Swim Suit Care

[Miranda]

How do you care for your swim suits to help minimize damage from pool chemicals?

In my recreational swimming days, I always knew it was good to rinse out the suit in normal water after a pool trip. I used to hand wash in a small amount of Woolite as well. Then, drip dry.

I found some special wash on line at swimlocker.com that says it is to help get the chemicals out, prolong the life of the suit, etc. I have not used it yet. It is this...

http://www.swimlocker.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=swim+suit+wash

At the forum thread advice and product info read here on TE, my new suit is this TYR poly...

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTR_MDUR7A.html

I haven't wore my new poly suit yet (just my old lycra Speedo yesterday), but the TYR care instructions say "do not put any soap on the suit... this will break down the fabric fibers... use clear water only, etc.".

:confused: I thought some type of soap would help get the chemicals out of the fabric? I would think a wash designed especially for swim suits would be ok? Woolite is gentle? Maybe it's just the poly (this is my first one)? But, I won't use any of it if this is really the best care.

From what I have read, poly suits are suppose to hold up great. I just don't want to trash it. Thanks!

(btw, new to the pool for fitness as some bike cross training, appreciate the help:)... the search function had 'swim suit care' all over the place... I thought this thread might do better here for responses since it's a special interest activity, vs apparel or elsewhere)

[alpinerabbit]

I rinse mine out under the shower and drip dry and now and then throw into the delicate wash or the quick sports clothes wash cycle.

I guess whatever you do, with 2-3x weekly use a suit will last about a year before it goes floppy.

[Veronica]

I have a handful of suits and I sort of rotate through them. I throw them in my regular wash after wearing them and hang to dry. It's not what the manufacturer suggests, but life is too short to hand wash things. :D

Veronica

[Eden]

Years ago when I worked at the VA Hospital, we were allowed to use the therapy pool after hours (It was like having the worlds largest hot tub mmmmmmmm :cool:), but it was heavily chlorinated... After burning right through my original suit I purchased a Speedo poly suit. I used to wash it with a dechlorinating detergent no problems. The non-poly liner inside dissolved (but its dark blue, so no see through problems) and some of the stitching on the inside bleached out, but from the outside the suit still looks the same as the day I bought it.

[badger]

I swim 2-3x/week and I never wash my suit. I just rinse it out in water and wrap it up in my towel to soak up and hang to dry. I had heard that soaps of any kind will degrade the material quicker.

I also wear a polyester suit (speedo endurance) and it usually lasts me a year. The lycra blend, I'm lucky to get 3 months.

[Jolt]

I just wear mine into the shower after swimming to rinse it out, then hang it up to dry; I never put it into the washing machine.

[Miranda]

Thx ladies for those replies!

My lycra Speedo just got the hand rinse in plain water in the bathroom sink, and a drip dry atm. Hmm, I have always washed DD's Speedos in a lingerie bag in the wash, and hung dry. Maybe this is why they have fallen apart so quick? Plus they have always been lycra.

That's good to know also on how long to expect a suit to last. I really didn't know for performance use what was typical.

Oh, the smell of the chemicals is SO strong when you walk in the pool. About takes my breath away. But, I know that's a good thing for killing bad stuff.

On the liner disolving in the poly suit, that's good info. Sure glad mine is black in color;).