How do you properly wash a swimsuit?

Question

this summer i started really swimming, and i'm joining a team next month. i just got a new swimsuit, a speedo, and i want to know how to take care of it properly. my last swimsuit, also a speedo, only lasted one summer due to fading. i hear that you should only handwash swimsuits, is this true? if it is, what soap should i use to wash it, and are there any household products i could use in place of the expensive swimsuit non-chlorine soap?

Answer 1

Ok, first off next time you buy a suit (whether it be TYR, Nike, or Speedo) make sure you buy a polyester suit.  I am a competitve swimmer who swims 20 plus hours in the pool a week and my poly suits have lasted up to 2 years.  The suit you are currently wearing is a lycra suit, the fabric will not stand up to the chlorine.  I switched to poly because it was just costing me way too much.

Oh, and to keep you lycra suit for as long as it possibly can last just rinse in cold water and hang it up to dry.

Have fun!

Answer 2

Just rinse or soak in regular tap water.  There is no "cleaning" necessary, so no soap is necessary. Soap only loosens dirt and grease; it will do nothing to help a swim suit.

Your swim suit faded because of the chlorine in the pool. Chlorine is an oxidant that bleaches out colors. Plain water will get rid of the chlorine, and hence get rid of the fading.

1. Rinse thoroughly in tap water. Or soak for a few hours.  

2. SQUEEZE to get rid of the excess water. Pat dry with a towel, if you feel like it. DO NOT wring it dry, as this will stretch the fibers.

3. Hang dry.

Answer 3

The recommendations from Speedo is to rinse the suit in cold water after your swim, squeeze and hang to dry but not in direct sunlight.  Speedos tend to last only about 75 wearings which is about 3 months if worn 5 days a week before they need to be replaced because of fading and/or stretching.

There is a swimsuit rinse that helps to take the chlorine smell out of the suit, but I didn't find that effective.  I would encourage you to just use cold water as recommended by the manufacturer.

Answer 4

run it under cold water twist and dry