How to wash a swimsuit: rinsing out chlorine, salt and sun cream properly

Indoor pool in the morning, a swim in the lake in the afternoon, a beach holiday in July: swimwear works hard in summer. If you want to know how to wash a swimsuit so that it doesn't stretch or fade, you don't need special products – just the right timing. What matters most is what happens in the first few minutes after your swim.

Chlorine, salt, sun cream and heat all attack the stretchy fibres. Five simple steps keep bikinis, swimsuits and swim shorts in shape and in colour for longer.

Why a swimsuit needs special care

Most swimwear is made of polyamide or polyester with a share of elastane. Elastane makes the fabric fit snugly and spring back after stretching. But this fibre is sensitive: pool chlorine, salt, sun protection products, heat and constant stretching wear it out over time. The swimsuit then goes baggy, the fabric looks thin and the colours fade.

1. Rinse your swimsuit straight after swimming

The most important step takes a minute: rinse your bikini, swimsuit or swim shorts right after swimming, in the pool shower or at home, with clean cold to lukewarm water. That way chlorine and salt don't get the chance to work on the fabric for hours.

Rinsing is worth it after a dip in the lake or the river too, as otherwise sediment, algae and sun cream stay in the fabric. Then press the water out gently – don't wring.

2. How to wash a swimsuit by hand

After rinsing, a quick hand wash is usually enough, especially after the indoor pool or a day with lots of sun cream.

1. Fill a washbasin or bowl with cold to lukewarm water.
2. Dissolve a little delicates or wool detergent in it.
3. Soak the item for a few minutes and squeeze it gently – don't rub.
4. Rinse thoroughly with clean water until no more foam comes out.
5. Carefully press out the water and roll everything up in a towel to soak up the moisture.

This matches the care symbols: according to the GINETEX care symbols index, hand washing means low temperatures and no rubbing or wringing. Don't use fabric softener – it coats the fibres and can reduce their stretch.

3. Swimwear in the washing machine – if the label allows it

Many swimsuits can go in the washing machine, provided the care label shows a wash tub symbol with a temperature. In that case:

• Programme: delicates or hand-wash cycle at a low temperature, usually 30 °C.
• Laundry bag: put bikinis and swimsuits in a mesh laundry bag so straps and hooks don't get tangled.
• Spin: choose a low speed or skip it altogether.
• Wash with: only similar colours, and no jeans, zips or Velcro.

Low temperatures don't just protect the fabric. EnergieSchweiz, the Swiss federal energy programme, recommends washing at 20–30 °C with eco programmes and not increasing the amount of detergent anyway. More detergent achieves nothing here; it just stays in the fabric as residue.

Swimwear with underwires, moulded cups or sequins is always best washed by hand. Our guide on how to wash a bra explains how to care for delicate underwired items.

4. Drying swimwear properly

Drying is where most mistakes happen. Lay your bikini or swimsuit flat on a towel or drying rack in an airy spot in the shade. Direct sun bleaches the colours and weakens the elastane, as do radiators and tumble dryers.

Don't hang a wet swimsuit up by its straps: the weight of the water stretches them. Store dry swimwear loosely folded in a drawer, not balled up in your beach bag.

5. Removing sun cream stains and odours

Sun cream often leaves greasy marks on swimwear that can turn yellow or orange over time. Treat them as early as possible: put a little washing-up liquid or ox-gall soap on the stain, work it in gently, leave it briefly and then hand-wash as described above. On bright colours, test any stain remover on an inconspicuous spot first. You will find detailed methods in our guide to sunscreen stains on clothes.

If your swim shorts smell musty, they usually stayed wet in the bag for too long. A hand wash and thorough air-drying usually solve the problem. For stubborn odours in sportswear, see our guide Gym clothes smell after washing.

The most common mistakes

• Leaving a wet swimsuit in your bag for hours: chlorine and salt keep working, plus you get odours and mildew spots.
• Wringing: the stretchy fibres are overstretched and can break.
• Tumble dryer or radiator: heat quickly wears out elastane – the swimsuit goes baggy.
• Drying in blazing sun: colours fade, especially red and black.
• Fabric softener: it clogs the fibres and brings no benefit here.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.