Why did my (old) training suit straps get stiff?

Hi all, First timber posting on here. I have a question that I can’t seem find an answer to anywhere online, so I’m hoping that I can find an answer here. So over the past several years, I’ve noticed that the straps on a lot of my suits are stiff and sometimes have some sort of gunk in or around the seams. I’m not really sure why, but I might have an inkling. I’m bad at remembering to rinse my suit after practice, unless you count showering with the suit on, so other than that it’d get an occasional rinse. Other than being in a bag and not having been worn in a long time due to long swim hiatus, that’s the only other reason I’ve got. Does anyone else have this issue? If so, what is your solution to getting the stiffness out? Thanks in advance! :) See above (in bold) for your answer. Elastic doesn't have a long life expectancy, no matter what you do. Of course, not rinsing your suit is going to decrease that life expectancy even more. To get the best life out of my suits, I only keep a max. of three suits around: A race suit, a training suit, and a back-up. (I don't wear tech suits.) Once the race suit starts breaking down, it becomes a training suit. I will only wear that one training suit until it's dead. My back-up becomes my new racing suit, and the cycle starts over again. The only time I purchase suits is when I can get them on sale AND use a USMS discount. I buy all my suits at www.SwimOutlet.com . (Keep in mind, though, that the suits they put on sale may have been hanging around their warehouse for awhile, which decreases the life of the elastic. Over the ten years I have been buying suits from them, however, my least expensive close-out suit still ended up being the best deal, even though it lasted only 250 miles.) To keep your suit lasting a long time (I get 275-300 miles out of a suit), NEVER sit in a spa, rinse your suit in cold water (without soap), roll it in a towel to get the excess water out (don't wring it out), and hang it over a shower rod to dry (no dryers!).

Hi all, First timber posting on here. I have a question that I can’t seem find an answer to anywhere online, so I’m hoping that I can find an answer here. So over the past several years, I’ve noticed that the straps on a lot of my suits are stiff and sometimes have some sort of gunk in or around the seams. I’m not really sure why, but I might have an inkling. I’m bad at remembering to rinse my suit after practice, unless you count showering with the suit on, so other than that it’d get an occasional rinse. Other than being in a bag and not having been worn in a long time due to long swim hiatus, that’s the only other reason I’ve got. Does anyone else have this issue? If so, what is your solution to getting the stiffness out? Thanks in advance! :) See above (in bold) for your answer. Elastic doesn't have a long life expectancy, no matter what you do. Of course, not rinsing your suit is going to decrease that life expectancy even more. To get the best life out of my suits, I only keep a max. of three suits around: A race suit, a training suit, and a back-up. (I don't wear tech suits.) Once the race suit starts breaking down, it becomes a training suit. I will only wear that one training suit until it's dead. My back-up becomes my new racing suit, and the cycle starts over again. The only time I purchase suits is when I can get them on sale AND use a USMS discount. I buy all my suits at www.SwimOutlet.com . (Keep in mind, though, that the suits they put on sale may have been hanging around their warehouse for awhile, which decreases the life of the elastic. Over the ten years I have been buying suits from them, however, my least expensive close-out suit still ended up being the best deal, even though it lasted only 250 miles.) To keep your suit lasting a long time (I get 275-300 miles out of a suit), NEVER sit in a spa, rinse your suit in cold water (without soap), roll it in a towel to get the excess water out (don't wring it out), and hang it over a shower rod to dry (no dryers!).