Here’s How Often You Really Need to Wash Your Bathing Suit
As you dive into lakes, chlorinated pools, and salty ocean water, you may be wondering how often do you really need to wash your bathing suits? (Quick answer: more likely than you think.) To save time—and because you don’t want it languishing at the bottom of your basket—you might be tempted to just hang your suit to dry after every wear. Which is okay sometimes. However, in other cases this is not desirable. Here’s how often you should wash your suits to prolong their lifespan.
How often to wash your swimsuit (if it gets wet)
A swimsuit that you swim in needs to be washed more often than one that you just lounged around the pool in. Chlorinated water can cause tissue tearing, discoloration, and breakdown of elastic fabrics . He can also turn white suits yellow. While salt water isn’t as harmful as chlorine, it can still discolor over time, so it’s best to wash your wetsuit after every swim.
If you can’t wash it right away, but want to get started ridding your suit of harsh chemicals (for example, if it’s been sitting in a duffel bag for a while), you can place it in a Ziploc bag of warm water for a low-pressure rinse. care.
Swimming in fresh water, such as a lake, river, or non-chlorinated water (anyone who has inflated a paddling pool and filled it with a garden hose knows what I’m talking about) only requires a wash every 3-5 socks.
How often to wash (if not wet)
If the suit does not get wet and you wear it for a short time, you can be more forgiving about the frequency of washing – every 3-5 wears, as if you were in fresh or non-chlorinated water. However, this changes if you wear the suit for an extended period of time. “Wearing a bathing suit out of the water for an extended period of time is akin to wearing underwear,” Dr. Lucky Sehon , a board-certified OB/GYN, told Well + Good . “Accumulation of sweat, vaginal discharge after long periods of being out of the water while dry, should be cleaned before re-wearing the bathing suit. Otherwise, it can lead to skin irritation and discomfort.”
Should I wash my swimsuit by hand or in a machine?
Washing your swimsuit by hand in warm water with a mild detergent is preferable as it is gentler on the fibers and minimizes fabric stretch. (Washing machine arousal greatly affects fabrics, belts, and elastic.) However, cleaning expert Jolie Kerr told Jezebel that while hand washing is preferred, “machine wash cold is also acceptable.” Because I am a realist. However, it would be nice to get your hands on one of these zippered mesh bags . This will help prevent suits from becoming tangled with other clothing, which could cause them to stretch.” Use the delicate cycle when washing in the machine. Also, check the label, as some swimwear companies make suits from machine-readable fabrics .
How to dry your swimsuit
Drying your swimsuit in the dryer is strictly prohibited, as the heat can twist the fabric and permanently change the elasticity and fit. The best way to dry your suit is to roll the suit up in a dry towel and wring out the water, rather than wringing or twisting the fabric, which can cause it to lose shape. Hang to dry.