07/06/2022

Swimwear Care

Your swimsuit is an important (and sometimes expensive) piece of summer clothing, especially vacation clothing.  If you’re like me, finding the perfect suit takes time, so when you finally do find the one that enhances your features, you want it to last for more than one season.  Caring for your swimsuit isn’t difficult, but it does take a little time, attention to detail, and specialized care.  

General Swimsuit Care Tips:

• Apply sunscreen and allow it to dry before putting on your suit.  When you reapply while wearing your suit, use caution on areas close to the suit.
• Avoid sitting on rough surfaces, like the concrete around pools or wooden benches, because they can snag or break spandex fibers on your suit leaving nubs.  To protect your suit, place a towel on the ground or the bench before sitting.
• When removing your suit, if you don’t have time to properly wash it immediately, rinse it with cold water to help remove excess chlorine or saltwater.  This will help prolong the color and elasticity of the suit.
• If your suit is wet when you leave the beach or pool, place it in a mesh bag or wet bag so your suit can air out and dry. This will help reduce the chance of smelly mildew forming.

How to Wash Your Swimsuit:

• Rinsing your suit in cold water won’t remove all the chlorine or salt, so fill a sink with cool water and add a small amount (one teaspoon or less) of a gentle, liquid, laundry detergent.
• Place your suit in the soapy water, swish it around for several minutes.  Then turn it inside out and swish again for several minutes.
• Rinse until the water runs clear and no more soap residue remains.
• Gently squeeze the water out of the fabric ensuring you don’t twist or wring the fabric. 
• Lay the suit flat, out of direct sunlight, to dry.
• Once completely dry, store it flat instead of hanging; hanging can stretch elastic fibers.  Putting your suit away while it is still damp could lead to mildew growth.  

A day at the beach or pool is one of summer’s best treats.  If you treat your swimwear with a little TLC, it will serve you well for years to come.  But I have to admit that handwashing clothing is one of my pet peeves, so if you’re like me and all of this seems a bit daunting, you can always drop your swimwear off at your nearest A Cleaner World location.  Showering clothes with TLC is what we do best.