Are you like me? I go to my dreaded swimsuit drawers (I have expanded to two) to search out bathing suits and what do I find? No less than 17 combinations of one-pieces, two-pieces, tankinis, shorts, swim dresses, and cover-ups.

Sizes range from large to, well, larger. Summer after summer, I just keep cramming those puppies in. I’ll buy a suit on sale at the end of the season. Never discarding. Hoping each year–when I open that swollen drawer–I can find something that fits and flatters. Yikes… I hope those swimsuits can breathe in there.

Today I decide to go through my swimsuit drawer. “Yes.” I say, “I only need one drawer for swimwear. Let’s delete, let’s simplify…just like I do each week when I edit my blog. Keep the best, and get rid of the superfluous.” Right?

Herein lies the problem. I have pieces that I think I might wear (and still can) but I’m not sure. I have found that there’s no substitute for trying suits on.

My cowriter Janna advises gals to put on some lipstick and fix our hair before trying on bathing suits. Why? “Because we women are so hypercritical of our bodies, it’s good to start out looking and feeling the best we can before we hit the dressing room.”

Okay, hair combed, lipstick on…let’s begin.

I categorically recommend throwing out swimwear if:

• You try it on and you feel as though you are being asphyxiated by a mighty rubber band.
• Ruffles you thought were once flattering at your bustline, have moved to your waist.
• You stretch the suit and the elastic powders up in your hand and disappears like a magic trick.

Yes, definitely trash–basura–into the garbage.

But I also discovered I could save some suits I thought were goners. Here are some problems and possible fixes for your old swimsuits:

Nipple Viewing – I found a wonderful old suit I had forgotten about in my SS drawer. Problem: When I put it on, there wasn’t enough padding to conceal my nipples. And the fabric wasn’t a dark color–it was a beautiful aqua, so my nipples not only looked perky, but bright.

There are nipple covers made specifically for this purpose. They are called nip covers or breast petals. (My husband refers to them as pasties.) But I’ve found, in a pinch, that duct tape works well to disguise the protruding spot. Really. I tried it.

It’s waterproof and cheap. My suggestion is to cut a small circle out of a paper towel, then stick it onto the larger piece of duct tape. (The paper towel circle will cover the ‘pencil eraser’ part of your nipple.) Also, you should remove the duct tape while you are in the shower. Moistening beforehand definitely reduces the pain of peel-off.

Saddle Bag Camouflage – If you have a swimsuit that still fits, but your thighs are a little more thunderous than they once were, consider wearing a pareo or a large scarf tied at your hips. Less bulky, and more stylish, than a towel.

Misfits – Got swimwear pieces that don’t fit? Toss them. But don’t be afraid to mix and match the leftover tops and bottoms, even if they’re not twins.

Here’s how I got maximum space from my swimsuit drawer using a divider I made from a cardboard box:

Voila, swimsuits and cover-ups at a glance…ALL in one drawer. Hallelujah!

Here’s one cover-up I think I’ll keep.

Okay, stop laughing.

PLEASE, PLEASE comment below and tell me how many swimsuits you own. Hopefully  I’m not the only hoarder out there.