We all know bathing suits can be an investment—some high-end styles clock in at upwards of $200—and they’re constantly exposed to things like chlorine, sun, sand, and SPF, making the delicate fibers susceptible to serious wear-and-tear. However, when it comes to washing and caring for bathing suits, there seems to be a great deal of mystery. Use the machine, don’t use the machine, wash by hand—it’s beyond confusing.
In the interest of effectively prolonging the life of your swimwear, we’ve compiled 5 useful tips. From how to wash and care for them, to when you should be washing them, consider this your ultimate source for keeping that bathing suit looking killer for summers to come!
1. While your swimsuit doesn’t need to be washed with detergent every time you wear it, it should be rinsed in cool tap water every time you take it off after swimming or sunning. This removes most of the sunscreen, dirt, sweat, and chlorine.
2. If you want to wash it after a few wears, turn the swimsuit inside out and add a tablespoon or less of liquid detergent to a filled sink. Swish for a few minutes and then rinse well.
3. Gently squeeze—don’t wring or twist!—the water from the suit, and lay it flat to dry.
4. Contrary to popular beleif, laying bathing suits in the sun to dry can actually fade and break down the delicate fibers in your swimsuit, so always dry it indoors or in the shade.
5. You never should use a washing machine for bathing suits, but there is one exception: At the end of the summer or the end of your vacation, it’s okay to wash swimwear in lingerie bags on the machine’s gentle cycle with a bit of Woolite—but only after many wears.
