Swim teams often choose swim
team suits that match each other and come in the team’s colors to
ensure everyone looks as uniform as possible. Just as any other sports team,
professional or amateur, will all wear the same uniform with the same colors
and designs, so will swimmers who enter a competition as a team. These suits
don’t have to be extremely expensive, but if you are looking for the best
functionality out of a suit, including less restriction and a smoother
material, you need to spend a little more. This makes taking care of your swim
team suit critical to ensure it lasts as long as possible to avoid expensive
replacements.
The Material
Competitive swimwear comes in a variety of man-made materials that
are specifically designed for the swimmer. Some of the most common materials
for these swim team suits
include Lycra, spandex and polyester. The fibers from which these suits are
made are woven from extremely thin threads that are woven tightly together to
create a solid, smooth material that will allow the water to flow smoothly with
less resistance. Even though these materials may be resistant to chlorine,
sunscreen chemicals and body oils, they still need special care to ensure the
quality of the suit is maintained for a longer period of time, especially with
prolonged exposure to these elements.
Prerinsing
Many swimmers simply change out of their suits at the pool and plan
to wash them when they get home. While it isn’t necessary for you to wash your
swim team suits while you are at the pool, it is important to at least rinse it
out with clean running water before you head home from a practice or an event.
Rinse your suit for at least a few minutes to remove as much of the chlorine
and body oils and sweat as possible. Avoid stretching or wringing out the suit
to avoid pulling it out of shape or putting unnecessary stress on the fibers
within the material. Don’t forget to take your suit out as soon as you get home
to prevent molding.
Hand Washing
Even if you put your recreational swimsuit in the washer and dryer,
it is important to never put your swim team suits in the washing machine or the
dryer. Instead, fill a sink with cold water and add a tablespoon or so of a
mild detergent. There are some detergents that are marketed specifically for
washing competitive swimwear. Turn your suit inside out and place it in the
water and detergent solution. Swish the suit around in the water with your
hands for a few minutes. Drain the sink and rinse the suit thoroughly with
clean water until you remove all the detergent. Gently squeeze out as much
water as possible once it is clean. Remember, never use bleach and never wring
out swim team suits.
Drying
Just like you shouldn’t put your swim team suits in the washer, they
should never go in the dryer. The heat from the dryer, even on an air fluff
cycle, can cause damage and excess wear to the fibers, reducing the efficiency
and life of your suit. Instead, simply spread your suit out flat to dry;
however, it is important to keep it out of direct sunlight to avoid fading its
colors. Even though this method of drying can take a long time, especially if
humidity is high in your area, it is critical to avoid adding heat to dry the
suit. You should also never use an iron on the suit. Instead, allow wrinkles to
fall out on their own by hanging the suit up.
Taking proper care of swim
team suits is essential to maintain the color and other important
properties of the suit. It also eliminates the need to replace your suit too
often, costing you even more money. As long as you follow the proper steps in
caring for your suit and keeping it clean after practices and meets, your swim
team suits will last you for much longer than it would if you treated it like
any other recreational suit you may have owned.
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