Are you constantly buying new swimsuits?
If you own a pool or hot tub, it’s no wonder why you find yourself with a multitude of swimwear. Not only are bathing suits fun and trendy, but you kind of need them to go for a dip in the water. Unfortunately, the chlorine in the water eats away at bathing suits. The chlorine can cause discoloration, cause the material to stretch out, and basically eat away at the suit itself. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help enhance the quality of your suits and help them last even longer. So, you don’t have to sacrifice any of your wonderful hot tub or pool time.
1. Materials
What’s your bathing suit made from?
When you purchase a swimsuit, it’s important to regard the material that it’s made from. This can help you make the best choices moving forward, from how you’ll care for it, to if you really want to buy it in the first place. Scroll down for a helpful guide to purchasing bathing suits.
| Material | What You Need to Know |
| Spandex/Lycra | · Form-fitting, yet stretchy and elastic
· One of the most popular materials for swimsuits · Mainly used in suits made for competitive swimming · Affected by chlorine and salt |
| Polyester | · Tight-fitting
· Stretchy · Thicker material · Withstands chlorine well · A great option for a hot tub |
| Cotton | · Stylish
· Often blended with polyester and/or spandex · Stretchy material isn’t form-fitting · Not durable in chlorine |
| Nylon | · One of the most popular materials for swimsuits
· Light · Form-fitting · Excessive sunlight can lead to discoloration or fraying |
| Chlorine-Resistant | · Mainly used in suits made for competitive swimming
· Usually consists of polyester, treated spandex or a combination of both |
When choosing a bathing suit for your hot tub or pool, you should try to aim for a polyester or spandex/lycra bathing suit.
2. Rinsing
After you exit the pool or hot tub, it’s highly recommended that you quickly rinse your swimsuit right away. After rinsing the suit in cool water, allow it to soak for 15-30 minutes. Rinsing your bathing suit can help remove salt, chlorine, sand, dirt, sunscreen, bodily oils, and everything else from the material.
Over time, these substances can deteriorate the suit.
3. Washing
After soaking the suit it’s very important that you wash it. And not in a washing machine! Washing machines are deadly to bathing suits, as the constant wringing and swirling can badly damage the delicate material.
Using cool water and either a delicate laundry detergent or swimwear wash, thoroughly hand wash the bathing suit. You should thoroughly wash the suit for one to two minutes to ensure that the debris mentioned above is completely removed.
4. Drying
Never, ever, ever wring out your bathing suits! This can lead to the material stretching out and even cause damage to the delicate fibers. Hanging your suit on a clothesline or draped over a railing can also lead to damage, as water will gather at the bottom as it slowly drips, weighing the material down.
Instead, lay your suit flat in between two towels. Roll up the towels, and slowly rock back and forth. The towels will absorb the water in a way that is gentle and doesn’t damage the material. Afterward, lay flat to dry.
5. Storing
To ensure that the shape and style of your bathing suit aren’t altered, they should be stored safely. Lay flat at the bottom of a drawer, or even store in a separate shelf, box, or storage bin to ensure that they aren’t damaged.
6. Shower First
A wet swimsuit is not as susceptible to chlorine as a dry one. Once it has soaked up water, it’s less likely to soak up a bunch more, especially water that’s contaminated by chlorine. Showering before you head into the pool or hot tub with your swimsuit on is your best bet, as putting on a wet swimsuit can prove to be quite difficult and time-consuming.
Not only is showering first good for your swimsuit but for your pool or hot tub too! Take this time to rinse away any makeup, lotions, body oils, or dirt to keep them from entering your hot tub or pool.
7. Alternate Your Suits
If you wear the same swimsuit every time you go swimming, chances are it’s going to wear out faster than usual. By switching up your suit each time, you can help each of them to last longer. Especially if you plan on showing them off at the beach or your next neighborhood pool party!
8. Washing a New Suit
Rinsing a brand-new bathing suit in vinegar or a swimwear wash can help preserve the material inside your swimsuit. This pre-wash can help prevent discoloration and color bleeding, effectively preserving brightly colored suits.
9. What to Avoid?
To help your swimsuit last longer, you should always avoid the following:
- Sitting on rough surfaces
- Dry cleaning
- Drying in the sun
- Bleaching
- Ironing
- Leaving wet in a plastic bag
- Tanning after swimming (sweat, lotion, and chlorine is not a good combination for suits)
It’s very important that you never skip washing a suit. Simply allowing it to dry until you use it the next time is not only unhygienic, it can lead to discoloration, a permanent chlorine-like odor, and deterioration.
10. Buy Good and Bad Quality Swimwear
Having an equal combination of high-quality and poor-quality swimwear might be a good idea for you. If you own a hot tub or pool, using your lower-quality swimsuits at home might be a good idea. Especially if you’re by yourself or with family. That way, you can save your expensive, high-quality swimsuits for public beaches, vacations, and backyard parties.
For more tips, tricks, or information, browse through the rest of our blog section! For more information about All Seasons Pools & Spas, or to browse our wide selection of above-ground pools and hot tubs for sale in California, visit one of our five locations today. We have hot tub and pool showrooms in Granite Bay, Shingle Springs, Grass Valley, North Auburn, and Roseville.
