Don't Pack the Salt: How to Deep Clean and Disinfect Your Dive Gear After a Trip

The bags are unpacked, the photos are uploaded, and the post-vacation blues are starting to set in. But before you settle back into your daily routine in the desert, there is one final, critical mission to complete: the deep clean.

We’ve all been there. You rinse your gear in the communal tub at the resort, pack it damp into your travel bag, and fly home. By the time you unzip that bag in Tucson, your expensive equipment has been marinating in a cocktail of saltwater, sand, bacteria, and sweat for 24 hours or more.

A quick rinse with a garden hose isn't enough to undo this travel trauma. Salt crystals act like microscopic sandpaper, eating away at O-rings and fabric. Trapped moisture breeds mold and fungus inside your BCD bladder. Neglecting this final step is the number one cause of premature gear failure and that dreaded "funky wetsuit smell."

At Paragon Dive Store, we want your gear to last a lifetime. This guide will walk you through the professional method for cleaning, disinfecting, and storing your scuba kit so it stays fresh, safe, and ready for your next adventure.

Phase 1: The Setup – Water and Chemistry

Forget the quick spray-down. A deep clean requires submersion.

• The Vessel: A large plastic tote bin or a clean bathtub is ideal. You need enough room to fully submerge your BCD and regulator without crowding.
• The Water: Use warm (not hot!) fresh water. Warm water dissolves salt crystals significantly faster and more effectively than cold water.
• The Chemistry: Water alone isn't enough to kill bacteria or remove built-up organic odors. You need a specialized gear cleaner and disinfectant.
  • Avoid Household Cleaners: Do not use bleach, strong detergents, or heavy disinfectants like Lysol, as these can damage neoprene, silicone, and plastic.
  • Use the Right Tool: We recommend purpose-built scuba shampoos and disinfectants (like those from Gear Aid or Steramine). These are formulated to kill bacteria and mold without harming the delicate materials of your life-support equipment.

Phase 2: The Regulator – Handle with Care

Your regulator is the most delicate item in the tub. It requires a specific protocol to prevent water from entering the internal mechanism.

1. The Golden Rule: Before the regulator touches the water, ensure the first stage dust cap is dry and securely in place. If water enters the first stage, it can cause internal corrosion that requires a professional rebuild to fix.
2. The Soak: Place the regulator in the warm, soapy water. Let it soak for at least 15-20 minutes. This allows the warm water to penetrate crevices and dissolve hardened salt.
3. The Agitation: Swish the second stages around gently. If you have slide-lock protectors on your hoses, slide them back to clean underneath.
4. Do NOT Purge: Never press the purge button on your second stages while the unit is submerged and unpressurized. This opens the valve and allows water to flow straight up the hose and into the first stage.
5. The Rinse: Rinse thoroughly with a gentle stream of fresh water.

Phase 3: The BCD – The Hidden Salt Trap

The exterior of your BCD is tough, but the interior bladder is a dark, damp breeding ground for mold and bacteria if not cleaned properly. This is the step most divers skip.

• Exterior Soak: Soak the BCD in your tub to remove salt from the fabric and buckles. Work the zippers back and forth to dislodge sand.
• Internal Flush (The Critical Step):
  • Hold the dump valve of your inflator hose under a faucet (or hose) and depress the deflate button to force fresh water into the bladder until it is about 1/3 full.
  • Pro Tip: Add a splash of BCD cleaner/conditioner directly into the bladder.
  • Inflate the rest of the way orally.
  • The Shake: Pick up the BCD and shake it vigorously, rotating it in all directions. You want that soapy water to wash every inch of the interior walls, killing mold spores and dissolving salt crystals.
• The Drain: Turn the BCD upside down and drain the water completely through the inflator hose and the rear dump valves. Repeat the fresh water flush once more to rinse.

Phase 4: Wetsuits and Booties – Killing the Stink

The "wetsuit smell" is actually bacteria and body oils trapped in the neoprene. To fix it, you have to kill the source.

• Inside Out: Turn your wetsuit, booties, and hood inside out. This is where the skin oils and bacteria live.
• The Shampoo Soak: Submerge them in water treated with a neoprene shampoo (odor eliminator). Let them soak for 30 minutes. Knead the neoprene gently to work the cleaner into the pores.
• The Rinse: Rinse thoroughly.
• Don't Forget the Zippers: Use a toothbrush to gently scrub sand and salt out of the zipper teeth.

Phase 5: Computers, Cameras, and Masks

These items have small buttons and seals where salt loves to hide.

• The Button Exercise: While your dive computer and camera housing are soaking in fresh water, press every button repeatedly. This pumps fresh water into the button mechanism and forces saltwater out. Sticky buttons are almost always caused by crystallized salt.
• The Mask Skirt: Wash your mask with a mild soap to remove sunscreen and face oils from the skirt. This helps preserve the silicone and ensures a better seal on your next dive.

Phase 6: Drying and Storage

Cleaning is only half the battle. Storing damp gear is a recipe for mildew and rot.

• No Direct Sun: UV rays are neoprene’s enemy. Never dry your gear in direct sunlight. A shaded, breezy spot or a garage with a fan is perfect.
• Hang It Right: Use thick, heavy-duty hangers for your BCD and wetsuit. Thin wire hangers will crease the shoulders and damage the material.
• Inflate the BCD: Store your BCD slightly inflated. This prevents the inside walls of the bladder from sticking together and allows air to circulate.
• Lubricate: Once everything is bone dry, apply a high-quality zipper wax or lubricant to the zippers on your wetsuit, boots, and bags. This keeps them moving smoothly and prevents corrosion.

When to Call the Pros

Even the best home cleaning can't fix everything. As you clean, inspect your gear.

• Do you see cracking hoses?
• Is the mouthpiece torn?
• Does the BCD inflator button stick?
• Is your annual service due?

If you spot any issues, or if it's been a year since your last tune-up, bring your gear into Paragon Dive Store. Our service technicians will perform the deep internal maintenance that a bathtub soak simply can't reach.

Taking care of your gear is taking care of yourself. A little effort after the trip ensures that when the next adventure calls, your equipment is safe, fresh, and ready to dive.