Any tips on making my suit last longer?

[skinnykid]

Is just regular soap okay? Whenever I just use only water, I can still smell the chlorine when its dry but if I use soap, the chlorine is almost gone. Which one is better?

[shaulis]

I use detergent made for delicates something like Woolite. My suits have lasted a long time. The pool I go to is heavy on chorline

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

If you can smell the chlorine the chlorine is still there. The best way to get the chlorine out is a longer rinse in fresh water. If I wash them, I am like Shaulis, a small amount of mild detergent.

[kumu]

Out of curiosity, could you maybe toss in a little vinegar when rinsing a speedo to neutralize the acidic chlorine?

[Lap Counter]

Any discussion of cleaning swim suits raises the issue of what to use, soap or detergent? Both have their advocates, so I'll just link to this discussion of their various features and benefits:

http://www.french-handlaundry.com/orvus_vs_soap.htm

[Byron]

My first reaction to using vinegar against chlorine was no as it is itself an acid but the launderers' advice above does suggest a little white vinegar in a rinse to remove a final soap residue. That interesting summary is quite an education but I do note that it is all about cleaning articles of natural fibers and not man-made ones.

[Lap Counter]

I've had a few favorite suits last for years, following these rules
- Be prepared to sacrifice any suit you wear to the beach. Sand can destroy a Speedo in one day.
- Never expose them to hot water. That includes hot tubs and showers.
- Rinse in cold water. Leaving the suit in the sink for awhile leaches out the pool water.
- Don't machine wash, even in cold water. The agitator beats up the Lycra.
- If there's a hint of chlorine smell, use a swimsuit protective product (available from most swim stores). Alternatively, a very mild soap like shampoo.
- It's OK to blot the suit with a towel to speed drying, but don't stretch it or leave it rolled in the towel.
- Air dry but not in the sun.

(When I say I've had suits last for years, that means they are in the rotation of the 10 or 20 suits I wear lap swimming. I like to buy new suits, so sometimes a suit gets sacrificed in a hot tub just to keep the inventory manageable.)