Many people toss their worn suits in with the rest of their dirty laundry, but that misstep can cause the fabric to wear down faster than expected. Here’s how to keep your swimwear — no matter the type or material — in good condition all season long.
How Salt and Chlorine Wreck Fabric
When you take a dip in a chlorine pool, your swimwear comes into contact with corrosive chemicals used to keep the pool clean and sanitary. There are similar issues when swimming in a saltwater pool or the ocean, as the dried salt crystals act as an abrasive, wearing down the material.
The biggest concern, however, is this: After swimming in a pool or body of salt water, most people let their swimwear air-dry and then toss it into the hamper to be washed on laundry day. But this could compromise the integrity of your bathing suit.
The longer chlorine or salt water lingers on swimwear, the more likely vibrant colors and patterns are to fade. Furthermore, these harsh substances can weaken fibers by drying them out, breaking down the elastic, and cutting into the material. (Drying your items in direct sun and heat only exacerbates the color bleaching and elastic damage.)
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Lather, Rinse, Repeat
To avoid fading or damage, rinse your swimwear in cold tap water as soon as you take it off. Gently massage the fabric to flush out trapped salt or chlorine. Then, roll the garment in a clean, dry towel to press out excess water without stretching it out.
From here, you can either let the suit air-dry completely or move straight to laundering. Hand-washing the suit inside out — using cold water and a mild detergent — is best for extending its lifespan, though most swimwear can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle. We recommend using a mesh laundry bag, then air-drying the clean swimsuit on a flat surface. The sooner you can run it through a wash cycle, the less time lingering substances have to wear away at the fibers.
Don’t Let Sunscreen Settle In
Chlorine and salt water aren’t the only culprits — sweat and sunscreen cause damage, too. The longer you wait to wash your swimwear, the more time odors have to build up and sunscreen has to set in, leading to stubborn smells and stains.
Speaking of sunscreen, pretreatment is key when it comes to getting rid of those unsightly marks. Before you wash your bathing suit, apply a drop of liquid detergent or dish soap to any sunscreen-affected area, and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. There’s no need to rinse away the soap afterward; simply hand-wash or launder the suit on a gentle cycle in cold water.
