How to wash a swimsuit

Below we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to help you with how to wash your swimsuit. 

We felt that this was a question with many different parts to it, so we want to ensure that you finally have one location to find the answers to the tough question – how to wash a swimsuit?

Tip: Dive deeper into each topic!

We want you to have the best information while not overwhelming you with it. We’ve taken a deeper dive into each topic in separate articles. If you need more info, simply move on to the article you need below.
How to machine wash a swimsuit
How to wash a swimsuit by hand
How to wash a swimsuit after swimming
Wash swimsuit with vinegar
Wash swimsuit with baking soda
How to wash mildew out of your swimsuit?
How to remove a stain on your swimsuit?
How often should you wash your swimsuit?
Can your swimsuit go in the dryer?
How to dry a swimsuit fast?
How to read the wash label of a swimsuit
Can you iron your swimsuit?
How to get a discolored swimsuit white again?

How to machine wash swimsuit

Some may ask, can a swimsuit be machine washed? The answer is yes, most of the time swimsuits can be machine washed. It’s always important to check the label to see if it states that it cannot be machine washed, but there shouldn’t be an issue most of the time. 

How hot can you wash a swimsuit? If you don’t want to experience shrinkage, rinse with cold water, as this will help maintain the shape. 

The best swimsuit detergent is one that is as mild as possible, with no harsh chemicals such as bleach. Hand soap is also a viable option, as is vinegar. 

Can you use fabric softener on swimsuits, though? You should avoid fabric softener because it can destroy the spandex in your swimsuit. 

If you want to wash with other normal clothes, that shouldn’t be an issue, but always keep the detergent and water temperature in mind, and use the gentlest cycle possible.

How to wash swimsuit by hand

If you’re worried about using a washing machine for your swimsuit, then you can always wash it by hand. First, you’ll need a few items to be able to start, such as a mild soap or detergent. Next, you’ll need a soft towel to help dry it and a drying rack to let it hang and air dry. Then you’ll also need some place to contain cool water, such as a sink. 

How to wash swimsuits in the sink?

Once you have everything, place a few drops of your mild cleaning agent in the cool water and soak your swimsuit for a few minutes in the sink. This will help the soap do its job, and you can start rubbing the fabric to help with the cleaning process.

Make sure to completely rinse off all the soap from the swim trunks before using the tower to eliminate some of the water. Then it’s all about the drying rack and air drying your freshly cleaned swimsuit. 

How to wash a swimsuit after swimming

It’s good practice not only for your swimsuit but for general hygiene to actually wash your swimsuit after swimming each time. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pool or the ocean, but that chlorine or saltwater will damage your swimsuit in the long term. In addition, sea and ocean water isn’t the cleanest and can be covered in microbes and bacteria, so you definitely want to give it a fresh rinse.

It’s not a hard maintenance task, and you just need to be able to rinse your swimsuit in clean water. Then you want to place it on an even surface that’s flat to dry out.

You may think the sun is a good idea here to speed up the drying, but the sun can fade out the colors, so make sure you dry it in the shade. Only when your swimsuit is fully dry can you pack it up for the next part of your journey. Otherwise, it can start to get mildewy if it’s still wet.

Wash swimsuit with vinegar

A great item to clean your swimsuit and deodorize is vinegar; it’s a nice organic option that is a common household item and eliminates the need for specialized swimsuit cleaners. Vinegar also helps to protect your swimsuit from absorbing too much chlorine, helping to preserve the color of your swimsuit. While it safeguards the style, vinegar also helps kill bacteria easily without needing harmful cleaners. 

You want to use only around half a cup of white distilled vinegar (don’t use any other type) with around a gallon of water. Then you want a nice long soak for your swimsuit for about 30 minutes. After that, like handwashing, you want to rinse off ALL the vinegar, and make sure to always air dry in an airy room and hang it up. 

Wash swimsuit with baking soda

If you’re looking for an ultra-tough cleaner that isn’t harsh on your swimsuit, consider washing with baking soda. Baking soda is also excellent as a deodorizer, as it kills bacteria and fungi that your swimsuit may use as a home. 

The steps you need to implement are simple: all you need to do is prep the cold water by adding baking soda. Before you soak the swimsuit, wet it a bit, and clean off any visible dirt. Then you can leave it to absorb, but you only need to for a few minutes, and then they’re clean!

That’s how powerful they are. If you still wish to machine wash them, that’s ok too, as you can add baking soda with the mild detergent to still get the same benefits. Baking soda is a natural fabric softener, meaning you can still get your swimsuit to feel softer without the fear of breaking up the materials. 

