How to pack a wet swimsuit

I’m sure we’ve all been there. Having to pack a wet swimsuit into a bag or suitcase. Maybe it’s because you wanted to take that last dip in the ocean before going home from your vacation. Or you’re just an avid swimmer who goes to and from the pool after practice. 

Whatever the reason, it’s always good to know how to pack a wet swimsuit. In this article, we’ll go through the importance of packing your wet swimsuit correctly and several options on how to pack a wet swimsuit. I’m sure there’s a way that works for you! 

Why is it important to pack a wet swimsuit properly?

You might wonder why you really should care about packing your wet swimsuit in any particular way, can’t you just throw it in the bag?

We’ll no, not really. There are two main reasons why you need to be mindful when packing a wet swimsuit. First, you want to avoid mold and mildew from building up. A wet swimsuit that’s laying in a bag is a perfect breeding ground for mildew. Secondly, you want to be careful not to damage anything else you have in your bag. 

Avoid mildew and mold when packing a wet swimsuit

A moist and humid swimsuit is the perfect breeding ground for mold. Mildew and mold will start building up much faster than you might think, and will not stop until you’ve washed your swimsuit properly. 

According to The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

”mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem.”

As you can see, if you need to pack a wet swimsuit it’s important that you do it properly to avoid mildew or mold. 

Read more: How to wash mildew out of a swimsuit?

Don’t damage other things in your bag when packing a wet swimsuit

Even if a swimsuit is just a little wet, it can damage other things in the same bag. Anything from books to electronic devices and shoes can be permanently damaged if you stick them next to a wet swimsuit or bikini and put them in a bag for a few hours. 

Whatever your method of packing your soaking swimsuit will be, it’s important that you keep the moist swimsuit away from anything that’s not good with water. 

Best ways to pack a wet swimsuit

It’s never desirable to pack a wet swimsuit. As we’ve shown, there are downsides to doing so. If you can, you should always try to dry your swimwear and not pack them while wet. 

But we know there are plenty of occasions where you’ll still need to do so. So here are the best ways to pack a wet swimsuit:

1. Ziplock bag
2. Wet bag
3. Dry bag
4. Towel
5. In a separate compartment

1. Ziplock bag

The ziplock bag will be the most common way to pack a wet swimsuit. It’s convenient and accessible. The ziplock bag will make an airtight seal that won’t let any of the water from the swimsuit out into the rest of your bag.  

2. Wet bag

A wet bag is specifically designed to carry a wet swimsuit, and many of them will also be able to take your wet towel too! The material used in the wet bag is waterproof, so you can be sure that none of the water will leak out. 

3. Dry Bag

A dry bag is used for protecting money, phones, and other valuables from getting wet. The material it’s made of will keep the moisture out and the water in. This makes a dry bag great for packing a wet swimsuit, as you won’t have to worry about any water leaking out into your bag or suitcase. 

4. Towel

If you don’t have access to a ziplock, wet bag, or dry bag then wrapping your swimsuit in an absorbent towel can do the job too. Make sure to wrap it tightly and make sure there are no gaps where water could escape. 

Also, make sure that your swimsuit is as dry as possible and that you use as much of the towel as possible. The towel will eventually get wet as well and might damage other things in your bag.

Using a towel should be done as a last resort and should only be done in shorter times.

5. In A Separate Compartment

The last way to make sure your wet swimsuit won’t damage any other items in your bag is to put it in a separate compartment. This could be a pocket, pouch, or even another bag inside the main one.

This way you can make sure that no moisture from the swimsuit will come into contact with other items. You should also make sure that the compartment is properly sealed so no water can accidentally escape.

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How to store a wet swimsuit? 

On the topic of packing a wet swimsuit, we often get the question of how one should store a wet swimsuit. And we always give the same answer, you should never store a wet swimsuit.

For all the same reasons that you don’t want your wet swimsuit laying around in your bag or suitcase for excessive time, you should not store it wet.

There are many good reasons why you might need to travel with a wet swimsuit, but there are no good reasons to store a wet swimsuit. Just don’t.

Dry swimsuit faster

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to dry your wet swimsuit quickly, here are some tips that can help:

1. Use a towel. Wrap up your swimsuit in an absorbent towel and wring it out as much as possible. This will help get rid of any excess water from the fabric.

2. Use a hairdryer. If you have access to one, this can be a great way to speed up the drying process. Just make sure not to use too much heat as it could damage your swimsuit.

3. Hang it in the sun. Sunlight is always the best way to dry out a wet swimsuit. Just make sure not to leave it out in the sun for too long or it could fade the colors.

4. Air dry. You can also simply place your wet swimsuit on a towel and let it air dry. This method takes longer but is still effective if you have time to spare.

Read more: Do swimsuits go in the dryer?

Conclusion

Now that you know how to pack a wet swimsuit, you can avoid mold and mildew growth as well as damage to your other belongings.

Be sure to dry your swimsuit as much as possible before packing it in a ziplock bag, wet bag, or dry bag. You can also pack it in a towel or in a separate compartment.

Just be sure to unpack it immediately when you arrive at your destination. Do you have any other tips for packing a wet swimsuit? Share them with us in the comments below!

Jonatan Rosdahl

I’ll write about anything and everything related to swimwear!