How to Wash Swimwear without Wrecking the Elastic

A good swimsuit takes a beating: chlorine, salt water, sunscreen, body oils, and sun, often all in a single afternoon. Then most people either toss it in a hot machine wash or leave it damp and forget it, both of which shorten its life. Swimwear is delicate technical fabric, and it lasts far longer with a little care. Here is how to wash it so the elastic, color, and shape survive the season and beyond.

Why Swimwear Breaks Down So Fast

Swimwear is built from stretch fabrics like elastane and nylon that are surprisingly fragile once you factor in what you expose them to. Chlorine chemically degrades the stretch fibres, which is why pool swimsuits lose their shape fastest. Salt water dries and stiffens the fabric. Sunscreen and body oils stain and break down the material over time. And heat, from hot water or the dryer, accelerates all of it. The stretch is the first thing to go, and once it goes, the suit sags and never recovers.

Rinse First, Always

The single most important habit costs nothing: rinse your swimsuit in cool, clean water as soon as you can after swimming, ideally before it dries. This removes the chlorine, salt, and most of the sunscreen before they have time to set into the fabric and do their damage. A quick rinse under the tap after every wear does more to extend a swimsuit's life than any wash routine, because it stops the corrosive residue sitting on the fibres for hours.

Hand Wash or Machine?

Hand washing in cool water with a small amount of gentle detergent is the gold standard for swimwear. Gently squeeze the suds through the fabric, do not scrub or wring, then rinse and press the water out. If you prefer the machine, it can be done safely: place the swimsuit in a mesh laundry bag, wash on a cold, gentle or delicate cycle, and use a mild detergent. The bag is important here, because it stops the delicate straps and fabric snagging and tangling in the drum, which is exactly how machine washing usually ruins swimwear.

What to Never Do

A few things reliably destroy swimwear, so avoid them entirely:

●       Never use hot water. Heat breaks down the stretch fibres quickly.

●       Never tumble dry. The dryer's heat and tumbling are the fastest way to wreck the elastic and warp the shape.

●       Never wring it out. Twisting stretches and distorts the fabric permanently. Press the water out gently instead.

●       Never use fabric softener or bleach. Both degrade the technical fibres and fade color.

●       Never leave it balled up and damp, which encourages mildew and odour.

Drying and Storing

Dry swimwear flat in the shade, not hung and not in direct harsh sun. Hanging a wet swimsuit lets the weight of the water stretch it out of shape, and strong sun fades color and degrades the fabric. Lay it flat on a towel, reshape it, and let it air dry fully before storing. Once completely dry, store it flat rather than crammed, so the elastic keeps its shape. Done this way, even a well-used swimsuit keeps its stretch and color far longer than one washed carelessly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you machine wash swimsuits?

Yes, carefully. Place the swimsuit in a mesh laundry bag, wash on a cold gentle cycle with mild detergent, and air dry flat. The mesh bag stops the delicate fabric and straps snagging in the drum. Hand washing is gentler still, but a bagged cold wash is a safe alternative.

How do I stop my swimsuit stretching out?

Rinse it after every wear, wash it cold and gentle (in a mesh bag if using the machine), never wring it, and dry it flat in the shade rather than hanging it. Heat and the weight of water hanging are the two main causes of stretching.

Does chlorine ruin swimwear?

Chlorine gradually degrades the stretch fibres, which is why pool suits lose their shape fastest. You cannot avoid chlorine while swimming, but rinsing the suit in clean water immediately afterwards removes it before it can do lasting damage.

Should I hand wash bathing suits?

Hand washing in cool water with gentle detergent is the ideal, especially for delicate or expensive suits. If you prefer the machine, use a mesh bag on a cold gentle cycle. Either way, rinse first, skip heat, and dry flat.

The Wrap Up!

Swimwear is delicate technical fabric under constant chemical attack, and it lasts far longer with a little care. Rinse after every wear, wash cool and gentle, never use heat or wring it out, and dry it flat in the shade. If you machine wash, a mesh bag is essential to stop it snagging. The Sillo Care Washbag, included as a 2-pack with every Sillo set, protects your swimwear so its stretch, shape, and color survive the season.