How to Wash and Care for Your Swimsuit So It Lasts Longer

A great swimsuit takes a beating over the summer. Chlorine, salt water, sunscreen, body oils, heat, and even the edge of the pool can all affect swimwear fabrics.

A little extra care can help preserve the colour, shape, and elasticity of your favourite swimsuit so you can enjoy it for more than one season.

Protect Your Swimsuit While You're Wearing It

Swimsuit fabrics can snag surprisingly easily. Concrete pool decks, wooden benches, and rough lounge chairs can catch delicate fibres and cause pilling or pulls.

Before sitting on a rough surface, put down a towel to protect your suit.

Hot tubs can be particularly hard on swimwear. The combination of high temperatures and chlorine can accelerate fading and damage the elastic fibres that give your swimsuit its stretch and shape. If you're a frequent hot tub user, consider keeping an older swimsuit specifically for the hot tub.

Rinse Your Swimsuit After Every Wear

Even if you never went in the water, your swimsuit should be rinsed or washed after wearing it.

Throughout the day, swimwear is exposed to:

• Sunscreen and tanning products
• Body oils and perspiration
• Chlorine
• Salt water
• Sand
• Lotions and cosmetics

These substances can remain in the fibres and contribute to fading, discolouration, odours, and deterioration of the fabric over time.

Chlorine can be especially damaging, so don't leave a wet, chlorinated swimsuit sitting in a beach bag until the next day.

What's the Best Way to Wash a Swimsuit?

Always check the manufacturer's care label first. Different fabrics and swimsuit constructions may require different care.

When hand washing is recommended, fill a sink or basin with cool or lukewarm water and add a small amount of mild detergent designed for delicate fabrics.

Gently wash the swimsuit without aggressive rubbing, twisting, or wringing, then rinse thoroughly with cool water.

If the care label allows machine washing, use a gentle cycle and consider placing the swimsuit inside a mesh laundry bag for additional protection.

Skip the Fabric Softener

Fabric softener may make other laundry feel great, but it's generally not a good choice for swimwear.

Softeners can leave a coating on synthetic fibres and may interfere with the stretch and performance of the fabric. A mild detergent and thorough rinse are usually all your swimsuit needs.

Keep Your Swimsuit Out of the Dryer

Heat is one of the biggest enemies of stretchy swimwear fabrics.

Instead of putting your swimsuit in the dryer, gently press out excess water without wringing. You can also roll it inside a clean, dry towel to absorb additional moisture.

Then reshape the swimsuit and lay it flat to air dry, preferably away from direct sunlight.

High dryer temperatures can damage elastic and spandex fibres, leading to stretching, loss of shape, and premature wear.

Don't Leave a Wet Swimsuit Rolled Up

We've all done it—wrapped a wet swimsuit in a towel, tossed it into a bag, and forgotten about it.

Try to unpack wet swimwear as soon as you get home. Leaving it damp and bundled up for extended periods can contribute to odours, colour transfer, and fabric deterioration.

A Little Care Goes a Long Way

Swimwear is made from specialized fabrics designed to stretch, recover, and withstand some pretty demanding conditions. Proper washing and drying can help those fibres perform better and last longer.

And that's something we believe in at Best Care: taking better care of the clothing you already own so you can enjoy it longer.

Happy swimming—and enjoy your summer!