Tips to Keep your Swimwear Looking Brand New
Kite's Custom Cleaners
Chlorine, heat and improper washing can quickly ruin swimwear. Many popular swimsuit brands cost around $100 per piece, making a single swimsuit purchase $200-$300 on average, which is a major investment for your wardrobe. These easy tips will keep your suit looking radiant, allowing them to last not only this season but for many summers to come!
Rinse it off quickly: Chlorine, sunblock, body oil and sweat can all cause damage and discoloration of swimsuits. Rinsing your suit off after pool or hot tub time can drastically reduce the chance of fading.
Hand Wash: Washing machines can damage delicate suits and accessories such as cups, padding, and strings and cause alteration of the fit leaving your suit constantly bunching up, stretched and forever ill fitted.
Soap It Up: Using natural or mild soap such as hand soap is best for your swimsuit as normal detergents can be too harsh. Make sure that your swimsuit is fully rinsed out and that no soap residue remains.
Lay to Dry: Hanging a swimsuit can stretch it out, while ringing it out can damage the fabric. To quickly remove excess water, lay your suit on a towel, roll it up and squeeze gently. Once unrolled, lay it on a flat surface to dry.
Switch Suits Often: Spandex is a “memory” fabric, meaning that it easily responds to temperatures and shapes that it is exposed to. Rotating your swimwear gives each suit time to dry completely and bounce back to its original shape.
Keep It Cool: Hot Water is bad for swimwear. Do not wash your suit in hot water, and avoid hot tubbing too often in a favorite or expensive suit.
Prep Before you Dip: Soaking a new suit in a vinegar/water solution for 30 mins can prevent dyes from bleeding. To prepare just add one tablespoon of white vinegar to each quart of water. This method applies to many heavily died fabrics and garments to reduce or eliminate bleeding.
Relax on a Towel: Sitting on concrete, wooden benches or any rough surfaces can snag, tear and cause unsightly fabric pilling (loose strands or balls that form on a piece of fabric). Using a towel or sarong as a barrier can prevent these damaging effects that friction of surfaces causes.
Keeping these tips in mind while soaking up the sun will help keep your suit and you, looking your beachwear best!