Having a dripping wet swimsuit thrown into your beach bag or suitcase can cause quite a lot of inconvenience, dampening other clothes and creating the potential for bad odors. Fortunately, there are some effective ways to handle this common issue without fuss.
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In this blog post, I’ll show you how to pack wet swimsuits to stay dry and not damage your other clothes. I’ll also give you some tips on what to do with wet swimsuits before packing.
5 Different Ways To Pack Wet Swimsuit
Many always wonder what to do with wet bathing suits after swimming. If there is nowhere to dry your swimsuit, the next thing is to pack them, especially when you are not in your space. Below are a few ways to pack your wet swimsuit:
- Towel roll technique
- Portable clothesline
- Wet bags
- Plastic or ziploc bags
- Mesh bags
1. Towel roll technique
After you’re finished swimming, lay your swimsuit flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel with the swimsuit in it as tight as possible, then squeeze. The towel will absorb a good portion of the water, making the swimsuit less wet and quicker to dry.
2. Portable clothesline
This is a helpful tool for frequent swimmers or beachgoers. It allows you to hang your swimsuit to dry while you’rebusy with other activities. Simply string it up between two stable points and hang your suit up. Many are lightweight, compact, and easy to pack, making them perfect for travel.
3. Wet bags
Wet bags are a great investment. They’re used for cloth diapers but work just as well for swimsuits. They are waterproof bags for swimming costume that you can put your wet swimsuit in, separate from your dry clothes.
4. Plastic bags or Ziploc bags
If you don’t have a wet bag, use plastic bags or Ziploc bags to separate the wet swimsuit from the dry clothes in your bag. Just make sure to air out the swimsuit as soon as you can to avoid odor and mildew build-up.
5. Mesh bag
Consider packing a small mesh bag within your luggage. They allow airflow to the swimsuit, which aids in drying it out and reducing the chances of bad odors.
What To Do With Wet Swimsuits Before Packing
1. Rinse the chlorine out of the swimsuit
Regardless of where you’ve gone swimming, you shouldn’t pack your wet swimsuits in any bags or towel without having to rinse the bathing suit. Please, endeavor to do this before moving to the next stage, which is, bagging.
If your swimsuit isn’t a chlorine-resistant suit, then this is for you. If chlorine stays on the wet bathing suit for a very long time or more than it should, the chlorine will get into the swimsuit much quicker than you envisaged. That is why you should rinse the wet swimsuits before packing or bagging.
Go and start checking out the available places where there is clean water. Even if it is the shower that is being provided by those in charge. You aren’t going over to wash the suit but to rinse it and place it in the bags.
2. Towel dry the swimsuit
We have talked about something like this from the former, which talked about ways to pack a wet swimsuit. If you want to use plastic bags, a moisture grabber, a wet bag, or a towel, dry the swimsuit before doing so.
How Long Does It Take For a Swimsuit To Dry?
The duration it takes for a swimsuit to dry can be quite variable and depends on several different factors. These include the material of the swimsuit, its thickness, weather conditions, and the method used for drying. Swimsuits made from synthetic materials like nylon or polyester, which are most common, tend to dry faster than those made from natural materials like cotton.
Also the thickness of the swimsuit also matters: the thicker it is, the more water it absorbs, and hence the longer it takes to dry. For instance, a thin bikini might take around an hour or two to dry under the sun, but a thick, neoprene wetsuit may take considerably longer. Weather conditions, too, greatly influence drying times; a hot, sunny, and windy day will dry a swimsuit much faster than a cool, damp, or humid one.
How Long Before Wet Clothes Mildew?
If you’re packing wet swimsuits for about 8 to 12 hours, you shouldn’t encounter any issues of mildew. If you don’t unpack it after 12 hours, it might start growing slowly. It doesn’t end there. It produces bacteria too, which will result in the swimsuit having some nasty smell.
It could get so bad that for a day or more, you will not only be dealing with terrible, awful smells and mildew but also with patches of rotten fabric and unsightly stains.
Please Note; If you happen to be an asthmatic patient, it’s best to have someone do the unpacking for you. This is because this might affect you. Even if you aren’t asthmatic, make sure you aren’t sensitive to mild.
If you breathe it in, you aren’t expected to cough and sneeze. This shows you aren’t allergic to the smell, and no reaction would sprout forth. Sadly, the same can’t be said for asthmatic and allergic patients. If this is the scenario for you, then seek help.
Is It Bad to Stay in a Wet Bathing Suit?
Yes, it is bad to stay in a wet swimsuit. Some persons have the habit of staying in their wet bathing suits much longer than they should. And just so you know, this is wrong. If you can simply adhere to this, you are doing a huge favor to your body.
The wetness and moist is a breeding ground for infections. When one stays in a wet swimsuit for a long period, the genitals region gets heated because of the wetness or moisture surrounding it. And areas like these are where infections thrive. In other words, the person is exposing themselves more to the infection.
Also, do not sit on your bathing suit for long hours, so you don’t start having complications that arise from this, which is something that can easily be avoided. It would be more appropriate to take off the wet swimsuits, then go on to change your wear into clean, dry clothes. Remember the keywords dry and clean. Nothing wet should find its way to the genitals or sensitive parts of your body. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
How to Dry a Bathing Suit Quickly
To dry swimsuits faster, do the following;
- Run the water on your swimsuit in the sink or in a bowl.
- Pour a detailed amount of detergent into the swimsuit so it is enough to wash it.
- To remove excess water from the swimsuit, get your towel and have it spread on the floor.
- Take the wet swimsuits, and place them in between the towel. Fold it and use the towel to wring out enough water from the swimsuit. Go over it gently so you don’t over-ruin the suit.
- Get a flat surface, and lay the swimsuit on it. Please, ensure where it’ll be placed is clean and free from dirt.
- If you have a standing or ceiling fan, turn it on and face it towards the swimming suit. With this, the swimsuit dries faster.
Conclusion
Packing a wet swimsuit can often feel like a damp squib at the end of a relaxing swim, but with the right techniques and tools, this seemingly cumbersome task can be simplified. From the initial step of removing excess water using the towel roll technique to considering the purchase of quick-dry swimsuits, you have various ways to reduce the hassle of dealing with soggy swimwear. Moreover, accessories such as wet bags, Ziploc bags, or mesh bags can help keep your other items dry and fresh-smelling, ensuring the dampness is confined only to your swimsuit.
