Style Sunday: Caring For Your Bathing Suits

   Earlier this week was my first time in a bathing suit for summer 2014.  I usually buy one or two new bathing suits a year and rotate these in and out with a few bathing suits I own from previous years.

   Bathing suits are like bras, they need to be cared for a bit more gently then our regular clothing.  Here are some tips and tricks to keep your bathing suits in primal condition!

 ✺ If possible, rinse before putting a bathing suit on.  A common culprit of bathing suit "decay" is body oils and odors, so rinsing prior to putting a suit on can help cut down on these.

 ✺ Try to do a large majority of your sunbathing prior to getting your suit wet.  A wet bathing suit drying in the sun leads to fading.

✺  If possible, rinse your bathing suit in cold tap water after hitting the pool or the waves.  A bottle of water can work also.

  ✺ If you're changing at the beach or pool, don't throw your damp bathing suit in a plastic bag- this can lead to mildew growth.  Try one of those cute bathing suit storage bags made out of towel material, or poke holes in a plastic bag so some dampness can drain out.

 ✺  Try to avoid washing your suit in a washing machine after every wash.  Try hand washing in your sink with detergent formulated for delicates or even mild hand soap.

 ✺ If you must wash your bathing suit in a washing machine, try to hold off on every 4-5 wears and throw it in a delicates washing bag or even a pillowcase.

✺ Never, never throw your suit in the dryer.  The material isn't formulated to be heated that much and it can quickly lose its shape.

✺ Never, ever wring out your bathing suit to dry either.  From what I've read, it's recommended to lay a bathing suit flat between two tools, gently roll out the moisture and then dry flatly somewhere.

✺ Rotate your suits, especially the bottoms!  We all have a favorite bathing suit, but try not to wear the same one every time to give each suit a break.

✺ Finally, ROCK IT!  We wait all summer to hit up the beach or the pool, even if you didn't lose those 10 pounds like you wanted or haven't perfected your tan, you better rock that bathing suit, for it'll be winter again before we know it!