HELOISE Sales clerk gives tips on swimsuit care

Dear Heloise: I read your column in The Washington Post. Someone wrote in about swimsuit care, and as someone who sells suits in a retail business, I wanted to clarify some of the points you brought up.
Swimsuits should always be hand-washed in cold water. Regular laundry detergent is harmful to the suit fabric and can destroy it faster, and even washing it in the washer without the detergent can shorten the life span of the suit.
I liked your idea about the fish-tank chlorine drops as a way to dechlorinate the suit, but keep in mind that these drops are often very concentrated -- in some of the bottles you are only supposed to use a few drops for 10 gallons of water. Another option can be found in your local swim/sports store. Many locations sell swimsuit washing solution -- a capful is mixed with a sink basin of water.
You are absolutely right to never, ever put a swimsuit in the dryer. Most suits are made of a lycra/spandex blend, which breaks down easily when exposed to high heat. This is also why your average workout suit will have a very short life when worn regularly in a hot tub or whirlpool. Wringing out the suit can add to the deterioration, since it stresses the fabric unnecessarily; instead, squeeze the suit into a ball to drain excess water, and hang or lay flat to dry in the shower or tub.
Many companies are starting to come out with suits made of polyester rather than lycra/spandex, and they are much easier to care for. The colors will not fade as fast, if at all, and the suits are almost completely resistant to stretching. Rinsing these suits in cold water will suffice, since the chlorine does not harm the suit.
Thank you for helping your readers clear up any misconceptions about swimsuit care. Salesgirl in Virginia
With swimsuits so expensive, anything that will help prolong their life is sure appreciated. You were kind to take the time to write with this valuable information. Thank you. Heloise
Here are two hints from Pam, via e-mail:
UI do quite a bit of gardening, and even with gloves, dirt inevitably gets under my nails. The best solution I have found is to use a wood toothpick, preferably a round one, to remove dirt while washing my hands. The wood gets soft enough so as not to be painful and does a great job.
UMy bedroom dressers have ornate drawer pulls that are impossible to dust with just a rag or even a feather duster. Solution: I take a cotton swab, spray some furniture cleaner on it and am able to get into all those little nooks and crannies.
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