Proper swimwear care isn’t complicated — but it is important. In our last post, we looked at the first two steps: Rinse and Treat. Now we’ll look at the other three: Wash, Dry, and Rest. Let’s count off all five for review before we move on: Rinse, Treat, Wash, Dry, Rest.
Wash.
Once you arrive home or go inside, resist the urge to toss your swimwear into the hamper with the rest of your laundry; instead, wash it separately ASAP. Ideally, take the extra couple of minutes to wash it by hand. Don’t feel intimidated: It takes just 5 minutes of your time. To do so, simply fill the sink with fresh water (not the same water you rinsed it out in). Add a tablespoon or so of bleach-free and moisturizer-free mild hand soap, shampoo, or laundry detergent. (If you use shampoo, make sure it doesn’t contain conditioner.) Now just swish your suit around in the soapy water for a few minutes; in fact, you do not want to do it for longer than 5 minutes, or you may actually cause damage to the suit and compromise its shape.
If you have traditional men’s swim trunks, they typically contain little if any spandex, allowing them to more easily withstand a machine wash. If you do choose to machine-wash other types of swimwear, at least turn each one inside-out first, and use cold water, the gentle or delicate cycle, and a tiny amount of liquid detergent (avoid using powders).
Dry.
Remember how we warned you against wringing out your swim suit after rinsing it? For the same reason, avoid twisting it now as well. And don’t put it in your dryer. Instead, allow it to dry flat in a well-ventilated area. Not only will you avoid creasing or wrinkling, but you’ll also avoid stretching the fibers. If you need to speed up the process, resist the urge to expose the suit to direct sunlight which will cause damage; instead, set it near an open window or fan or use a blow dryer on a cool setting.
Rest.
In order to allow your swim suit to air dry, it’s best to plan on giving it a 24-hour rest between uses. Of course, if you love your backyard swimming pool as much as we hope you do, allowing for this will mean having at least 2 swim suits on hand. For longer-term storage, you’ll make sure to keep your swimwear someplace where it won’t be subjected to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures or moisture level fluctuations, which could cause damage and fading of the fibers.
You’ll also want to avoid storing your swimwear in a plastic bag for any length of time, where the moisture will be trapped, potentially causing mildew. For short-term storage, a plastic storage bin, shelf, or under-bed space may work well. For longer-term storage, a vacuum-sealed garment bag would be preferable.
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