Swimming is a difficult sport in the pool, but we can at least try to make things easier on ourselves out of the pool with some simple tricks. Scan through our SwimSwam-approved #SwimHacks to see if any can make your swim life simpler. Add your own in the Comments section.
SALAD SPINNING-SUIT DRYER
Your own private suit dryer, photo @rettarace
Tired of waiting in line at the suit dryer in the locker room after practice? Just bring your own, by way of a cheap salad spinner. As you’d expect, putting a wet suit in the basket, then giving it a few strong spins whisks the water out of the garment just as the utensil would with lettuce. An extra benefit of having your own personal suit dryer is knowing that you’re exposing your suit to your own germs and nobody else’s.
BABY WASH ANTI-FOG
Make your own de-fogger, photo courtesy of Angie Kozlowski
I know, I know, you read “anti-fog” and immediately assume my next line will be a lie, but this concoction really works…at least until you need to do it again. This comes in especially handy when you’re in the midst of championship season and just simply cannot part with your ‘lucky’ goggles, no matter the fact that they’re so fog-filled you ram your head into the lane line every other stroke cycle. Simply fill a spray bottle with 1 part baby shampoo and 10 parts water, shake, then spray into your goggles. Be sure to rinse before you put them back on, but the job should last a few practices. Ah, so that’s what Coach looks like!
BADA$$ SHARPIE TATTOOS
Ok, so not all of us are ready to pull the trigger on full-fledged tat sleeves or an all-out inked chest a lá Anthony Ervin and Erik Risvolvato, but we can at least act the part for the biggest meet of the season via temporary tattoos. Using the sharpie you already have laying around your house, you can create some intimidating skin art to warn your opponents that you mean business.
Erik Risolvato 2015 Santa Clara Pro Swim 50 free prelims (photo: Mike Lewis, Ola Vista Photography)
How to (via WikiHow):
- Draw your tattoo design on your skin
- Coat the drawing in baby powder (pour into your hand and generously coat/rub into the drawing), wipe off excess
- Spray tattoo with hairspray (hold can 12-16 inches away and spray over entire design to thoroughly coat)
- Wait for hairspray to dry, then use a tissue to wipe away any extra powder or hairspray; tattoo should not smear when rubbed with the tissue
If done properly, the self-made ink should last for a couple of weeks and can result in such masterpieces like that created on the back of Will Adkins:
Will Adkins via SwimSwam IG
EASE THE PAIN OF THE TECH SUIT STRUGGLE
Suit up, courtesy of Funky Trunks
Love the tech suits, hate the putting-it-on process. But, we can make it a hair easier on ourselves with a couple of plastic bags. Some swimmers have found that putting plastic bags over their feet can make subtract a few swear words from the process of sliding through the legs of the racing suit, while the bags also protect the fabric from your toenails. Another tip is to ensure that the rubber-type grips along the leg openings of the suit are turned inside out to prevent the strip from screeching over your just-shaved legs.
DE-CRUD YOUR SNORKELS
Just like that, a clean snorkel, photo @rettarace
Um, when’s the last time you cleaned your snorkel? I thought so! After reading this you’ll have no excuse, since all the labor it takes on your part is to remove the head strap and place the mouthpiece/tube in the dishwasher – that’s it! Yes, this is technically off-label and no manufacturer would probably endorse the use of dishwashers to clean and sterilize their equipment, but the fact is that it works. Now you won’t re-infect your self with that never-ending cold, or you can actually feel ok about claiming the snorkel that’s been sitting in the lost and found for weeks.
GET THE FUNK OUT (OF YOUR EARS)
I’ve come across several swimmers, both young and old, who simply cannot get the water out of their ears no matter how hard they try. Not only do they wind up giving themselves a headache by wildly thrashing their skulls to and fro to shake out the water, but they actually look pretty ridiculous to the onlookers who are wondering what in the heck these people are drinking from their water bottles. A simple solution is actually an over-the-counter solution you can find at any drug store, just meant to quickly dry the water with a few drops in each ear after every swim. Even hackier, make it at home: use 1 part white vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol, and 1 part water. Be careful though, with either the at home or over-the-counter remedy, make sure you don’t have a punctured eardrum before using.
“make sure you don’t have a punctured eardrum before using.”
My junior year in high school, I had a hole in my eardrum and didn’t realize it until, thinking I had swimmers ear, I put some drops in. Then, it suddenly felt as though someone had taken a freshly sharpened pencil and jammed it into my ear canal with all their might. To this day, that feeling is among the sharpest and most intense pains I’ve ever felt. Unfortunately, like me, some won’t realize they have a ruptured eardrum until something like this happens.
The cool part about having a hole in my eardrum, though, was that when I tried to pop my ears, air got pushed through the hole… Read more »