what kind of gear cleaning when you get home?

[Spoon]

i rinse all my gear with fresh water and let it soak for about 10 mins at the dive site prior to going home. when i get home, i just dry em. is there more i should do like more stringent cleaning of the regs and bcs? more soaking etc? dont know i am a new diver and want my gear pristine:)

[Marek K]

I'd say it depends at least partly on the condition of the water in which you soak at the dive site. How long has it been there? How much gear has been thrown into it already?

In any case, there's a bit more that needs to be done besides just soaking. Everything needs to be swished around to make sure it's properly rinsed. Particularly your second stages, to make sure rinse water gets all through them (careful not to depress the purge buttons!)... there should ideally be a separate tub with fresh(er) water for regulators and camera equipment.

And your BC will definitely require several rinsings inside the bladder (water hose through the inflator hose), to get all the salt water out that will seep into there -- sometimes significant amounts.

Still, I'd throw everything into the tub when you get home. You know the condition fo the water there.

Of course, if you're on a dive trip, gear can go a week or two without any more cleaning than that. But then it'd definitely be into the tub at home.

And, oh... "pristine" is such a funny word when applied to dive gear that's being used... :D

--Marek

[mweitz]

Most gear gets soaked in a tub for 20 minutes or so. I leave the regs hooked up to the tank, and rinse the tank and the regs well, and purge the regs a lot while rinsing them out. You can also stick the regs in the tub while they are still attached to the tank and soak / purge them.

I then pull everything out one at a time and rinse it again with the hose, and lay it out to drip dry. For the BC or Wing, I swish some fresh water around in it, then drain it from each of the dumps and BOTH of the buttons on the inflator. If you have a dry suit, you should wash it and pay particular attention to the insides of the seals, skin oil, sun lotion etc are really bad for latex seals.

It then gets hung up to dry. I leave most of it hanging until the next weekend, but if you have a DS you should powder the seals (if they are latex) with unscented talc after it is dry then put it away. Don't leave gear in the garage if it can come in contact with Ozone or car exhaust.

Mark

[Spoon]

I'd say it depends at least partly on the condition of the water in which you soak at the dive site. How long has it been there? How much gear has been thrown into it already?

In any case, there's a bit more that needs to be done besides just soaking. Everything needs to be swished around to make sure it's properly rinsed. Particularly your second stages, to make sure rinse water gets all through them (careful not to depress the purge buttons!)... there should ideally be a separate tub with fresh(er) water for regulators and camera equipment.

And your BC will definitely require several rinsings inside the bladder (water hose through the inflator hose), to get all the salt water out that will seep into there -- sometimes significant amounts.

Still, I'd throw everything into the tub when you get home. You know the condition fo the water there.

Of course, if you're on a dive trip, gear can go a week or two without any more cleaning than that. But then it'd definitely be into the tub at home.

And, oh... "pristine" is such a funny word when applied to dive gear that's being used... :D

--Marek


thanks bud certainly will follow the steps you outlined. having spent so much on my gear, i want to make sure its taken care off properly. especially with all those salt crystals as i only do saltwater dives here.

and its funny i used the word pristine:) i generally use this term for any new equipment i purchase hehe

[dlndavid]

I use a big plastic garbage can when the gear gets home. Put in all the gear, then fill up with water. Soak over night then drip dry everything. Water my fruit trees with leftover water.

[Marek K]

i want to make sure its taken care off properly. especially with all those salt crystals as i only do saltwater dives here.
Yeah... not having a drysuit, I think the thing you have to pay most attention to is the BC... like mweitz indicated. Salt crystals will eventually kill your bladder. You learned how to do the BC, right? Inflate orally a bit so the rinse water can get around; then put fresh water in through the mouthpiece on the hose; then swish it around thoroughly... side-to-side, upside down, all around; then dump out the water. Repeat several times, until all the salt is gone... maybe taste it to make sure. Dumping the rinse water out through all the BC valve and all the various dumps is probably a good idea, to make sure no salt crystals remain on the dump gaskets.

Soaking/rinsing your regulator while attached to a tank and pressurized is best; that guarantees no water gets into the first stage. But whether you can do that is going to depend on how you're diving. If the dive operation provides the tank(s), you're probably not going to have a tank available when you rinse. In that case, make sure the "dust" cap is on the inlet, and swish the first stage in the rinse water. Oh, and when not attached to a tank, besides making sure the purge buttons aren't depressed when you rinse the second stages, it's also good practice to make sure the first stage is higher than the second stages... that also helps keep rinse water from making its way up the LP hose to the first stage, if a purge button is accidentally depressed.

--Marek

[jonnythan]

If diving saltwater, I lay everything out on my porch and hose it down for a while.

If diving fresh water, I toss the mesh gear bag and drysuit bag on the landing at the top of my stairs on a tarp and let it dry. The wing and backplate just stay in the trunk.

