Fins, Kickboards, Paddles, and Buoys are some of the tools you might come across at any swim practice. Such equipments can be vital to help swimmers develop in their speed, or strength; therefore, proper care for these tools are important to ensure they do not break.
As a swim coach, I sometimes see swimmers who are unfamiliar with how to take care of their equipment. They might be too rough with it, or may not store their equipment in a way that prevents wear and tear.
As a life-long swimmer, I have also made mistakes when handling my own equipment, and many of the tips I will be providing in this article are the result of my own mistakes, or are tips I have learned from other swimmers/ coaches throughout the years.
EQUIPMENT STORAGE
When maintaining any equipment, swimmers must be mindful of mold. Mold loves to live in moist areas, and is typically a sign of decomposition which can break down equipment over a long period of time. Therefore, avoiding the creation of mold is important. One tip to prevent mold is by keeping your wet bag as dry as possible. This might include, but not limited to taking out your equipment out of your bag during practice, and keeping your bag in a dry spot, or hanging your wet bag with your equipment inside in a dry area to release moisture.
Since it gets hot in South Florida, keeping one’s equipment away from long sun exposure is important. It seems convenient to leave your wet bag in the car. After all, it is a dry space. However, that same heat can actually melt your equipment or make rubber brittle. I have personally seen my own equipment break in two, crack, or even melt due to keeping it in the car. Nevertheless, taking equipment out of one’s car can be chore–especially if you are constantly on the go. My tip for on-the-go swimmers is to leave your equipment in a locker room where you practice or in a locker room at school (if you are in school).
SWIM CAPS MAINTAINS
Swim Caps…they break, snap, tear, and can even be painful to put on. Sometimes a swim cap can even last you a month if you are not taking care of it properly. Nevertheless, with proper care, a swim cap can last you many many years! I believe my oldest swim cap is probably about 7 to 8 years old now!
One way of preserving your swim cap is by using the baby powder method. For this you will need:
- A Towel
- Baby Powder (or any Talc Powder will do)
- Your Swim Cap
First, dry off your swim cap with a towel inside and outside. It is important to dry it on the inside as best you can. Once it is dry, apply a small layer of baby powder onto the cap. On the inside, apply a teaspoon of baby powder, and shake well to cover all the surfaces. By doing this method, swimmers are preventing the growth of mold which can break down the equipment. This method also prevents the cap from scrunching up and making it difficult to wear.
CLEANING BATHING SUITS
Finally, the cares of our uniform…swimsuits.
As many experienced swimmers know, wearing a baggy swim suit is like wearing a drag suit to a race or practice. Swim suits seem to have a short lifespan, besides we wear them all the time.
Despite its short lifespan, there is a way swimmers can increase the longevity of their suits. It starts with washing clothes. When washing your swimsuit one must treat it like a delicate fabric.
Swimmers can either wash it by hand or set the washing machine to delicate mode. Next, the drying process. It is best to hang-dry your suit, but if you have to use the dryer, also set it to delicate mode.
By taking these precautions when cleaning your suit, it can maintain the tightness of the fabric and decrease stretching.