most swimwear contains elastane or spandex to give fibers memory and fabrics the ability to stretch and recover. swimwear needs to perform wet and dry, repeatedly and the best way to let the fibers and fabric recover is to let them rest. wearing the same suit over and over again wears out the fibers and fabrics so to prolong the life of all of your swimsuits be sure to alternate wearing them.
Swimwear love
your malia mills swimsuit is ready to rock, but it won't last forever.
how to extend the life of all your suits
best way to hand wash
hand wash after wearing - even if you don't swim - the sooner the better. body oils, lotions, sunscreens, chlorine and salt water - the longer these elements soak into the fabric the more damage they do to color fastness, stretch and recovery. the agitation from a washing machine is hard on fibers, fabrics, straps and other components.
- always wash a swimsuit by itself. never mix lights and darks when rinsing or washing.
- use cold water + a small amount of mild soap meant for your body or delicate garments.
- let the swimsuit soak for 5 to 10 minutes, then gently massage with hands to work out the elements from the fabric.
- rinse well to remove soap. gently squeeze out excess water - don't wring or twist.
why dry a suit flat?
to avoid stretching, be sure to lay a swimsuit on a clean flat surface to dry. to avoid fading, be sure to place it away from sunlight, in the shade.
- the heat and tumbling from a dryer wears out fibers, fabrics, straps and other components.
- no dry cleaning, ironing, or bleaching.
- to prevent mildew make sure your swimwear is completely dry before storing.
- if you need to pack a damp or wet suit while traveling be sure to fold the swimsuit gently into a plastic bag with a few holes and loosely wrap the bag with a towel to absorb extra moisture. to avoid any color transfer be sure to pack only one swimsuit per plastic bag.
- to maintain the shape of your swimwear, be sure to lay it flat in a drawer.
things to avoid
some sunscreen may permanently stain fabrics - to remove sunscreen from fabric soak your swimsuit in the sink with delicate soap. gently rub fabric to fabric to remove sunscreen.
- self-tanner will permanently stain fabrics.
- avoid rough surfaces - wooden benches, concrete and other uneven and rough surfaces where we sit or lie down can snag fabrics. to prevent snags be sure to sit or lie on a towel.
- hot tubs are very hard on swimwear. high heat and high levels of chlorine fade fabrics and deteriorate fibers. imagine throwing your beautiful malia mills suit into a pot of extremely hot water on the stove and adding a ton of chlorine. sounds terrible right? it is! instead, enjoy a hot tub soak wearing a suit that you won't be bummed about if it fades or falls apart.
thank you + carpe swim