How to Wash a Swimsuit: The Complete Care Guide for Swimmers

Most swimmers spend considerable time choosing the right suit. Far fewer think carefully about what happens after the session ends.

That is a problem.

Chlorine, salt water, sunscreen, and sweat do not leave your suit when you step out of the pool. They stay in the fibres. And the longer they stay, the more they can affect the way your suit looks, feels, and fits.

Proper swimsuit care is not a domestic chore. It is performance maintenance. A well-maintained suit should feel reliable session after session, so you can focus on the work instead of your gear.

This guide covers everything you need to know: how to wash a swimsuit correctly, how often to do it, what to avoid, and how to make your swimwear last as long as possible.

The Short Answer: How Should You Wash a Swimsuit?

Rinse your swimsuit in cool fresh water immediately after every swim. Then hand wash it with a small amount of mild detergent, rinse thoroughly, press out excess water without wringing, and air dry it away from direct sunlight.

Hand washing is the safest method for preserving fit, stretch, and fabric quality. Machine washing should only be used with caution, and only if the suit's care label allows it.

Why Proper Swimsuit Care Matters

Every time you swim, your suit is exposed to chemical and physical stress. In the pool, chlorine is the primary aggressor. In open water, salt takes its place. Add UV exposure, sunscreen residue, and body oils, and you have a combination of forces that can work continuously against the synthetic fibres your suit depends on.

The problem is not a single session. The problem is accumulation. A suit that is rinsed and washed after every swim is better protected over time. A suit that is left in a wet bag, dried in direct sunlight, or machine-washed on the wrong cycle is more likely to lose its shape, feel, and stretch faster.

For swimmers who train multiple times per week, proper care can make a noticeable difference in how long a suit keeps its fit, structure, and overall feel.

The section below covers the right method, in the right order. It takes less than five minutes. It matters every single time.

How to Hand Wash a Swimsuit: The Recommended Method

Hand washing is the safest method for performance swimwear. It is gentler than any machine cycle, uses no heat, and gives you full control over the process. Make it a habit after every session.

Step 1: Rinse Immediately After Every Swim

This is the single most important step, and it costs nothing.

As soon as you finish your session, rinse your suit thoroughly under cool or cold fresh water. The goal is to flush out chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and sweat before they have time to settle into the fabric. Do not wait until you get home. Do not leave the suit in your bag and deal with it later.

If you are at a pool, the showerhead before you leave is sufficient. Cool water only — hot water can accelerate the very damage you are trying to prevent.

Step 2: Soak in Mild Detergent

Fill a clean sink or basin with cool water. Add a small amount of mild detergent designed for delicate fabrics — a teaspoon is enough. Submerge the suit and let it soak for 10 to 30 minutes.

Avoid regular laundry detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. These can be too harsh for swimwear and may affect the fibres that help the suit keep its shape and stretch.

A detergent labelled for lingerie or delicates is the right choice. Several brands produce detergents specifically marketed for swimwear — these work well, but a generic delicates detergent is perfectly effective.

Step 3: Gently Massage and Rinse

After soaking, gently swish the suit through the water and use your fingers to lightly work the fabric. Focus on any areas that carry the heaviest residue build-up — the seat, the lining, and the straps.

No scrubbing. No aggressive rubbing. Friction can damage the surface fibres and cause pilling.

Once you are satisfied, rinse the suit thoroughly under cool running water until no soap residue remains. Soap left in the fabric can irritate skin and affect the fibres over time.

Step 4: Remove Excess Water Without Wringing

This step is where many people make a critical mistake.

Do not wring your swimsuit. Twisting the fabric to squeeze out water puts stress on the elastic fibres and can distort the suit's shape.

Instead, hold the suit against the side of the basin and press gently to push water out. Then lay it flat on a dry towel, roll the towel up with the suit inside, and press firmly along the length of the roll. The towel absorbs the excess water without putting the same mechanical force on the suit.

Step 5: Air Dry Flat, Away From Direct Sunlight

Lay the suit flat on a clean, dry surface or hang it on a non-metal hanger in a well-ventilated area. Avoid direct sunlight — UV exposure can fade colour and weaken surface fibres over time.

Never put a swimsuit in a tumble dryer. Heat can damage elasticity and distort the shape of the suit. Even a low heat setting may be enough to affect the materials that give performance swimwear its fit and stretch.

Leave the suit to dry fully before storing it.

Can You Wash a Swimsuit in the Washing Machine?

Sometimes, but only with important caveats, and it should never be your first choice for performance swimwear.

Before machine washing any swimsuit, check the care label first. If machine washing is allowed and necessary, follow these rules:

• Place the suit inside a mesh laundry bag before loading it. This protects the fabric from abrasion against the drum and other items.
• Select the delicate or hand-wash cycle only.
• Use cold water exclusively.
• Use a small amount of mild detergent, the same type you would use for hand washing.
• Avoid the spin dryer if possible. Remove the suit while still damp and proceed with the towel roll method and air drying as above.
• Wash the suit alone or with other delicates only, never with heavy items like towels or jeans that create friction.

