Tri Suit Care Guide: Essential Tips for Post-Race Maintenance and Longevity

When it comes to maintaining your SCODY triathlon suit, you want to prioritise longevity and hygiene. The do’s and don’t’s of post-race tri-suit treatment may vary depending on the materials used in your suit and how dirty you got on race day! Let’s check out the SCODY guide to keeping your suits looking swish and performing at their best every time you race.

Handle With Care

It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro triathlete or competing for fun; one thing’s for sure: you want to be handling your tri-suit with care. Hand washing or washing on the cool setting in your washing machine is the way forward if you want to preserve the life of your suit.

Hand Washing Guide

Supplies:

•       Mild detergent
•       Lukewarm water
•       Soft brush or your hands
•       Towel

Instructions:

1. If your suit has stubborn stains, spot-treat them before handwashing. Apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stained area and gently rub with your fingers.
2. Fill a basin or sink with lukewarm water. Avoid using hot water, as it can damage the fabric and affect the suit’s elasticity.
3. Add a small amount of mild detergent to the water. Be careful not to use too much, as excessive soap can be difficult to rinse out and might damage the fabric.
4. Submerge the triathlon suit in the soapy water and gently agitate the water to create suds. Use a soft brush or your hands to lightly scrub the fabric, paying extra attention to areas with sweat, sunscreen, or stains. Be gentle to avoid stretching or damaging the suit.
5. Drain the soapy water and refill the basin/sink with clean, lukewarm water. Gently agitate the suit in the water to remove soap residue. Repeat this step until the water runs clear, indicating that the detergent has been completely rinsed out.
6. Lay the suit flat on a clean, dry towel. Roll the towel with the suit inside to absorb excess water. Avoid wringing or twisting the suit, as it can damage the fabric and stretch the material.
7. After removing the suit from the towel, place the suit on a hanger, and dry away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Allow it to air dry completely before storing or wearing it again.

Quality Matters

When washing your triathlon apparel, it is vital to opt for high-quality laundry detergent.

Never Ever Tumble Dry

One of the most crucial things to avoid is tumble drying your triathlon apparel. Men's and women's triathlon suits will be damaged, often beyond repair, when exposed to the high temperatures of a tumble dryer.

The same goes for drying your suits in direct sunlight or on high-heat sources, such as radiators. You will damage the spandex yarns, the stitching, chamois and print of your tri-suit, which ultimately decreases its lifespan. 

Chlorine

Avoid exposure to chlorine and if you do use in a pool rinse immediately afterwards with a chlorine neutraliser (often available from the shop at the swimming pool). Do use gentle detergent as soon as possible.

Chlorine destroys the spndex yarns in the suit and the longer the suit is exposed the greater the damage.

Sunscreen

We have to use sunscreen and this tip is about taking care to minimise possible damage. Sunscreen is like paint stripper and if it is liberally applied onto or under the suit it will damage the spandex in the fabric. The fabric of the suit will protect you from the sun so when you apply sunscreen, apply up to the suit.

Top Tips to Remember

Here at SCODY, we are not just pros at making your summer triathlon gear, but we are also experts when it comes to caring for it! Here are some of our absolute top tips to keep those tri-suits fresh, clean, and race-ready every season:

•       Chemicals and heat damage the fabric
•       Avoid ironing your suit. It can be tempting to run an iron over your triathlon suit for that final flourish on race day, but we promise you that it will not have the desired effect! Trust us on this one!
•       Do not be tempted to dry clean! Often, dry cleaners are not used to working with the technical materials tri-suits are made up of and will accidentally ruin your race gear!
•       Please do not reach for the bleach. Bleaching your race suits will damage the print and the material, often leaving you with a larger eyesore than you were initially faced with.
•       Fabric softeners are another damaging menace you want to avoid when washing your triathlon suits.
•       Minimise exposure to chlorine and sunscreen

Get ready to race this summer with our SCODY triathlon suits. We make tri-suits for men and women, prioritising comfort and performance when you need it most.

Check out our awesome blog posts for a peek at our amazing Australian-designed range of cycle jerseys. While you're there, why not sign up for our Loyalty Program for maximum benefits when you shop for the summer season?

Just remember, once you've purchased your tri-suit, follow our maintenance guide to keep it performing at its best for years to come!