Swimwear Care Tips

How to make your swimwear last

A good swimsuit can last for years, or one bad season. Salt, chlorine, sunscreen, and heat are what break down the fabric, not wearing it. A little care goes a long way.

• Rinse after every wear
  • As soon as you are out, rinse your suit in cool water.
  • Salt, chlorine, and sunscreen keep working on the elastane long after you have dried off; a quick rinse stops them.
• Hand wash, do not machine
  • Wash by hand in cool water with a little mild soap.
  • Skip the washing machine, the dryer, and any bleach or fabric softener.
  • Press the water out; do not wring or twist.
• Dry flat, in the shade
  • Lay your suit flat to dry, and not in direct sunlight.
  • Hanging stretches it out, and the same sun you wear it in will fade and weaken the fabric over time.
• Watch what it touches
  • Sunscreen and body oils stain.
  • Rough pool decks and concrete pill the fabric.
    • Put your suit on a towel, not the edge of the pool.
  • Hot tubs are hard on elastane.
• Rotate two suits
  • Elastane needs about a day to bounce back to shape.
  • Trading off between two swimsuits keeps both fitting longer.