Machine washing, even done carefully, puts more mechanical stress on a suit than hand washing. For a training suit you rely on session after session, hand washing is usually the better investment.

How Chlorine Damages Swimwear Over Time

Understanding what chlorine can do to fabric is the clearest argument for consistent post-swim care.

Chlorine can weaken the stretch fibres in swimwear over time. This is why suits that are left unrinsed after pool sessions often lose shape, feel rougher, fade faster, or become less supportive. The effect builds gradually, which makes rinsing after every swim one of the simplest ways to extend the life of your suit.

The result is visible and physical. The suit may lose its stretch. Fibres can become rougher to the touch. Colours may fade. In more advanced cases, the fabric can begin to thin or lose structural integrity.

Once a swimsuit has lost its shape or stretch, care can slow further damage, but it cannot fully restore the original fit. At that point, the suit may need to be replaced.

The straightforward conclusion: rinsing and washing your suit after every session does not just keep it clean. It helps slow the wear that happens every time you enter the water.

How to Get Chlorine Smell Out of a Swimsuit

A persistent chlorine smell after washing can be a sign that chlorine residue has settled into the fabric rather than simply sitting on the surface. Standard rinsing alone may not remove it at that stage.

Two common methods are:

White vinegar soak: Mix one part white vinegar with four parts cool water in a clean basin. Submerge the suit and soak for 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Baking soda soak: Dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in a basin of cool water. Soak the suit for 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

These methods are commonly used for swimwear care, but always check the care label first and avoid using them too frequently. Do not leave vinegar or baking soda residue in the fabric.

How Often Should You Wash Your Swimsuit?

After every single wear.

This applies even if you did not swim. Sunscreen and body oils applied before a session begin building up on fabric on contact, regardless of whether you entered the water. If you wore your suit during a dryland warm-up or a pool deck session, wash it.

For competitive or high-frequency training swimmers, this means washing after every session, multiple times per week. The five-minute hand wash process described above makes this practical.

Leaving multiple sessions of chlorine, sweat, and sunscreen residue to accumulate before washing is one of the fastest ways to shorten a suit's usable lifespan.

What to Avoid When Washing Your Swimsuit

Never do this:

• Wring or twist the suit to remove water
• Use a tumble dryer on any heat setting
• Wash in hot or warm water
• Use regular laundry detergent
• Use bleach or whitening products
• Use fabric softener
• Leave the suit wet in a gym bag or sealed container — this can cause mildew and odour that is difficult to remove
• Dry in direct sunlight for extended periods
• Wash with heavy items, such as towels or denim, in a machine

Always do this:

• Rinse immediately after every swim
• Use cool water throughout
• Use mild detergent designed for delicates
• Press excess water out rather than wringing
• Air dry flat or hung, away from direct sunlight
• Dry fully before storing

Should You Wash a New Swimsuit Before Wearing It?

Yes.

It is a good idea to rinse or gently wash a new swimsuit before wearing it. This helps remove any residue from production, packaging, or storage and gives the suit a fresh feel before its first use.

A single cold-water hand wash with mild detergent before first wear removes residue and gives you an accurate sense of the suit's true fit and feel. It takes no more time than any other post-swim wash.

How to Store Your Swimsuit Properly

How you store your suit between sessions matters as much as how you wash it.

Before storage, the suit must be completely dry. Storing a damp suit, even in a well-ventilated space, creates conditions for mildew, which causes persistent odour and can degrade fabric over time.

Once dry:

• Store flat or loosely folded. Do not compress the suit tightly into a bag or drawer for extended periods, as this can distort the shape.
• Keep it away from heat sources. Radiators, sunny windowsills, and car interiors all generate the kind of sustained heat that can weaken elastic fibres.
• Store it away from rough surfaces or sharp edges that could snag or abrade the fabric.
• If storing alongside other swim gear, keep the suit separate from goggles and caps to avoid friction marks or pressure points.

For swimmers who rotate between multiple suits, allow each suit to dry fully between sessions where possible. Continuous daily use of a single suit without proper drying time accelerates wear.

Caring for Your Full Swim Kit

A well-maintained suit is one part of a well-maintained kit. The same principles — rinse immediately, wash gently, dry properly, store correctly — apply across your goggles, swim cap, and any other gear you train with regularly.

If you want the same level of detail for your goggles, read our guide to how to clean your swim goggles. If you train in open water, our open water swimming gear guide covers post-swim care for your full setup. And if you compete in triathlon, the essential swim gear for triathletes guide covers the specific demands of multi-discipline training on your equipment.