Need Need Help Saving Swimsuits From Chlorine Damage

[eyeheartgoofy]

This is the first summer that we have spent a lot of time at the pool and our suits are literally falling apart. We have Speedo and Lands End suits, but they are all getting the elastic eaten away (or broken down ... whatever clorine does).

I saw a bottle of Speedo swimsuit wash at Dick's that claims to gently remove chlorine, does it work? Is there something else?

Up until now, I've just been rinsing the suits in cool water as soon as we get home, then hand washing them with some Tide, and line drying (indoor drying rack). Clearly, my method is not working.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[SandrA9810]

i have quick silver trunks and a disney tankini top. I used to spend every other day at aquatica, where chlorine levels are probably just as high with no issues.

Although i rinse my suit out at the park while i'm showering, so it never dries out before it gets rinsed out. On top of that i just throw it in the machine with the rest of my clothes. I use arm and hammer's natural detergent. Maybe tide isn't the best at getting chlorine out.

The top is getting worn out from 2 summers there, mostly fading, but no issues with the shorts.

 

[thebeesknees]

Hmm, we are at the pool several times a week, and have not had that problem yet. Our suits are Lands End, as well. I make sure they get washed in the washer as soon as we get home. I wash with cold water, 1/2 as much detergent as needed for 1 load, then hang them to dry. My daughter's LE swim shorts have faded some, but there is no issue with the elastic going bad. Maybe your pool has a higher chlorine concentration than most?

 

[princessmom29]

Try to rinse as soon as you get out of the pool, and wash as soon as you get home. A little vinegar in the wash helps as it neutralizes the chlorine.

 

[jessica52877]

I also rinse mine immediately in cold water and then usually either soak or just hand wash in the bathroom sink with all. Every once in a while I'll toss them in the washer and hang dry. I feel like that might stretch them out, never noticed it though.

We have our own pool so swim daily but I am sure the chlorine levels aren't like at a park or public pool. We keep ours where they need to be but I never smell cholorine like I can other places. My suits last about 3-4 years and usually I get lazy towards the end of their life.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I always wash my cheapo Walmart swimsuit and board shorts(also from Walmart) in with regular wash in the machine. I even dry it and it lasted me years, I got this suit in 2003 on my honeymoon(it was Feb we didn't know the hotel had indoor pool so bought one to go in). I tend to use All Free and Clear the most but it seems to keep them lasting. The one I had from Sears that cost $80 regular price(no way I paid that) didn't even last that long.

Its due for a replacement since the bra support has stretched out and one of the arm straps the elastic snapped off this year finally but its still attached. I usually don't even always rinse them.

 

[timzagain]

My DD12 is a competitive swimmer - she swims daily, and wears Speedo almost exclusively and we haven't had a problem with swimsuits falling apart. Her swimsuits are rinsed right away with water only and hung to dry away from heat and direct sunlight. I've stopped checking now, but I am pretty sure that those are the manufacturer's recommended care instructions. Heat will destroy the elastic in a hurry, as will the use of the washing machine.

Occasionally I will hand wash with a delicate detergent or baby shampoo

I should also mention that my DD is extremely hard on her swimsuits - she will swim thousands of meters every week. No tender loving care there and her swimsuits survive the ordeal

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I can definitely say that the Speedo swimsuit wash is worth it - you only need a few drops in a sink of water to rinse all your suits, so one bottle lasts a long time.

I swam competitive synchronized swimming for almost a decade, and my suits would last 2-3 years (being worn almost daily) with the Speedo wash. It just sounds like the pool you're using is highly chlorinated - some pools will wear out swimsuits faster than others. Also, I was taught to ALWAYS handwash swimsuits - a washing machine will kill an expensive suit faster than anything else. The agitation is very bad for the fabric and the elastic.

 

[irish dancer]

Lands End has a lifetime satisfaction guarantee on all their products. My son had a rash guard that started to disentegrate, I called their 800 customer svc number and they handled it without a problem. I think they sent me a return label for the item and then sent a check for the replacement. He had had the rash guard for quite some time too and they didn't even hesitate to refund. You can read about the guarantee on their website.