[mweitz]

FW can leave deposits (calcium etc) in / on your gear, especially your regs. You should also rinse you regs after diving in FW, especially in caves from my understanding...

Mark

[jonnythan]

FW can leave deposits (calcium etc) in / on your gear, especially your regs. You should also rinse you regs after diving in FW, especially in caves from my understanding...

Mark
As if the water coming out of my garden hose has less calcium in it than the St Lawrence. I have the hardest water on earth ;)

[Spoon]

Yeah... not having a drysuit, I think the thing you have to pay most attention to is the BC... like mweitz indicated. Salt crystals will eventually kill your bladder. You learned how to do the BC, right? Inflate orally a bit so the rinse water can get around; then put fresh water in through the mouthpiece on the hose; then swish it around thoroughly... side-to-side, upside down, all around; then dump out the water. Repeat several times, until all the salt is gone... maybe taste it to make sure. Dumping the rinse water out through all the BC valve and all the various dumps is probably a good idea, to make sure no salt crystals remain on the dump gaskets.

Soaking/rinsing your regulator while attached to a tank and pressurized is best; that guarantees no water gets into the first stage. But whether you can do that is going to depend on how you're diving. If the dive operation provides the tank(s), you're probably not going to have a tank available when you rinse. In that case, make sure the "dust" cap is on the inlet, and swish the first stage in the rinse water. Oh, and when not attached to a tank, besides making sure the purge buttons aren't depressed when you rinse the second stages, it's also good practice to make sure the first stage is higher than the second stages... that also helps keep rinse water from making its way up the LP hose to the first stage, if a purge button is accidentally depressed.

--Marek


great advice man, thanks

[ScottZeagle]

I use a big plastic garbage can when the gear gets home. Put in all the gear, then fill up with water. Soak over night then drip dry everything. Water my fruit trees with leftover water.

That is what I do, too!

Except for the fruit trees part...

[Uncle Pug]

The best bet is to never let your gear dry out. Keep it wet by diving. :D

But if you must rinse it then make sure that you dry it thoroughly.

[Marek K]

great advice man, thanks
You're welcome.

"Man" is fine.

Just don't -- at my age -- call me "dude," OK? :D

--Marek

[Marek K]

I use a big plastic garbage can when the gear gets home. Put in all the gear, then fill up with water. Soak over night then drip dry everything.

That is what I do, too!
What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs?? :11: (http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif)

Or do your... like... SO's object to having dive equipment in the tub?

--Marek

[crpntr133]

What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs?? :11: (http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif)

Or do your... like... SO's object to having dive equipment in the tub?

--Marek

Just makes it easier to rinse in my case. Back the truck up to the garage and unload. Everything goes in a 33 gal. trash can filled with water, sometimes a bit of Listerine or such. Some things are sun dried while I am rinsing and others are hung to dry.

I don't have to worry about getting a bunch of water on the bathroom floor and I can still use the shower while my gear is drying in the garage. No I don't use the garage for the car during the summer, and it is unheated (no ozone).

[scububa]

What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs?? :11: (http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif)

Or do your... like... SO's object to having dive equipment in the tub?

--Marek
Being of the garbage can clan, I go this route as the regs and all the buckles, etc. can be pretty hard on the tub surface.

I also take my knives and shears out dry them and put some silcon spray on them. I open my lights and remove the batteries and touch up the o-ring grease. Periodically I will put some soap in at the end to 'wash' my wet suit and booties.

[pennypue]

I'm fortunate to have a separate tub and shower in the bathroom. I fill'er up and let 'em soak. My local dives are all fresh water and it's frightening the color of the water after the soaking. I will even resoak again after a trip to the ocean, even if I gave it a good rinsing before I came home.

It's just an excuse to play with it again. :D
I like to bring my dive puter and log book to work with me too........

[Snowbear]

If I'm diving a lot, I just leave it wet. If not, like now when I'm trying to get moved and build a house.... In the summer, I use a large plastic rubbermaid tub as a rinse tank. In winter, I take the frozen gear to work and rinse it in the utility sink.

As Pug says - even more important than rinsing is thorough drying if you do rinse :11:

[spectrum]

What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs?? :11: (http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif)

Or do your... like... SO's object to having dive equipment in the tub?

--Marek
Much easier to do it outside, no worry about water, salt, and other debries that may have come along. I have a covered water tub that I refill after each use. That way it's sun warmed when I go to use it. The darned well water's downright cold in the evening. If the weater is getting colder, like November or April in Maine, I'll wear my dive gloves while I do the cleaning (Also great for off season carwashing). I move the tub slightly each time do disperse the water dumps.

All that being said this winter during OW classes suits were hanging in the tub and if we push the season any further and I don't set-up a basement gear room the rest will be up in the bath. It will be a pain since the tub is upstairs. :(

I made a rolling drying rack that holds most of our stuff so after a few minutes outside I can roll it into the garage. The vehicles are pretty much left out of the garage except in winter, too many toys. I even set up a bench big enough for each of our gear bags so we can sort through and check stuff as needed.

