How to Wash a Swimsuit the Right Way

How to Wash a Swimsuit the Right Way

A great swimsuit should last for years — not just a season.

Whether your favorite suit is made from nylon, spandex, recycled polyester, or another performance fabric, swimwear is exposed to some of the harshest conditions your wardrobe sees. Chlorine, saltwater, sunscreen, body oils, sand, sweat, and UV rays all take a toll on delicate fibers. Without proper care, even an expensive swimsuit can lose its stretch, fade, pill, or become misshapen after just a few wears.

The good news is taking care of swimwear is surprisingly simple, and it doesn't require harsh detergents or complicated routines.

Here's exactly how to wash a swimsuit to help preserve its elasticity, color, and fit all season long.

Why Swimsuits Need Special Care

Unlike cotton T-shirts or denim, swimsuits are engineered to stretch.

Most are made from blends of nylon, polyester, elastane (spandex), or recycled synthetic fibers. These materials provide compression, flexibility, and shape retention—but they're also more vulnerable to heat and chemical damage.

Every swim exposes your suit to substances that can slowly degrade the fabric, including:

• Chlorine
• Saltwater
• Sunscreen
• Body oils
• Sweat
• Sand
• Minerals from natural water
• UV exposure

Even if your swimsuit doesn't look dirty, rinsing and washing it after every wear helps remove these residues before they break down the fibers.

Step 1: Rinse Your Swimsuit Immediately

The best thing you can do for your swimsuit happens before laundry day.

As soon as you're done swimming, rinse your suit thoroughly with cool water. This helps remove chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and other residues before they have time to settle into the fabric.

Even if you aren't able to wash it right away, a quick rinse dramatically reduces buildup.

Step 2: Wash in Cold Water

Cold water is always the safest choice for swimwear.

Hot water can:
• Damage elastic fibers
• Cause shrinkage
• Fade colors faster
• Reduce the fabric's ability to bounce back over time

Cold water helps preserve both the fit and appearance of your swimsuit while still allowing a quality detergent to remove sunscreen, oils, and everyday buildup.

Step 3: Hand Wash (or Use the Delicate Cycle)

Hand washing remains the gentlest option for swimwear.

Simply fill a sink or basin with cool water, add a small amount of detergent (you can use our Hand Wash & Delicates Detergent for this), gently scrub the suit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

If you prefer using a washing machine, that's perfectly fine — as long as you take a few precautions.

Choose:
• Cold water
• Delicate or hand wash cycle
• Low spin speed

Protect your swimsuit by placing it inside a mesh garment bag. This helps prevent straps from stretching, ties from tangling, and delicate fabrics from rubbing against zippers or rougher garments during the wash.

Step 4: Use a Gentle Detergent

Swimsuits don't need aggressive detergents to get clean.

Most of what you're washing away is sunscreen, sweat, body oils, salt, and chlorine—not heavy soil. A gentle detergent formulated to clean effectively without leaving residue is typically the better choice for delicate technical fabrics.

Our recommendation is Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Hand Wash & Delicates, which was specifically designed for delicate garments like swimwear, lingerie, silk, wool, and athletic apparel. Our enzyme-powered formula helps break down body oils and everyday residues while remaining gentle on stretch fabrics and helping garments maintain their shape over time.

Because the formula rinses clean, it also avoids the buildup that can accumulate on technical fabrics after repeated washes.

Step 5: Skip Fabric Softener and Bleach

Fabric softener might seem like it would keep swimsuits feeling soft, but it actually works by coating fibers with a layer of fat.

That coating can reduce the performance of technical fabrics and leave residue behind over time.

Bleach should also be avoided. It can weaken elastic fibers, accelerate fading, and shorten the lifespan of swimwear.

For most swimsuits, neither product offers any real benefit.

Step 6: Never Wring Out Your Swimsuit

Twisting a swimsuit to remove water puts significant stress on elastic fibers.

Instead:
• Press the fabric gently between your hands.
• Or roll the swimsuit inside a clean towel to absorb excess moisture.

This removes water without stretching the garment out of shape.

Step 7: Always Air Dry

When it comes to swimwear, the dryer is the fastest way to shorten its lifespan.

High heat can:
• Break down spandex
• Shrink fabrics
• Fade colors
• Reduce elasticity
• Make swimsuits stiff and more prone to tearing

Instead, lay your swimsuit flat on a clean towel or hang it somewhere with good airflow until completely dry.

Air drying is gentler on the fabric and uses less energy, making it a win for both your wardrobe and the environment.

Common Swimwear Washing Mistakes

Avoid these habits if you want your swimsuit to last:

• Washing in hot water
• Putting swimsuits in the dryer
• Leaving a wet swimsuit rolled up in a beach bag for hours
• Wringing out the fabric
• Using bleach or fabric softener
• Washing with towels, jeans, or garments with zippers
• Skipping the rinse after swimming

A little extra care goes a long way, especially for garments designed to perform under the toughest summer conditions.

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