Green Your Pool -- Swimwear
By this time of year, last summer's swimsuit may be showing signs of wear. Try these tips for ensuring a long-lasting suit, putting a ratty one to good use, and finding greener designs when it's time to start fresh.
Make it last: Soak your swimsuit in plain water before jumping in a pool to minimize the amount of chlorine it absorbs. Rinse again when you're done splashing and then hang it to dry. REI advises against wrapping suits in a towel for the trip home (it can trap chlorine in the fabric), and recommends hanging them upside down, out of the sun.
Get creative: If you have two worn-out swimsuits, you can layer them. For serious swimmers, training with the extra drag can make you feel extra fast when you compete in a newer suit. Depending on the material, other ways to reuse an old suit might include making pouches for soap (to keep bars from slipping out of kids' hands).
Buy green: Swimsuits are usually made with synthetic (read: derived from fossil fuels) fabrics because they dry quickly. Recycled materials offer fast-drying, planet-friendlier alternatives. Try Aaron Chang swimsuits made from recycled soda bottles and Patagonia rashguards made with recycled polyester.
Do you have ideas for giving old swimwear new life? Share them here.
