How to Wash, Dry, and Store Your Swimwear: Expert Tips to Make Your Bathing Suits Last Longer

Vacation and summer are upon us (hooray!) and that means it’s just about time to bust out your favorite bathing suits. Whether you’re a sleek one-piece kind of chick or you love a teeny bikini, you want your suits to last as long as possible–and that means making sure you treat them right. 

With the proper swimsuit care tips, you can get the most bang for your buck and avoid having to toss your faves prematurely. Ahead, Style Director and swimwear expert, Marissa Rubin, outlines her top tips for how to wash swimsuits, dry them, and make them last longer!

1. Wash your swimsuit every time you wear it, even if you haven’t been in the water.

Knowing how to wash swimsuits is an important part of making them last. To extend the life of your swimsuit you should wash it every time you wear it because sunscreen and sweat can break down the fibers.

The best product to use is a cleaner specifically for swimwear fabrics. If you don’t have the proper swimsuit detergent on hand, then at the very least you should always rinse it under clean cold water when you’re done wearing it!

2. Hand wash your bathing suits whenever possible.

It’s definitely better to hand wash, as it’s a much gentler washing. Choose a swimsuit-specific cleaner like (above), fill the sink with cold water and a capful of detergent, and let the suit soak for 20 minutes. Then drain the dirty water and rinse the remaining suds from the suit in clean cold water.

Try not to squeeze or wring the excess water out of the suit as this can damage the shape, rather roll it up and gently press down on the suit to allow the water to drain out.  If you have to, you can also wash a swimsuit in cold water on the delicate cycle of a washing machine (not a laundromat or industrial washing machine, but a personal one at home that has specific settings that can be controlled) as long as it’s within a machine-washable lingerie bag.

3. Always air dry your swimsuits.

You should lay your swimsuit flat and let it air dry for about 30 minutes. This gives the fabric time to snap back into shape! However one side will still be slightly damp, so to finish the drying process completely hang it on a plastic shirt hanger and let it air dry.

Note: Because the suit is 90% dry at this point, hanging will not compromise the shape or stretch out the suit. Swimsuits can never go in the dryer. Repeat: Never. The high heat will damage the delicate spandex fabric and fade the color. In a pinch, carefully use a hairdryer on the cool setting to dry without damaging your suit.

4. Put on your sunscreen at least 10 minutes before you put on your bathing suit.

It’s always best to put your sunscreen on indoors 30 minutes before sun exposure. So if possible, apply everywhere and let dry/absorb into skin for at least 10 minutes before putting your suit on.

You can drape a towel, slip, or lightweight robe over you till sun lotion is fully absorbed. This process allows you to avoid getting sunscreen on your suit as well as ensures you’ve covered, and have protected every part of your body from damaging sun rays.

5. Pre-treat your new swimsuits.

Pretreating your swimsuit will help your swimsuit hold its color: Soak it in a quart of water with two tablespoons of vinegar for approximately half an hour. This will lock in the color and keep it lasting.

6. Shower before you swim.

Yep. Chlorinate pool water and salt water are absorbed more by a completely dry bathing suit, as opposed to one that’s been drenched in freshwater already. So jump in the shower to get your swimsuit wet before you go for a swim, or pour tap water on yourself to saturate your suit if you’re not near a shower.

7. Don’t underestimate the importance of storing swimsuits properly.

First, make sure your suit is properly cleaned before storing it away. Then chose a cool, dark environment: I use a large plastic container/bin that slides under my bed from the Container Store—and lay swimsuits flat on top of each other.

You can also gently roll your bathing suits, a la Marie Kondo, but don’t squish them or it will cause unwanted creasing and damage. I actually prefer this method for travel, as it takes up little room in the suitcase and preserves the shape for the trip.

Got swimsuit care questions? Ask in the comments! To score on-trend bathing suits, cover-ups, and more, head to our Swim Shop!

This post was originally published in 2019 and has been updated with new content.