Swimwear with an expiry date?
Many of us buy a new swimsuit, bikini or swimming costume (delete as appropriate) almost every holiday. Why? ‘The previous one got worn out’. This answer surprises no one, but it should! On the one hand, swimwear is exposed to heat, strong sunlight, water and sand; on the other hand, the materials it is made of are very hard-wearing.
Knitted fabrics, usually made from polyamide (nylon) fibres with a large (approximately 10 per cent) addition of elastane, known under the brand names: Lycra®, Spandex®, Dorlastan®, are characterised by high abrasion resistance and relatively good UV and chlorine resistance. This makes them really hard to damage, unless …you don’t care for them properly. What does it mean? Here are some lifebuoys for our swimwear.
If you wash it, wash by hand
Do not put your swimwear in the washing machine, even if the manufacturer claims otherwise and allows washing at low drum speed, low temperature. It is best to wash it by hand, using eco-friendly laundry detergent or other mild detergents – hair shampoo will work well. It is also worth bearing in mind that due to excessive/intensive washing, the structure of the bras can be damaged and the colours can fade.
Tip: If you have a swimsuit with metal buckles or other decorative elements, such as sequins or beads – remember to clean the areas next to the appliqués thoroughly, especially if there is some sun oil or sand left on them. Otherwise, the buckles may start to discolour and, over time, become blackened.
Soak, but not too long
After returning from the beach or pool, be sure to rinse your swimsuit under running water. This will help the fabric retain its elasticity and colour for longer. Bathing in chlorinated or salt water not only adversely affects the durability of the knitwear and its colour, but also contributes to discolouration and blemishes.
Tip: Swimwear likes to swim, but it doesn’t like to get wet 😊. So under no circumstances leave it in a bowl of water. The longer a bikini or swimsuit stays wet, the more likely it is that the fabric will stretch and deform.
Dry away from the sun
How is it possible that two of the simplest activities, such as squeezing excess water out of swimwear and drying it can be detrimental to it? And yet. We would like to remind you that bikinis, trunks and swimwear should not be wrung out, as this destroys the thin synthetic polyamide and elastane fibres of which the material is composed. In the case of bikinis, wrinkling weakens or deforms the underwires.
Tip: You can sunbathe in your swimsuits in full sun, but let them dry indoors. After gently squeezing the excess water out of them, hang them up in a shady place where they can dry. This is very important if you want to wear the swimsuit next year. By drying in the sun, the colours of the garment will fade and the material will lose its elasticity more quickly.
New clothes = new resolutions
It seems that our bikinis or swimming trunks love sea and sunbathing as much as we do. This is true, provided we take care of them afterwards, just as we take care of ourselves and our skin. By implementing these few simple steps, we will keep our swimwear in great shape for years to come.
It’s worth taking a few moments, especially if a fashionable outfit or shorts from the latest summer collection has just got into our basket. How much we remember from the instructions will soon come out in the wash 😊.