How to Care for Your Swimsuits to Keep Them From Fading and Stretching

Bright sunshine, swimming pool dips, and extended beach days—all of the summertime pleasures that most of us enjoy—are hard on our swimwear. Sunscreen and body oils may leave difficult stains, while heat, chlorine, and salt cause colors to fade and diminish the material's resiliency with time. Additionally, synthetic swim materials are vulnerable to a variety of additional issues, including pilling and odor retention. Fortunately, there are a few easy actions you can do to maintain the quality of your suit season after season. We've gathered some prevention-focused ideas and tactics to help you prolong the life of your swimwear and prevent the embarrassment of a stinking, stretched-out suit.

Rinse both before and after swimming.

It goes without saying that you should rinse your suit in freshwater as soon as you get out of the water, as this helps to get rid of some of the chemicals, salt, and sand it has been exposed to before you can give it a good wash. The significance of washing off before diving in is less widely understood. In actuality, a pre-swim rinse also protects swimwear. Swimwear fabrics contain polymers that are designed to be resilient, or to stretch and rebound. Although they are often extremely resilient, extended contact with water that contains salts, minerals, and chlorine eventually causes the polymers that give the fabric its stretch to break down.

After each wear, wash as soon as possible with a moderate detergent.

Never bury a wet swimsuit at the bottom of the hamper or ball it up in a plastic bag. This not only stresses the fabric but also promotes mildew development and prolongs the onset of unpleasant smells. Wash your suit as soon as you can after each use, following the care directions on the label, to maintain your swimwear's best appearance, functionality, and odor. It might not be sufficient to simply rinse with water if you assume that would suffice. After each use, wash with a tiny amount of detergent to get rid of any salt, mineral, and chemical deposits that have built up inside the construction.

Dry out with a fan.

Before storing your swimsuit, make sure it is completely dry because any residual moisture can lead to smells and accelerated aging of the textiles. Avoid using the dryer unless it has a no-heat setting since heat ruins the elastic synthetic materials that are commonly used in swimwear. The same is true when you spread your suit out in the sun: The polymer chains that make up the substance are easily broken down by moisture, heat, and sunshine. Instead, roll your suit in a towel to absorb extra moisture, then lay it flat in a well-ventilated room out of the sun.

Removing stains and examining your sunscreen.

Swimwear textiles include polymers that have a nasty propensity of holding onto oil-based stains. Anything oil-based, such as sunscreen, that is spilled on the fabric sticks to it. Fortunately, most stains may be removed using the same mild detergent you use to routinely wash your suit. If you find any greasy stains on your suit, wash it in the hottest water the fabric can tolerate after pretreating the spots with liquid detergent. Additionally, we advise against drying swimsuits, especially those with tough stains: Stains are far more difficult to remove when heated by the dryer. You can get the best swimsuits from sites like Shopify.

The greatest treatment for smell is prevention.

The most repulsive scents should be eliminated by washing your outfit as soon as possible. Arya advised using a delicately fragranced detergent to cover up stronger scents, like chlorine. Do not worry if you have sensitive skin or just dislike using fragrance-containing products. The most important thing is to immediately wash your bathing suit with detergent.