Hey everybody! Alright this is kind of a weird question and I hope I don't gross anyone out. I got a shammy for Christmas (LOVE IT) and I've been using it for about the past 3 monthes maybe 4 times a week. I ring it out as best I can, and store it (in the orginally little plastic tube) damp like the package says. However, lately it has been smelling kind of funny. Are you supposed to wash them? I have never washed mine, never thought I had too, but then it started smelling. It smelled when I first got it, and it's pretty much the same odor only a little stronger. Thanx!
~Kyra
p.s. Hope that's not to gross, of a weird question.
Former Member
It's not the bag that smells. I think the chlorine has pretty much killed every other smell that would be possible. It's just the shammie itself, and only if you really smell it (like put it to your nose) and the little tube that it came in.:p
Originally posted by SwiminONandON
Kyra, my dear, please don't ever take anything Geek says seriously!
Listen to Heather. You have to mind that Aquageek lives in a swamp.
As for Chamois Towels, I wrinse mine after every swim. Don't wring it out too much as they need to stay moist to work correctly. Did you check the cannister to see if there's a little hole for ventilation? Mine has one.
Originally posted by aquageek
Just use a regular towel, they remove water, are washable, don't require vinegar and don't grow mold.
I agree with geek. Why would a swimmer use a Sammy over a regular towel? By the way, a Sammy is the artificial, chamois-like cloth created by Olympian diver Sammy Lee. A chamois is an alpine ungulate or the cloth made from its hide.
Originally posted by SwiminONandON
I thought Sammy was the brand name of one of the lines ...
Well, yeah, that's right. The Sammy was the original. Now other companies make similar products, but they are generically known as "Sammies," kinda like Kleenex I guess.
I used to use these all the time when diving. I never put it back into the little plastic thing.. just let it dry out between. It didn't get too stinky, but I did rinse it out as well. When it dries it gets really stiff.. You need to put it in the water for awhile to slowly absorb a bit of water, then it works fine..
I think it's just like a really thin sponge..
What's worse - smelling like the moldy funk or vinegar?
Just use a regular towel, they remove water, are washable, don't require vinegar and don't grow mold.
A shammy/chamois is great! It's one of those few inventions I really appreciate for swimming - aside from goggles. Imagine, no need to bring bulky goofy towels everytime you swim as they store compactly in your swimbag.
After a looooong time, a chamois will smell musty and will need washing. I don't scrub it too much though since too strong a scrub damages the fibers leaving the towel with craters. After washing it, I leave it to dry. I put some vinegar in it before packing it back in the canister. The vinegar prevents the musty smell I think. I don't store in in the swimbag (or in dark places) when not in use. I just normally leave/hang the canister in the car by the window where it's bright. Chamois when damp tend to attract mold esp. in the dark.
Originally posted by aquageek
What's worse - smelling like the moldy funk or vinegar?
Just use a regular towel, they remove water, are washable, don't require vinegar and don't grow mold.
Wet towels don't grow mold?
Guess you haven't peeked at the bottom of my trunk then.
I never knew that towel was there... Honest! ;)
I thought Sammy was the brand name of one of the lines ... interesting ...
I only use Sammy/Chamois whatever at meets ... the rest of the time I use the free towels at the health club. I use it because my towel would be wet after warm-ups and I'm not about to bring a towel an event. So I dry off with the chamois and then warm-up with a towel.
