Binder Care

[Hecknado]

hello
I have had 2 binders, underworks tri tops, and they work really well.

It is now summer here, and I live next to the beach so almost everyday I go swimming since I am on holiday

With the binder though, ( that I swim in ) sometimes sand gets in it, and also how will the constant getting soaked while worn affect it? I rinse it out and dry it on the line after going to the beach, and wash with clothes powder once a week.

Anything I can do to prolong the binders life, and will salt water affect it?
cheers

[Mr.Warrick]

There are swimming suits for transmen you know? It's like diving suits but with binders inside. Worked well.

[Magnus]

Not nearly so much as chlorine, but yes, it will (more-so the abrasive factor than anything else). Machine wash cold and no dryer helps immensely though (same applies to everything with elastic. So if you're also tired of your underwear bands giving out so quickly, stop putting them in the wash with hot water/drying them with hot air). For that matter, there's little benefit to doing any of your laundry with hot water... all it's going to do is wear your clothes out quicker (especially dark stuff), set-in stains and also increase your utility bills that much more. Cold water, or even just warm, does more than fine for just about everything. Only time I use hot is for bath linens (only stuff that really needs the slightly extra germ-killing factor IMHO).

Old 974 I'd used a few times for the pool still works OK, but nowhere near how it had before. But then, it is now around 7 years old too. Works well enough (and I wear a black polyester shirt over it) but I certainly wouldn't be donning it for any other use anymore.

[Bimmer Guy]

hello
I have had 2 binders, underworks tri tops, and they work really well.

It is now summer here, and I live next to the beach so almost everyday I go swimming since I am on holiday

With the binder though, ( that I swim in ) sometimes sand gets in it, and also how will the constant getting soaked while worn affect it? I rinse it out and dry it on the line after going to the beach, and wash with clothes powder once a week.

Anything I can do to prolong the binders life, and will salt water affect it?
cheers

I suspect that salt water/sand would wear down the fabric.  It sounds like you are only using one for that purpose.  That is a good idea.  Underworks binders are tough fabric though, so should last a while.  The tri top was my binder of choice prior to top surgery, too.

[FTMax]

I've always used a separate binder for swimming. Whichever one you have that is more worn, make that your swimming binder and use the other for daily wear. I don't imagine salt water or chlorine treat binders very kindly. Hand washing and air drying will help prolong the life in general.