There is nothing more annoying than your favourite swimsuit starting to disintegrate after a few months.
To help you add more life to your beach and pool wear, RMIT Senior Lecturer Carolina Quintero Rodriguez has chimed in with a few tips.
Dr Quintero Rodriguez , from the School of Fashion and Textiles, said few people realised how quickly chlorine, salt and sun could break down their swimwear.
“Pool chemicals, UV rays, and salt water are quietly damaging your swimwear’s delicate fibres,” she said.
“Modern swimwear is engineered from about 80 percent polyester or nylon blended with 20 percent elastane. It is the elastane that keeps swimmers fitting snugly, but it is also the most vulnerable to chlorine and sun damage.”
Research showed that after 300 hours of chlorine and sunlight exposure swimsuit strength could drop by 65 percent.
To help reduce this, Dr Quintero Rodriguez recommends:
- Rinse swimwear immediately in cold water after the pool or beach to remove chlorine, salt, sunscreen and oils. This could extend your swimsuit’s life for years.
- Never use hot water, machine dryers, bleach or fabric softeners on swimwear.
- Always try to air-dry in the shade rather than direct sunlight as UV rays continue breaking down the elastic fibres.
