BEFORE YOU BUY THAT SPEEDO

I recently attended my kids' swimming gala and was very impressed to see how far they've come, from the paddle pool, to the baby pool and now in the big pool! But I'm rather unimpressed by how many swimsuits we've had to go through.


As far as I can remember, as a 6 year old beginner and again as a 9 year old swimmer, I'm wearing the same brown swimming costume!!! It was UGLY but I didn't care because at least I actually had a swimsuit when a lot of my age mates went bare chested at Kenyatta beach. Anyway, I eventually outgrew it and passed it down to my little sister in "excellent condition". That is to say, it was the same ugly brown I started with, still had its halter lace, and the fabric, tough as nails, hadn't lost much of its elasticity. So how did it last so long?

These days swimming costumes wear out too quickly. This fabric technology in swimming gear that is beneficial to the swimmer unfortunately also makes the garment extra delicate. More care is therefore required in the way we maintain this expensive wear. So before you go buying a speedo or whichever designer swimsuit this Easter, you'll need this Care and Maintenance tutorial.

1. Rinse off the Chlorine or Beach water
I know some of us think that the shower in the changing room is there to shock your body with cold water before you jump into the freezing pool. Others think the shower is there to wash off the extra body fluids you might have been swimming in... Actually, taking a shower straight after the swim (whether from the beach or pool) is necessary to wash off chemicals such as chlorine and salt, which are harsh to your skin as well as your swimming costume.

2. Hand wash only
Swimsuit fabric cannot handle machine washing or spin drying, even on a gentle run. Hand wash only.

3. No Detergent
A common but harsh chemical for your costume is regular laundry detergent. It is advisable to use a mild dish liquid soap or just a little panga soap.

4. Do not Wring
After rinsing your swimming costume, you may be tempted to wring out the excess water before you hang it out to dry. Don't. Place the costume in a towel. Roll up and squeeze just a little for the towel to absorb most of the water. Wringing the wet costume will stretch out the garment and damage the spandex over time.

5. Dry in the Shade
Unfortunately, sun basking and slathering your body with sunscreen is also bad for your swimsuit. How now? Don't we need to protect ourselves from the sun, in which we must bask between our 5 minute swimming laps? However, when it comes to laundry, keep the swimsuit away from the sun by laying it flat in a shade. You will save both the colour and its elasticity.

Easter is round the corner and even though the rains are lurking, I am sure a fair number of us are plotting to hit the coast. So take some advice, you can still have all the fun in the sun hiking in Naivasha, Naro Moru and the Aberdares. Who needs a swim anyway?

Images: Speedo logo, yellow bikini clipart, lady silhouette on thumbnail.

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