How to Care for Swimsuits and Make Them Last Years

Here’s how most swimsuits die: tossed in the laundry with the towels, tumbled through the dryer, left wadded up in the bottom of a beach bag for three days. By Labor Day, the elastic is shot, the color has faded, and you’re already eyeing replacements. Sound familiar? A good swimsuit can cost as much as a decent pair of jeans. And yet we treat them like something we grabbed out of a bargain bin. The good news? Keeping a swimsuit looking great for three to five seasons isn’t complicated or expensive. It’s just a handful of small habits, most of which take about two extra minutes after each swim. Let me walk you through what actually works.

Swimsuits are made of stretchy synthetic fibers (typically nylon, spandex, lycra, polyester, or a blend) that are surprisingly sensitive to a few specific things: chlorine, saltwater, heat, harsh detergents, friction, and sunscreen oils. Most swimsuit damage comes from one of these, not from actually swimming in the suit.

The pool itself isn’t the problem. The pool deck, the laundry machine, the dryer, and the beach bag are the real culprits. Manage those four and your swimsuits can easily last three to five years with their shape and color intact.

The Post-Swim Routine That Changes Everything

This is the single most important habit. Do it every time and your swimsuit life doubles.

1. Rinse in Cold Tap Water Right Away

The moment you’re done swimming, rinse the suit thoroughly in cold tap water. Most pools have a quick-rinse shower for exactly this purpose. If there isn’t one, a public restroom sink works.

The goal is to flush out chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and any pool chemicals before they can sit on the fabric and damage the fibers. Five minutes of rinsing right after swimming prevents days of slow damage later.

2. Don’t Wring It Out

The hardest habit to break. Wringing twists and stretches the elastic fibers permanently. The suit loses its shape, the leg openings go droopy, and the bust support disappears.

Instead, press the water out gently. Roll the suit in a dry towel and squeeze, the same way you’d dry a delicate sweater. Slower than wringing, but it adds years of life.

3. Hang to Dry Out of Direct Sunlight

Direct sunlight fades swimsuit colors fast. Dry in a shaded spot with good airflow. Think: a covered porch, a bathroom, anywhere out of the sun. Lay flat on a towel or hang over a wooden hanger that won’t snag the fabric.

Never use a plastic clothespin to clip the suit by a strap. The clip leaves a permanent indentation and weakens the elastic underneath.

4. Never the Dryer. Ever.

I mean it. The dryer is where swimsuits go to die. Heat permanently destroys elastic fibers. One cycle and the suit is noticeably looser. Three cycles and it’s done. There are no exceptions here. Air dry only, always.

MORE: 16 Things That Should Absolutely Never See the Inside of a Clothes Dryer

How to Actually Wash a Swimsuit

Good news: most swimsuits don’t need the washing machine. The cold-water rinse handles the daily work just fine. But every few weeks (or after a particularly long pool day) give it a proper wash.

The Hand-Wash Method

Fill a sink or basin with cool water and a small amount of mild detergent (about a teaspoon of Woolite, baby shampoo, or any “delicate” detergent.) Submerge the suit, swish gently, and let it soak for 15 to 30 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly in cool water until all suds are gone. Press out water gently (no wringing). Hang to dry as described above.

This is the best method. It takes about ten minutes of total time, and it’s gentle on every part of the suit.

The Machine-Wash Method (If You Must)

If you absolutely need to use the washer:

Place the suit in a mesh delicates bag
Wash on the gentlest cycle, cold water
Use a small amount of mild detergent
No fabric softener (it breaks down elastic over time)
Air dry immediately afterward

A mesh bag is essential. It prevents the suit from snagging on zippers, hooks, or other items in the wash.

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What Never to Use

Bleach: Destroys the fibers, full stop. Even oxygen bleach like OxiClean can weaken elastic over time.
Fabric softener: Coats the fibers and reduces their stretch.
Hot water: Heat is the enemy.
Regular detergent with brighteners: Too harsh.
MORE: Are You Washing Everything Too Often (or Not Enough)?

Beach Bag Habits That Matter More Than You Think

Half the damage to swimsuits happens between the swim and the wash. A few simple habits prevent it.

Bring a wet bag. A small waterproof dry bag (or even a gallon zip-top bag) keeps the wet suit from soaking everything else in your bag while preventing the mildew that develops if it sits damp for hours.
Get the suit out of the bag the moment you get home. Wet, balled-up suits develop mildew and lose shape within hours. Rinse, press dry, hang.
Rotate suits if you swim often. Even with perfect care, a suit needs 24 to 48 hours to fully dry and the elastic to recover. Swimming daily in the same suit wears it out 3 times faster.

End-of-Season Storage

When summer’s winding down and the suits are going away for months, a little care now pays off next June.

Wash them one last time using the hand-wash method.
Dry completely. Truly completely. Even slightly damp fabric mildews over months in storage.
Fold loosely (don’t roll tightly). Tight rolling sets creases in the elastic that don’t bounce back well.
Store flat in a drawer or cloth bag. Plastic bags trap moisture. A cotton pillowcase is perfect.
Keep them in a cool, dry place. Heat in summer storage (attics, garages) breaks down elastic. Inside the house is best.

When It Really Is Time to Replace

Even with perfect care, swimsuits eventually wear out. Signs it’s time:

The fabric feels see-through when wet (most common with light colors)
The elastic at the legs or back is permanently loose
Color has faded significantly
Underwire or padding is broken
You’ve worn it for 4+ summers of regular use

A swimsuit cared for properly should last 3 to 5 summers. Cared for poorly, it lasts one. The math is worth the five-minute routine.

Question: How long has your favorite swimsuit lasted, and what’s your secret for keeping it looking new? Share your tip in the comments below.

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Last update on 2026-06-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Linda says:

June 26, 2026 at 8:59 am

I swim lengths daily and am very careful with my suit. I buy only a polyester suit (Tyr Brand and never nylon) and rinse it at the pool. I hang to dry at home out of the sun. The one I’m wearing has lasted over six years and still is great.

linda says:

June 26, 2026 at 1:30 am

about ten years and counting…but i haven’t used it in about five. it lives in a beach bag with a towel in the trunk of my car. this way if i’m with friends from my old neighborhood and someone suggests we all go swimming, i’m ready to go.