How to Wash Swimwear So It Lasts Longer: A Step-by-Step Care Routine

Quick answer

Rinse your swimwear in cool fresh water immediately after every wear, then hand wash it in cool water with a drop of mild soap, gently squeeze the water out and lay it flat to dry in the shade. Never leave it rolled up in a wet towel, never use hot water and never put it in a tumble dryer.

Chlorine, salt, sunscreen and sweat all sit in the fibres of your swimwear long after you leave the water, quietly breaking down the stretch and dulling the colour. A two-minute rinse after each wear does more for the lifespan of a swim brief or thong than any special product you can buy.

This routine works for any swim piece, from a full-coverage brief to a minimal swim thong. It is deliberately short because the biggest risk to swimwear is not a lack of effort, it is harsh handling: hot water, strong detergent and heat drying.

Why swimwear needs different care to everyday underwear

Swim fabric is built to stretch and recover, and that stretch comes from elastane blended into the main fibre. Chlorine and heat attack elastane faster than they attack anything else in the garment, which is why old swimwear goes baggy at the waist and seat before the fabric actually looks worn out. Sunscreen and body oils also cling to the lining and can leave a dull film if they are not rinsed away.

Everyday underwear can survive a warm machine wash because it is not sitting in chlorinated water for hours. Swimwear cannot. Treating swimwear as a hand-wash-only item is the single biggest change you can make, and it takes less time than folding a load of laundry.

• Rinse within an hour of leaving the water if you possibly can.
• Keep swimwear out of the general laundry basket so it never accidentally goes through a hot cycle.

What you actually need

You do not need a cabinet of specialist products. Cool water, a mild liquid soap or a dedicated gentle wash, and a clean flat surface to dry on are enough. Avoid anything labelled as a stain remover, bleach-based, or heavy-duty detergent, because these strip colour and break down stretch fibres.

If you are travelling, a bottle of plain mild hand soap works fine for a quick wash. The key is that the soap is gentle and fully rinsed out afterwards, because residue left in the fabric can irritate skin and attract more dirt on the next wear.

• Cool or lukewarm water only, never hot.
• Mild liquid soap or gentle detergent, no bleach and no fabric softener.
• A clean towel for blotting and a shaded flat surface for drying.

How often to wash swimwear

Rinse after every wear, wash properly after every two or three wears, or after any session in a chlorinated pool or the sea. If you have worn sunscreen, rinse that day rather than waiting, because sunscreen residue is one of the main causes of yellowing and stiff fabric.

If you swim daily, a quick rinse plus a proper hand wash every few days is realistic and keeps the garment fresh without over-washing. Over-washing is far less damaging than under-rinsing, but there is no need to scrub a piece that has only been in fresh water for ten minutes.

• Rinse: after every wear.
• Full hand wash: every two to three wears, or after chlorine or salt water.
• Skip the wash only if the piece was never actually wet.

Drying and storing swimwear

Lay swimwear flat in the shade to dry. Direct sun and radiator heat both degrade elastane, and hanging a wet brief by its waistband stretches it out of shape while it dries. Once dry, store it flat or loosely folded rather than stretched over a hanger, and keep it away from damp gym bags.

If you need to pack it wet, put it in a separate waterproof pouch rather than sealing it against other clothes. A damp swim brief left in a hot car or a sealed bag is the fastest way to get that sour smell that no amount of washing fully removes.

• Dry flat, in shade, away from direct heat.
• Never wring or twist the fabric to speed up drying.
• Store fully dry and loosely folded.

Your six-step swimwear wash routine

1. Step 1: Rinse immediately after wearing: Hold the swimwear under cool running water for about thirty seconds, working the water through the lining as well as the outer fabric. This removes most chlorine, salt and sunscreen before it can settle into the fibres. Checkpoint: if the water still smells of chlorine when you squeeze the garment, keep rinsing.
2. Step 2: Fill a basin with cool water and a drop of mild soap: Use cool or lukewarm water and only a small amount of mild liquid soap or gentle detergent. Swirl the water so the soap dissolves before you add the swimwear. Common mistake: using hot water or a full scoop of regular detergent, both of which fade colour and weaken stretch.
3. Step 3: Wash by hand for one to two minutes: Gently squeeze the soapy water through the fabric rather than scrubbing it against itself. Pay attention to the lining, the waistband and the sides, where sweat and sunscreen build up. Checkpoint: no scrubbing, no twisting, and no leaving the garment to soak for hours.
4. Step 4: Rinse until the water runs clear: Drain the basin and refill with cool water, or hold the garment under a running tap. Repeat until no soap bubbles appear when you squeeze the fabric. Common mistake: stopping too early and leaving soap residue that stiffens the fabric and irritates skin.
5. Step 5: Remove water without wringing: Lay the swimwear flat on a clean dry towel, roll the towel up gently and press down to absorb the excess water. Do not twist or wring the garment. Checkpoint: the garment should feel damp, not dripping, before you move to drying.
6. Step 6: Dry flat in the shade and store dry: Lay the swimwear flat on a clean surface out of direct sun and away from radiators. Once completely dry, fold it loosely and store it away from damp gym bags. Common mistake: drying on a radiator or in direct sun, which is the fastest way to make swimwear go baggy.

Swimwear care in practice

• Statement Micro Swim Thong - White: Super-thin sides create clean lines and a classic finish, designed to be worn loud even when the design stays sleek. Thin side straps are the first part to stretch, so rinse and dry this piece flat rather than hanging it by the straps.
• Kouros Bikini Swim Brief - Shell: A high hip cut bikini style brief that is fully lined with an internal drawcord. The lining holds water and sunscreen longer than the outer fabric, so rinse thoroughly and squeeze gently rather than wringing.
• Statement Swim Brief - White: Designed with the ideal balance, not too thin at the sides and not too wide, for a cut between classic and sexy. A mid-width side holds its shape well, but white fabric shows sunscreen residue first, so rinse this one the same day you wear it.

Swimwear care comes down to three habits: rinse straight away, wash by hand in cool water, and dry flat in the shade. Do that and a well-made swim brief or thong will keep its shape, colour and stretch through far more summers than one that gets tossed in with the regular laundry.