Effect of Chlorine on Wetsuits

Triathlon Forum
1

I have Emilio in mind as I write this, but all feedback is welcome.

I’ve owned a T1 for about 2 years, and (like just about everyone else) have loved it since the beginning. Nonetheless, the first time I took it out this year it bunched up around my neck while swimming, which had never been a problem before. The second time I took it out, which was in a chlorinated pool, it bunched up again and tore along a seam when taking it off.

I appreciate Emilio’s thread about soaking the suit in water if it has been dry for some time. I’ll try it from now on. Could the dryness of the suit explain why it has been riding up around my neck? Also, what effect does chlorine have on wetsuit material? Approx. how quickly does the chlorine degrade the suit?

Just for reference, I believe I’ve swam in the pool with the wetsuit on a total of 6 times (over the course of 2 years).

Cheers,

2

"how quickly does the chlorine degrade the suit? "

Really fast, especially if you don’t rinse very well with fresh water afterwards. I used to wear a 2mm shortie when teaching scuba diving in a pool. You have to rinse very carefully after each time. Even then, the life span of the suit will still be shortenned.

3

Does the chlorine make the suit less supple? more supple? Would the chlorine explain why the suit has had a tendency to bunch up around my neck?

thanks,

4

With the scuba suits the chlorine tended to break down the elasticity and often the threads would start to go. I’ve never used my tri suit in chlorine and am not familiar with the T1 suit. If it wasn’t doing it before it’s possible that it has something to do with the chlorine.

5

From the DeSoto Site:

*  Rinse the T1 with clean water after every use.
* Hang the T1 to dry, but not on a wire hanger.
* When the T1 is dry inside and out, store by folding once or laying it unfolded.
* Do not use petroleum jellies, or Pam Spray!
* Do not leave the T1 hanging for a long period of time.
* Do not expose the T1 to direct sunlight or heat.
* Do not machine wash or dry.
* Do not dig your nails into the T1!
* While Chlorine may hurt other brands, it does not hurt the T1, so go ahead and swim in the pool with it. Just make sure you rinse it really well after every use.
6

Chlorine does not ruin a suit any faster than salt water, and 6 times in a pool is negligilbe in the degrading process over 2 years. There are other factors that will cause deterioration, lack of flexibility, and tearing much faster than chlorine and salt water:

  1. Not putting the suit on properly

  2. Not rinsing the suit properly.

  3. Storing the suit for excessive amounts of time while wet (it only takes 120 minutes for bacteria to grow on a wet surface).

  4. Excessive lubricants. Vaseline, Pam, baby oil. This can also include sunscreens applied to the neck, face, and body.

  5. Excessive hair product, yes the goopy stuff guys put in their hair to make them look like they belong on American Idol.

  6. Excessive time on a clothes hanger. Mutilation by a dog. Someone once brought in a wetsuit in with tears and holes it. They were sure that the wetsuit was defective and falling apart. It was not defective it just had been bitten by their dog (I have seen it all folks).

  7. Excessive exposure to the sun while drying.

Without seeing you and your wetsuit it is kind of hard to diagnose, but I will fix the tear for free. Email me for details.