Author: Tanya

8 TIPS & TRICKS TO HELP YOUR SWIMSUIT STAY YOUNG AND VIBRANT – just like you!

Keeping your swimsuit looking as great as the day you purchased it is one of life’s little challenges. Chlorine, salt, heat, sunscreen and the Sun can damage and discolour the fabric. Unfortunately the odds are stacked against our swimsuits even making it past a season. But there are a few tips and tricks that can help pro-long the life and keep your swimsuit looking new and swanky for years.

1.Pre treat your swimsuit

Combine four cups of cold tap water with two teaspoons of distilled or White vinegar and soak in cold water for 30-minutes, this will help keep bright colors vibrant for longer and prevent bleeding.

2.Wet before and after wearing

Wet your bathing suit in a shower or sink before getting into the pool, sea or hot tub. This reduces the amount of harmful chemicals getting into the fabric’s weave and causing damage. Always rinse out your swimwear in cool water, after each wear even after sunbathing.  Sunblock and the body’s oils can also do damage If you regularly swim in a pool, look out for swimwear with extra chlorine resistance.

3.Always wash your swimsuit properly

Read the fabric care label on the swimsuit before washing it. Turn the bathing suit inside out. Fill a sink with cold water. Add a small amount of mild hand soap or mild detergent. A standard laundry detergent is too harsh. Make sure you rinse all soapy suds out.  Do not soak or bleach. Always hand wash the suit never use a washing machine. The only time when machine washing your bathing suit could be ok, is at the end of summer or a holiday, at a time when the suit will not be worn again for a long period.  Wash your swimwear in a lingerie washing bag on a cold gentle cycle with a small amount of mild detergent. If your bathing suit has any type of sewn-on embellishments or you’re unsure, skip the machine altogether.

4.How to Dry

Never wring out your bathing suit. To remove excess water, place your wet bathing suit flat on a towel. Roll the towel from one end to the other, squeezing the water out of the bathing suit as you go. Repeat with the other side of the towel or a new towel. Do not leave your suit rolled up in a wet towel. Moisture left in your suit for extended periods of time can be harmful. Dry flat out of direct sunlight and heat. Drying your wet swimsuit in the sun will cause the fabric to breakdown and the colour to fade.  Never tumble dry.

5.Sun Lotion application

For best results apply suntan lotion or sunscreen before getting into your bathing suit. Allow the lotion to absorb and dry completely before putting on the bathing suit. Sun lotions can discolour your swimwear. If you happen to get sunscreen, or other stains on your swimsuit, sprinkle some baking soda onto the stain, and let it to sit for a couple of hours before washing gently as directed above. You can also soak the bathing suit in one part distilled white vinegar and three parts warm water before washing.

6.Watch where you sit

Try not to sit on the edge of the pool, a wooden bench or any other rough surface. Always try to sit on a towel or sarong. Rough surfaces can wear and snag swimwear fabric.

7.Avoid hot water

Never wash or soak your bathing suit in hot water, and avoid too many dips in the hot tub with a favourite suit. Hot water and the harsh chemicals found in hot tubs destroy swim suit fabrics fast. Wear older and cheaper bathing suits that you wouldn’t be heartbroken to see ruined.

8. Have more than one swimsuit

If you’re on holiday or wearing bathing suits often, it’s essential to have more than one.  Spandex is a “memory fabric,” meaning it needs a full day to snap back to its usual position.  Having more than one suit and wearing them alternatively allows each suit 24 hours to bounce back and it gives you a great excuse to go shopping again.

If you found this helpful or you have any other tips or tricks I would love to hear from you.