Bathing Suit Care

[NJBikeGal]

One more thing...don't buy any of the chemicals that they sell to get the chlorine out of your suit. They don't work any better than good old fashioned warm water!

[susanm8048]

I really don't have any clue, but I found that I could still smell the chlorine after I had rinsed the bathers in water.

So I use a little bit of liquid pure soap in lukewarm water and soak them for a few minutes before thoroughly rinsing them in cold water. I'm not sure that it makes a lot of difference, but it doesn't smell like the pool any more.

I agree that the quality of the bathers in the first place makes the most difference. That is what I have found with my kids bathers anyway, and they have been through TONS!

[Tri Girl]

When I swam competitively in hs/college I used to wear (and wear out) Speedos pretty quickly. Granted, that was 5 swim practices a week, and now I'm only doing 3.
Since I've started doing tris, I've been wearing a TYR tri swimsuit (has tri padding in it so I can jump right on the bike and ride- yeah right). It's lasted since January, and is still in perfect condition. I should be able to get another 1-2 seasons out of it. I bought it on e-bay for $10. The material is much thicker than a regular swimsuit, as it's made to wear during a tri. Don't know if that helps or not.

[triflor]

I agree with what the ladies have said about polyester suits. They last a lot longer, and you can often find them on sale.

I used to work at a swimwear shop, and we recommended Zero, cold water, hand wash detergent. I just use a mild soap (or a body wash), rinse, and hang dry. Avoid stretching bathing suits. If you can lay it flat to dry it may help. And if you hang it to dry be careful of clothespins, they often cause the fabric to pile, and the elastic will wear out much faster.

Sitting on the edge of a pool is a sure fire way to destroy the butt of a bathing suit.

I've heard some people say that a Speedo of Lyrca will only last 2 months if you use it 5 days a week.

[susanm8048]

I used to work at a swimwear shop, and we recommended Zero, cold water, hand wash detergent. I just use a mild soap (or a body wash), rinse, and hang dry. .

Triflor, What is Zero?

[triflor]

Sorry, I forgot about the Branding differences, it may be called Woolite in the USA. The idea is a mild, handwash, detergent.

[luv2ride94]

I'm a swimmer and i know it sounds weird but it really does work, my suits last longer than anyone on the team.. If only they would listen to me...

When you rinse it add a few drops of the stuff you buy for fishtank to neutralize the chlorine to the water... It really does work!! and its cheap and last forever

Either that or buy the poly suits, i'm 12 and one of the ones i wear i have had since i was 9 and it looks brand new i've worn it several hundreds of times atleast!