Do I have to rinse out my swimsuit after the pool? A textile scientist has the answer |
Summer means sunshine, beach days, and afternoons by the pool … which means wearing swimwear and looking after it. But while we enjoy those carefree summer days, pool chemicals, UV rays from sunlight, sweat and salt water are quietly damaging the delicate fibres of our swimwear.
The good news is a simple habit can make a big difference. You may have heard you should rinse out your swimmers after you’ve been in the pool so they don’t fall apart. Here’s the science behind this advice.
Modern swimwear isn’t just fabric. It’s an engineered material made of a sophisticated blend of synthetic fibres designed to perform under demanding conditions.
It combines polyester or polyamide (typically nylon) with elastane fibres, commonly known by brand names like Spandex or Lycra. Typically, swimwear materials contain approximately 80% polyester or polyamide blended with 20% elastane to provide stretch.
Polyester and polyamide dominate swimwear fabrics because they ensure the swimwear will hold its shape when wet, and dry faster than other types of fabrics would.
However, it’s the elastane that helps to ensure swimwear stays on our body during swimming and lets us move with comfort.
All these fibres respond........