Edit... I missed the SO part first pass, nahh 1/2 of it's hers.

Pete

[redrover]

What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs?? http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif (http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif)

Or do your... like... SO's object to having dive equipment in the tub?

--Marek
Why heave sopping wet stuff thru the house and waste water down the drain? When can, I use rain water roof run off too. :slick:

[Jamdiver]

If I'm diving a lot, I just leave it wet. If not, like now when I'm trying to get moved and build a house.... In the summer, I use a large plastic rubbermaid tub as a rinse tank. In winter, I take the frozen gear to work and rinse it in the utility sink.

As Pug says - even more important than rinsing is thorough drying if you do rinse :11:

That's quite true, you don't want to know what booties and wetsuits that aren't dried properly smell like, after being thrown into a bag for storage. Not that I'd know anything about that :D . Lol, all the fish would be able to smell you before they can even see you.

[ScottZeagle]

What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs?? :11: (http://www.scubaboard.com/images/smilies/Standard%20Smiles/11.gif)

Or do your... like... SO's object to having dive equipment in the tub?

--Marek

Actually, no....we don't have a tub here!!!

I keep all my gear at Zeagle, as you never know when you are going to need something at the last minute. ;)

We have dedicated "gear rinse" trashcans that are easily filled and emptied, and yes, it definitely keeps my wife from "complaining" about dive gear in the tub!!! :D

Scott

[Rastaman]

This is summer and my gear is always damp. I am lucky as most of my dives are fresh water (Jamdiver you should understand 'ital' water). If I dive salt water I will use a fresh water dive to clean my gear. I see it as a very big dunk tank and as good an excuse as any to dive. After a dive I hang everything out to drain and await a need to dive phone call. At the end of the season (depression) everything is cleaned, dried, lubed and stored. Then it is ski season again!!!

[Jamdiver]

I certainly do overstand(i'm sure you know what that means..) 'ital' hehe and I like your philosophy as it applies to gear cleaning :-).

Bless :14:

[Mandy3206]

If multiple days of diving, just keep it damp inside the dive bag (I never use a mesh bag) and at the end of the dive trip, clean everything well.

When I lived in a house, I used to hang the gear in a rolling hang rack bought at Kmart and hose everything off after a 10 min dunk in a round rinsing tub bought at Kmart. Everything was in the garage and I let it dry for a few days before storing it inside the house.

Since I moved to an Apt., now the guests bathroom is my cleaning station, I installed a couple of hooks (the ones used in dept. stores to hang multiple garments one in front of the other and hook to a wall) and after dunking in the tub for 10-20 mins I rinse everything with a coiled 25' hose from the closet sink next to the bathroom and hang it to dry in the hooks for a few days until dry.

All the neoperene is cleaned in the washer with a very small amount of dynamo and gentle cycle, then hang it to dry for a few days before storing in the gear closet.

[Mike Matthews]

If a freshwater dive I do a quick rinse with the hose followed by a 10-minute soak and flush in the tub. If I dove in salt water I rinse thoroughly with a hose, then use the shower to further rinse the gear with tepid water. I finish off by placing all the gear in a tub full of tepid water and slosh until at least one beer has passed, drain, refill, and repeat.

[dbg40]

I have a big tub, fill it with water and add Mirazyme. Hose everything off first, then in the tub. Tank and regs first, under press. swish and purge, out and rinse. suit next, swish and soak for 10 min. out and hang, no rinse. everything else in for a bath to soak while I enjoy an adult beverage, then out, rinse and hang. This is done for fresh, or salt. It only takes a little time, and I get to check all of my gear while im at it, and Mirazyme is cheap.

[Charlie99]

What's with you guys? Don't you have bathtubs??
--MarekI'm another of the "outside rinse" guys. I have a couple 58 quart plastic tubs in the car trunk. If it's a shore dive, then I'll pull into the carwash area at the condos and rinse the gear, then hang it for a few minutes on a clothline and hooks I've put into the nearby trees. I'll kill a few minutes washing the car while the gear sheds a bit of water --- makes it lighter and less messy to haul through the condo out to the lanai.

After a boat dive, often I'll just do all the cleaning using the faucets right at the boat ramp, then throw the gear into the tubs to haul home.

Charlie

[Snowbear]

...I'll kill a few minutes washing the car while the gear sheds a bit of water --- makes it lighter and less messy to haul through the condo out to the lanai.
:11:
You haul the car through the condo?!?!
:eek:

[pennypue]

:11:
You haul the car through the condo?!?!
:eek:
I'd just drive it through the condo, no sense in straining your back. Might interfere with diving!

[crpntr133]

I'd just drive it through the condo, no sense in straining your back. Might interfere with diving!

Might interfere with driving as well. If all else fails he could sleep in the car instead of on the couch. Wouldn't need a home stereo system either just kick in the car. Best part of this idea is that the birds won't be pooping on the car. :D