Washing wetsuit in washing machine - top result - bad for the washing machine?

[uniqueloginname]

So I picked this tip up from scubaboard to wash the wetsuit in the washing machine, and it gives fantastic results - the suit comes out soft and feels like new - I guess the salt has been thoroughly washed out.

It made me think that the salt water may not be good for the washing machine over time - does anyone know? I thought it may be a false economy, and shorten the washing machine's lifespan by more than the wetsuit is worth. (It is an Asko machine.. not cheap.)

Thanks!

 

[ferris213]

I wash mine on a delicate cycle in the front loader, but I always give it a pretty thorough rinse before it goes in.

By the time it's done I figure it has had plenty of fresh water flushed through the machine.

 

[clownfishsydney]

If it happens to rub against the non-spinning part when on spin, it will melt the suit - beware.

 

[novasquid]

What kind of detergent did you use and how much?

 

[spectrum]

I have to ask, which way do washing machines spin down there?

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When I worked at a dive shop we had a customer who wanted his money back because his new wetsuit melted when he washed it in a machine...then dried it in his gas dryer.

 

[gekodivebali]

]Cold water cycle, no detergent or baby shampoo, no spin cycle, no drying.

Spectrum: washing machines turn clockwise South of the Equator too... Pretty boring eh

 

[WB2GLP]

LG front load with a small amount of liquid Tide, regular cycle, cold water and the extra rinse button. I do it all the time. 5 mil, 7 mil, shorties, boots, gloves.....in they go. Hang it all outside to dry. It's nice to have a suit that doesn't smell.

 

[uniqueloginname]

I might give it a rinse first, along with the rest of the gear, cheers for all the advice. It's so effective I don't want to stop doing it - 30 min normal cycle, cold water, no detergent or additives.

 

[SOFDiver]

I wash all my suits, boots, gloves in our front load washer. I use the delicate cycle, cold/cold water, and max-extract. I use half the amout of liquid detergent for a reqular laundry load, and I wash them this way after every dive trip. My 7mm Henderson and Gold Core boots have been washed this way for 5 years, and the suit looks and feels like new. I hang everything to air dry, outdoors if WX permits.