How to Wash and Care for a Swimsuit

How to Wash Swimsuits by Hand

1. Rinse Your Bathing Suit

   Rinse your swimsuit as soon as possible in cool tap water after each time you wear it. If you have time, allow the suit to soak in cool water for 30 minutes, which is even better for the fabric. Soaking will remove most of the chemicals, salt, sand, and body oil that can damage the fabric.

2. Drain and Refill the Sink 

   Plain water doesn't remove all of the chlorine or salt. Refill the sink with cool water, and add 1 teaspoon or less of a gentle liquid laundry detergent. If you're in a pinch, use just a dab of shampoo to wash your suit, but skip any combination products that contain conditioner.

3. Treat Stains

   Whether you dripped ketchup on your suit at a poolside barbecue or got some sunscreen on the fabric, follow stain removal guidelines for the specific stain to remove it from your swimsuit. Self-tanners are particularly difficult to remove, so always wear an older suit when applying them.

4. Submerge the Suit

   Turn your swimsuit inside out, and submerge it in the solution. Swish for several minutes, and then rinse well.

5. Remove Excess Water

   Remove the bathing suit from the water, and then gently squeeze the water out of the fabric. Don’t wring the suit as it can cause damage.

6. Air-Dry the Bathing Suit

   Spread your suit flat to dry in a spot out of direct sunlight. UV rays from the sun can both fade and break down the fibers in your suit.

Treating Stains on a Swimsuit

The proper method for removing a stain will vary depending on the staining agent, but whatever method you use will be more efficient if you pretreat stains by first applying a paste made of 1/3 cup of warm water and 6 teaspoons of baking soda. Allow the paste to fully dry before moving on to washing the swimsuit.

Most stains come out rather easily, but sunscreen lotions can be one of the worst. Here, you may need to turn to an oxygen-based bleach, mixed into cool water. Let the stained suit soak in water for at least eight hours, and repeat if the stain is not eradicated. Remember, this method should be used only with an oxygen-based bleach product, such as OxiClean. Never use ordinary chlorine bleach on a swimsuit.

Swimsuit Care and Repairs

A broken strap or small hole isn’t a reason to toss an expensive bathing suit. Use a needle and polyester thread to hand-sew small snags or rips in the fabric. Easily fix a snag by threading a needle with the same color thread, pull it through the middle of the loop of the snag, and knot it so it's tied to the snag. Then, put the needle into the base of the snag to pull it through to the other side. If you need a bigger repair or need to alter a bathing suit, take it to a professional tailor. They’ll be much more adept at sewing finicky spandex or Lycra. 

When wearing a swimsuit, avoid sitting or brushing up against abrasive surfaces, such as concrete and cement around pool walls and grounds. This can lead to damaging pilling and holes in your suit.

Storing a Swimsuit

Don’t hang up your bathing suit because it'll stretch out the fibers. Instead, store the suit flat when it’s completely dry; any moisture may result in the growth of mildew. If you’re putting it away for the season, store the suit in a fabric garment bag. Don't use plastic bags, which can also provide a breeding ground for mildew and bacteria. 

Tips for Washing a Bathing Suit

• Instead of taking off the bathing suit and soaking it in cold water, just wear the suit into your post-swim shower. 
• When hand-washing, don't use powdered detergent because it may not dissolve completely or rinse away well. Never use chlorine bleach to whiten or remove stains on suits. 
• Distilled white vinegar can be used as an emergency substitute for detergent when washing a swimsuit, as it both deodorizes and reduces bacteria on the fabric. 
• If possible, wear an older suit in a hot tub, or rinse out your suit as quickly as possible. Hot tubs offer a double whammy of excessive chemicals and high heat that will fade and stretch a suit out very quickly.
• For frequent hot tub use, choose a suit that is 100% polyester and/or chlorine-resistant. Cotton and natural fibers won't hold up in hot chlorinated water.