Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh has told the public that they shouldn’t wash their jeans. Kind of gross but all right. It may be fine not washing jeans but for goodness sake please wash your swimsuits!
Bathing suits are somewhat on the expensive side of clothing and learning how to take care of them will help keep you looking great all season long. Whether you wear a swimsuit daily or just on occasion, the fabric can take a real hard beating from pool chemicals, the sun, sand, temperatures and lotions. So what is the right way to clean your swimsuit? How do you wash a bathing suit?
Wash It Right Away Or Your Suit May Stink
This will minimize the amount of time the fabric is exposed to harsh agents like sunscreen, perspiration, salt, and chlorine. Also the quicker you wash it the less likely your swimwear will smell like chlorine, the beach or just plain stink. The easiest way to do this is to wear your suit into the shower
Wash Your Bathing Suit By Hand
The agitation of a washing machine can damage the fabrics. The dyes in the fabrics are also more likely to run and ruin your other summer clothes.
A guide for how to wash your bathing suit the right way
Don’t Use Laundry Detergent, You’ll Regret It Later
Laundry detergents are far too harsh for most spandex swimwear and will often cause the color to fade, especially brighter colors. Instead use mild hand soap that doesn’t have added moisturizers.
Despite Every Instinct To Do So Don’t Wring Out Your Swimsuit
It is very tempting to do this but you need to resist. Wringing your suit is the fastest way to wear it out so the spandex loses its shape and elasticity. Lay it flat on a towel and roll the towel up and squeeze gently. Remove it from the towel and lay it flat to dry.
It Should Go Without Saying, Don’t Use A Dryer on your Bathing Suit
The constant tumbling of a dryer combined with the excessive heat are a quick way to ruin your favorite swim piece.
How Else Shouldn’t You Dry It?
Do not hang your swimwear to dry as water pooling at the bottom will stretch out the fibers. Dry the suit indoors or in the shade. Direct sun will fade the colors. Don’t dry it over an air conditioner as you’ll likely make the whole room smell of damp bathing suit.
What If You Don’t Have Enough Time To Dry It?
If it doesn’t have time to dry, stuff your wet suit in a plastic bag before you pack it up, it’s a good idea to poke a few holes in the bag for ventilation and then wrap a T-shirt or towel around it to catch any drips. You’d be amazed how quickly mold starts to grow.
Washing and drying your beachwear can be a laborious task, but it will help make your favorite swimsuit last much longer and help you save money on your summer wardrobe. Remember, it’s a really good idea to have more than one suit when you go somewhere because you should never ever wear a damp swimsuit. Damp one pieces and bikinis are a prime place for bacteria and mold, and it’s is a good way to get a nasty skin rash or even an infection. So if you’re buying a new bathing suit just to be on the safe side, you might as well buy two or three.