 

[Swimalie]

Don't wash your suits in detergent!!!! Any additional chemicals will rot the suit out.

I swim competitively and train 4 times a week for 2 hours a day and my suits last 9 months. I wear lycra suits, just like what you have and I never rinse mine and I would never put them in the wash. I simply hang them up after I get home to let them air dry. They last a long time this way. No vinegar, no detergent, no additional chemicals. Just rinse (if you want but I don't) and air dry.

I also do this method with my $100+ technical competitive suits and they last for months as well.

 

[dd50]

We always rinse them out when done and never had a problem until this year. My daughter bought a swim suit from Kohl's and tho it didn't fall apart it faded until almost white and it has many bright colors.

 

[KerriMc]

I used to be a competitive swimmer and NEVER washed my suits in the washing machine! It is so bad for the fabric!

My girls each have started swimming on the team here - just twice a week - but they each have a Lands End suit and they are still in mint condition. I have had no issues with the chlorine eating them. I just rinse them and hang to dry.

Good luck!

 

[SILLYANDI]

My DD12 is a competitive swimmer - she swims daily, and wears Speedo almost exclusively and we haven't had a problem with swimsuits falling apart. Her swimsuits are rinsed right away with water only and hung to dry away from heat and direct sunlight. I've stopped checking now, but I am pretty sure that those are the manufacturer's recommended care instructions. Heat will destroy the elastic in a hurry, as will the use of the washing machine.

Occasionally I will hand wash with a delicate detergent or baby shampoo

I should also mention that my DD is extremely hard on her swimsuits - she will swim thousands of meters every week. No tender loving care there and her swimsuits survive the ordeal

I second this. My DD10 swims 3 hrs a day 5 days a week in the same 2 Speedo Swimsuits. She swims 2 hrs in the morning then showers in her suit (shampoos/conditions hair which probably runs through the suit too). In the afternoon she swims an hour, nses with water while wearing the suit, changes immediately and hangs it to dry when we get home 10 minutes later. I never run them through the machine or wash with anything but clear water
Her suits last her about a year-sometimes longer..

 

[Swimalie]

I second this. My DD10 swims 3 hrs a day 5 days a week in the same 2 Speedo Swimsuits. She swims 2 hrs in the morning then showers in her suit (shampoos/conditions hair which probably runs through the suit too). In the afternoon she swims an hour, nses with water while wearing the suit, changes immediately and hangs it to dry when we get home 10 minutes later. I never run them through the machine or wash with anything but clear water
Her suits last her about a year-sometimes longer..

Must be the poly suits. I'm guessing the original poster has lycra. I love the lasting ability of polyester but it bubbles on me when I swim. I found some $10 lycra suits at Marshalls so I'm swimming "through" those (literally).

 

[Alexander]

Lands End has a lifetime satisfaction guarantee on all their products. My son had a rash guard that started to disentegrate, I called their 800 customer svc number and they handled it without a problem. I think they sent me a return label for the item and then sent a check for the replacement. He had had the rash guard for quite some time too and they didn't even hesitate to refund. You can read about the guarantee on their website.

This is good to know. Both of my boys rash guards fell apart last year. They actually got a lot of wear out of them, but they both began to fall apart the last time they swam. I just tossed them since it was time for new suits anyways (they needed larger sizes). Now that I think about it, one of them had the shorts come apart too! The stitching just disintegrated when we were at SSR (he had to hold the shorts together!)

 

[EKW]

I've always tossed our suits in the machine on gentle. Never had them breakdown, but did have one navy blue suit fade some.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

I had a swimsuit made by Nygard. I was taking aqua fitness classes twice a week. I would rinse out the swimsuit as soon as I got out the pool.

It sure didn't last long. I sent an e-mail to Nygard and never even received a response. Won't buy any of their products again!!!!

That was the very first time I had a problem like that. This bathing suit did have lycra in it.

I was so upset as I loved the fit and fabric of the suit.