The summer season is almost over and if you wore out your swimsuit regularly or once in a blue moon, either way, the fabric takes a pounding from swimming pool chemicals, beach sand, high temperatures, sun block and salt. Good quality swim suits can be expensive, so it's worth it to maintain them wisely.

It’s a fact every swimsuit has spandex, therefore, swift washing is imperative. Dampness, body oils and sweats counter with the elastic fibers in a swim suit, triggering them to expand and tear. The chemicals in pools or hot tubs do in fact damage a swimsuit's elasticity, causing the fabric’s color to fade. Chlorine is harsher on bikinis than salt and fresh water and can cause bright colored fabrics  to fade away.

Washing

According to our research, hand washing in cold water with mild soap (avoid standard laundry soap for they are too harsh for bathing suit fabric) or white vinegar was recommended for all swimsuits. White vinegar is recognized for its antiseptic and aromatizing properties. However, if you are far from home and do not have access to either, fresh clean water will do just fine. Directly using a washing machine without any protector will in fact agitate delicate parts like the padding and cups. The machine rotation will damage the swim suit, leaving things huddled, stretched, sagging and ill-fitting.

Drying

Press water out, do not wring, and then spread out to dry. If you choose to wring, you will damage the fibers, living your suit sagging in all the wrong places. Natural heat (sunlight) or a hair dryer (set to cool) can be used to dry up the suit. If you need to hasten things up, place your swim suit on a large towel, fold the suit with in and carefully press down on the towel to soak up excess water. Avoid using a machine dryer, the high heat weakens the fabric’s elasticity.

Feel free to take note of the helpful tips below:

• Always have an extra swimsuit available especially if you are going to be swimming alternate days.

• Do not soak a swimsuit in water overnight. This will weaken the fabric’s fibers.

• Do not spread a swimsuit over a metal rod to dry. The metal rods may leave rust marks which is almost impossible to get out.

• Say no to detergent containing bleach

• If you have a number of swimsuits to clean, do so separately. New swim suits can bleed dye, you don’t want them affecting everything.

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