages. When it smells I wash the insides with light detergent. However generally it looks after itself!! I give it a detailed inspection about a week before diving to make sure there is nothing bust.

Undersuits are left till they start to ming. Washing them too much damges the fibres and thermal qualities ...

Life jacket is checked before every trip.

Sun glasses ... no maintance just a quick wipe!