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Thread: Swim suit care?

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    northern Virginia
    Posts
    5,897

    Swim suit care?

    How do you wash your swim suits? Always by hand? What kind of detergent?

    I've just had to spend a fair amount of effort finding a new swim suit that fits and looks reasonable. I don't want to ruin it but also don't have much time for clothes that require special care. Is occasional machine washing okay?

    - Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
    - Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
    - Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle

    Gone but not forgotten:
    - Silver 2003 aluminum road bike
    - Two awesome worn out Juliana saddles

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    I always washed mine in the machine, every single time as I HATE chlorine and hand washing never seemed to really get rid of that smell. That's just me though, others may have other advice. I don't put it in the dryer of course - and to be fair I rarely use it at all as I'm not all that fond of water sports so that may be the only reason I've gotten away with it.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    3,853
    I rinse after each swim, then hand wash in a little bit of laundry detergent in the kitchen sink every now and then. I get a long life out of suits, even when I'm in daily.

    Electra Townie 7D

  4. #4
    Jolt is offline Dodging the potholes...
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Southern Maine
    Posts
    1,668
    I have always just rinsed them out after swimming…if you are at a pool you can shower with it on after you get out. Putting it in the washing machine once in a while in cold water is OK, but not in the dryer!
    2011 Surly LHT
    1995 Trek 830

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498
    Other than getting the chlorine out - which takes more washing, not less - I just figure that they take the same care as other lycra-type garments, like running or cycling shorts or yoga outfits.

    I always rinse mine immediately, usually by showering in it (including soaping as much of it as I can reach). Then not letting it sit around wet is important, too - since I always have to drive to the pool, I'll squeeze (not wring) out any excess water, then roll it in my towel to wick out as much water as possible (same as I'd do with any hand-washed garment), then put it where it can get the most air circulation possible until I get home, and hopefully out of direct sun. Since I have a hatchback, that's not a big deal, but if my car had a trunk, I'd still put it in the passenger compartment. Hanging it off one of the headrests lets it get some air circulation and also helps keep the sun off. Then hang it to dry in the laundry room - call it good if I'm going to use the pool again before the next load of laundry, machine wash (front loader, delicate cycle, hang dry) with all the rest of my workout gear with the next load, and always before putting it away for any period of time.

    I don't really know how long they're supposed to last, but the only places mine wear are (1) between the butt-cheeks, which I'm pretty sure is just because I only use it for deep water running and not actual swimming, which puts extra stress there, and (2) if there's a shelf bra, eventually the elastic will get brittle, like elastic in every other garment I have.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Montreal, QC
    Posts
    764
    I mostly do the same as Jolt.

    Mine also wear out in the crack. That's probably because of aqua aerobics and sitting on cement (pool stairs, etc).

    I bought cheap and very expensive ones and none last any longer. The expensive ones are just thicker/feel tighter on me anyway. So to keep the expensive ones longer I do take better care of them and they can last me 2-3 summers without a problem. The cheaper ones will loose elasticity, etc by end of summer. No matter how well I rinse them, etc.
    Helene
    Riding a 2014 Specialized Amira LS4 Expert - aka The Zebra!
    2015 Specialized Crux e5 - aka Bora Bora bike

 

 

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