Swim suit care?

[Jolt]

Yes, the butt-crack area is a common place for suits to wear out…a good reason to look for ones that have lining in the back! I lifeguarded for quite a few years, and had several times where I had to tell people that they needed a new suit b/c their crack was showing--it's easy to be unaware of that until somebody says something!

[ny biker]

Thanks ladies. I bought a tankini and two swim skirts. I don't expect to wear them often. I'm not a beach person and am not into swimming, I just wanted something for occasional visits to a pool or beach and for canoeing and maybe trying kayaking. (I realize you're not supposed to get wet when you're in a canoe or kayak but of course sometimes you do anyway.) For now I want to wash everything before I wear it the first time, especially the tankini because I was probably not the only person to try it on in the store. I think I will do that in the washing machine. I have a top-loading machine; I'll put them in last because the clothes on top get agitated less.

I have some tri-tops that I wear for summer cycling because they're made with nice airy mesh fabric. I figured I could wear one with a swim skirt for paddle sports. I currently wash all my cycling clothes with cold water in the washing machine and air dry them, and they don't seem to have suffered for it.

I don't think I saw any suits that were lined in the back. Some bottoms that I saw were lined in the front. And of course they all had padding in the chest, some with molded cups, some with underwires, some with removable padding, some with padding that was not removable but not sewn into place so it moved to the wrong spot when you put the top on. This made the search for a top that fit very difficult -- several fit perfectly except the non-removable molded cups were too big. When I finally found one that fit, in royal blue and orange, there was no bottom to match. I had to go to a different store to get a royal blue skort. It was on sale for a great price and I liked the fit, which was why I bought a second one in navy.

[OakLeaf]

In a top-loading machine I'd put it in a lingerie bag. That will help keep it from wrapping around the agitator and getting all stretched out.

Have fun! Glad you found something you like.

[ny biker]

Success! I dug the giant lingerie bag out of the drawer where I keep the cycling gear for bad weather. I keep it there because I use mesh bags to keep small things organized within the giant tote bag of extra clothes that I bring to fall, winter and early spring rides. It was large enough for the top and both bottoms, and they came through the wash unscathed. Then I hung them to dry, and they're now good to go!

But then, as I was taking the other clothes out of the washer I discovered a hole in my favorite denim capri pants, right on the butt next to one of the pockets. I am bummed! I really like the way they fit and they're a dark wash which makes them okay in situations when I have to look reasonably neat. I'm going to see if there's a way I can patch the hole on the inside so they are still wearable. I wonder what caused the hole? And how long has it been there? Because I probably wore orange underwear the last time I wore them.