5 tips for swimsuit care

The other day I was at swim practice and was chatting it up with the girls, and we got on the topic of why their swimsuits didn't last very long. The girls were besides themselves when they figured out that they way they were currently caring for their suits was actually doing more damage then good, hence their swimsuits short lifespan.

Aside from chlorine being the basic fabric killer, there are things you can do to shorten or extend the life of your swimsuit. (this is standard protocol for any suit made of content being nylon/lycra, poly lycra, or cotton lycra blend).

#1 The most important: immediately after wear, gentley ring out, and hang to dry. The girls had fessed up that it was common for them to roll their suit in a towel, and leave it in the towel, in their hot car, or trunk of car, for a few hours or all day. The best piece of advice I can give is to hang it, even drape over the front seat, or hang it from the hooks where hangers for clothes are in your car. Simply the suit needs to breathe, and dry.

#2 The suit does not have to be put in the wash machine. The reality is: if you do not plan on standing next to the wash machine the exact moment it is done to remove your swimsuit, then don't bother putting it through. You can wash it, but again, relating to Tip #1, DO NOT LEAVE IT WET OR DAMP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. A damp swimsuit in a dark loaded wash machine is the perfect set up for mold to set in, and the dampness and air together/for any length of time, start to eat away at the elastomera (elastic fibers) of the fabric. Your better higher quality swimwear will make it through the wash, other swimsuits with less quality construction will not.

#3 Do not put in dryer. Again, elastic fibers cannot withstand the heat, and they do melt and or dry and crack. A medium lit area, without extraneous amounts of heat will be best. (I hang on my bedroom door knob, and have for years...it is a great little spot and accomplishes the task at hand)

#4 Keep suit from fading by not leaving it in direct sunlight to dry......your swimsuit will fade (just like a colored cotton t-shirt hung out on the line in direct sunlight) it will have the same fading effect....so a cool place out of direct sunlight is best.

#5 It is not necessary to use powerful soaps to wash and rinse your suit. Bleach will destroy a swimsuit instantly. The nylon/polyester/cotton and elastic fibers can not survive bleach. At swim practice a lot of girls while shampooing hair will rinse down our suits with general bath soap or shampoo, and this is plenty sufficient.

If you are an avid chlorine pool swimmer, then choose poly/lycra or poly only fabrics for the most longevity-you will get more bang for your buck...but again, if you apply the right care for your swimsuit, you will always get plenty of bang for your buck!

That is my tip for the day!

Ahoy Swimsuit girls!