- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Austin Babies
NBR-- ? for those who swim a lot
Is there some way I should be caring for my swimsuits? we swim nearly every day Is there something I should purchase (maybe a de-chlorinating rinse) or should I just tap water rinse them after each swim? Or, will they wear out at the same speed either way?!
Second, is there a shampoo you would recommend to protect my hair from the chlorine? Where do I buy it, what brand do you recommend?
TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: NBR-- ? for those who swim a lot
I swam every day for about 6 months of my pregnancy, and I did what you did (rinse with tap water after each swim) plus one more thing: I used a lingerie bag when I washed my suit. My suit is still in very good condition, albeit it is stretched out from my huge pregnant belly.
Also, I think Petticoat Fair recommends that you use a vinegar rinse on your suit before washing it in the machine. They say it holds the color better. I can't remember exactly what they tell you to do, but if you call the store I'm sure they will tell you.
I think I read in Real Simple (?) that washing swim suits with detergent will keep them nicer longer. I guess the chlorine is tough on the elastic (no surprise - it is tough on everything). I always rinse my suit with water and if I'm not doing laundry that day, I'll hand wash it quickly in the sink. You could use any old detergent - I just have Woolite on hand.
Here's what I do for my hair, since I am in the pool four or five days a week for under an hour. First, I try not to get my hair wet, or wear a swim cap since I am in the pool so often and my hair gets dried out by pool water. I have a hair sunscreen gel by Redken that I like, but Redken now has a whole line of sun protection products. Anyway, I mix the sunscreen with a hair mask by Fekkai that's really moisturizing (the kind that says to leave on for 20+ minutes for best results), but you could probably just use regular conditioner too. I slather it on my hair, comb it through, and put it in tiny pigtails to keep it out of the water. Then my hair is really soft and silky after I wash it out.
Bear in mind that I swim in my pool at home, so I don't care if my hair looks like a heinous mess when I am out there. But I do think that putting in conditioner of some kind is very helpful, especially now that I know how much chlorine and hydrochloric acid go into pool water.
This is my favorite shampoo for getting the chlorine out (also Redken):
https://www.redken.com/products/haircare/specialty-products/hair-cleansing-cream-shampoo
You can get it at Ulta or the Beauty Store.
HTH!
Jacob David (01/07), Matthew Isaac (12/08) & Kasey Elise (9/10)
WEB
These days, a lot of suits are already chlorine resistant. For those suits, all you need to is rinse it well as soon as possible with tap water and wash it regularly. You're better off with a gentle soap rather than detergent for color, but you want that stronger detergent if you wear it in the lake or if your pool is heavily chlorinated. I always wash mine in detergent.
If it isn't chlorine resistant, a pre-wash to set the color is a good idea. You can do it with salt or vinegar, but you basically soak it in the sink for about 5-10 minutes and then rinse well. You want to do that before you wash or wear your suit.
As long as you're using soap (as opposed to detergent), you should wash it as often as possible. You want the elastic to be clean and fresh and the only way to do that is to wash out all the gunk that comes with being in a pool or lake. If you're doing detergent, do a good rinse and wash every few wears.