38carrots Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I bought a swimming suit in April to go to the pool, and I think I went maybe 25 times. In the pool I swim in the chlorinated pool, salt water pool, and use a hot tub. I usually take a shower in it to rinse it, and then dry it in the swimming suit tumbler in the dressing room. Today I noticed that the fabric is getting this ugly unpleasant thin feeling on my breasts. I can still wear it, as there's a very thick liner, but I was hoping for it to last longer. I just ordered a new one from the same company as I really like the fit. Should I be doing something more to preserve it? Like hand washing it after each swim?? Will it make a substantial difference? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmseB Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I wouldn't dry it in the tumbler. I'd hang dry after rinsing and wringing completely. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 You're probably doing all you can. You just need better fabric. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 You're probably doing all you can. You just need better fabric. This. I've been very disappointed in swimsuits the last few years. Did you buy it from Lands End, by any chance? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38carrots Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 This. I've been very disappointed in swimsuits the last few years. Did you buy it from Lands End, by any chance? I got it from Swimsuites for all. I really love their styles. I also ordered from the "chlorine resistant" lines... If I go swimming as I plan to, 3 times a week, I'll need a new suit in 3 months! Ugh...They are not as expensive in the USD, especially the on-sale ones ($29), with the the Canadian dollar + $20 for shipping I'm paying quite a lot. :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Should I be doing something more to preserve it? Like hand washing it after each swim?? Will it make a substantial difference? Mom always had us soak our swim suits in clean cold tap water when we got home from the pool, and the let them air dry. So, this is what I do, and seems to help. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I wash mine once a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmseB Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I got it from Swimsuites for all. I really love their styles. I also ordered from the "chlorine resistant" lines... If I go swimming as I plan to, 3 times a week, I'll need a new suit in 3 months! Ugh...They are not as expensive in the USD, especially the on-sale ones ($29), with the the Canadian dollar + $20 for shipping I'm paying quite a lot. :-( Honestly when I was swimming competitively (5 days per week) this was about the rate my practice suits got faded. But then we'd call them drag suits and wear two at once. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I wash mine in the washing machine on delicate (with detergent) and hang to dry. I wouldn't use a dryer at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I wouldn't dry it in the tumbler. I'd hang dry after rinsing and wringing completely. I think the "tumbler" she's referring to is a little machine that does the equivalent of the spin cycle on a washing machine — at least that's what they have in the locker room at my gym. There's no heat or anything, it just spins all the water out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 For chlorine: wash in the bathroom sink with hand soap and cold water -- and rinse clean. To dry: no spinning! That's just seriously over stretching it while it's most vulnerable. Just hand wring, roll in a towel then sit/ stand on the roll. It will be damp. Hang or lay it out to dry the rest of the way. Even the cheapest suits last well with this care. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Stay away from the tumbler. Rinse in cold water, no detergent. Air dry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamajag Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 Yes, it needs to be washed with a little gentle soap to get rid of the chlorine. A rinse in the shower isn't enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I'm curious why the tumbler is so bad. The diameter is less than 12" — it's like the size of a salad spinner. And since I'm a whole lot wider than 12" it seems like the fabric would be stretched a lot more while I'm wearing it for an hour than when it's in the tumbler for 60 seconds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 The force of the spinning weakens the fabric. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I'm curious why the tumbler is so bad. The diameter is less than 12" — it's like the size of a salad spinner. And since I'm a whole lot wider than 12" it seems like the fabric would be stretched a lot more while I'm wearing it for an hour than when it's in the tumbler for 60 seconds.That confused me for a while too, but, my experiences show that it definitely has the effect of weakening the suits in drastic ways. It must be the amount of force not the distance of the stretching. Or it could be done other physics that I haven't thought of (It's made of metal with holes... Maybe abrasion?) It's about a 4:1 difference in suit life, so I haven't put much thought into it since I stopped using it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimomma Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 I don't know about the tumbler theory. I lap swim regularly and I have found that some suits just don't hold up as well as others no matter what. I have spent a fortune on Speedos and other "higher quality" suits and have found them hit or miss. Some have lasted only a couple of months. Dd's Lands End suits also disintegrated quickly despite never using the tumbler. My current suit was a super-cheap Dolphin suit that was am emergency purchase and it has lasted a full year despite being tumbled 3 times a week. I don't get it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.