How to wash the chlorine out of your swimsuit?

If you’re specifically conserved about chlorine on your swimsuit, then you can soak them in the baking soda and cool water solution a bit longer. However, we do suggest using your washing machine on a gentle cycle and cold water, only with baking soda, to not only help eliminate all the chlorine but protect your swimsuit from the damage the chlorine can cause.  

How to wash mildew out of a swimsuit?

There are four easy ways to clean off the mildew from a swimsuit, and three elements you can use are probably already have in your home. 

Go with 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water as the mixture. You’ll still have to soak it for 30 minutes at the least, rinse off the vinegar and then hang it to dry, or better yet, on a flat surface. 

Your next option is baking soda with a 1-part baking soda 2 parts water mix that helps to form a cleaning paste. Rub it in like you rub your hands when washing with soap, and then rinse and dry. 

The final home remedy is lemon juice. Here it’s also 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts water as the mixture ratio. This time around, you will need to soak it longer for about 45 minutes. Don’t go overboard, as the citric acid can damage your swim trunks. Then rinse and dry as well. 

If you have specialized swimsuit detergent, it could also be specialized in eliminating both mildew and mold from your swimsuit. Check the label to confirm and follow the instructions as listed. 

How to remove a stain on a swimsuit?

If you used too much sunscreen and it slips onto your bathing suit, you want to remove the excess amount as soon as possible. Then you want to run a cold-water bath with around two tablespoons of ammonia and soak your swimsuit for approximately 30 minutes. It should break up the components of the sunscreen and eliminate the stain.

If you are drinking your favorite iced beverage and it spills on your swimsuit, then you also want to start off by eliminating the excess liquid, and don’t waste any time with this! 

Instead, find a mild cleaner such as mild soap or dish soap and apply it straight onto the stain! Let it soak on the stain for up to 10 minutes, depending on how bad the spill was. Then rinse off with water (always cold) and hang to dry. This is a similar approach you want to take with grass stains. Yet keep in mind grass stains can be tough, so you may wish to apply specialized stain removers on the affected area and then rinse with water and air dry.

How often should you wash your swimsuit?

If we’re talking about a proper wash, such as handwashing or using a washing machine, then it’s around after three to six uses that you want to do a deeper cleaning. You’ll still sweat if you’re actively working out with your swimsuit, such as training in a pool, so wash more often. On the other hand, if you’re simply putting on your swimsuit and hanging out in a pool or just laying out in the water, it won’t need as much cleaning effort. 

Do you have to wash your swimsuit after every use?

No, if you are constantly washing it after every use, you will end up damaging the swimsuit, even if you’re handwashing the swimsuit or using the mildest soap option possible. After every use, though, you need to do that maintenance rinse. This is all about rinsing your swimsuit with fresh water and then properly drying them.

Can you wear a swimsuit without washing it?

You should be washing all your clothes, even if they’re new, and even if they’re swimsuits. Just because you are using your swimsuit in water doesn’t mean that water is going to be clean or not damage your swim trunks in the long run.

Should you wash your swimsuit before wearing it?

That depends on how many uses you’ve had with the swimsuit before its last wash. If you’re approaching the sixth time, you should wash your swimsuit before wearing them. In addition, there’s no harm in doing a pre-rinse before getting yourself into a pool, as you’ll help maintain a pool’s hygiene by rinsing your dirt and debris off. 

Can you place your swimsuit in the dryer?

Because of the composition of the swimsuit themselves, it’s never ideal to put them in the dryer. This is because they are made of polyester and elastic many times, and those materials don’t go well with being used in a dryer. With that said, it’s always a good idea to check the cleaning label on the swimsuits to see if it’s possible. There’s also really no need because swimsuits will usually dry pretty quickly. 

Do swimsuits shrink in the dryer?

Short answer, most likely. That’s again due to the materials that compose most swimsuits, especially elastic. So, unless you’re looking to shrink the size of your swimsuit to fit better, you should completely avoid using a dryer for swimsuits. Don’t use it to shrink your swimsuit either because there’s no way to tell how much or how little the swimsuit will shrink.

How to dry a swimsuit fast?

Unfortunately, the fast ways to try to dry your swimsuit are also ways that can essentially damage your swimsuit, so only use them if necessary.

The most common methods are to dry your swimsuit in the sun, which can lead to fading out the colors or to dry your swimsuit briefly in a dryer, which can still cause shrinkage. Another cautious option is to use a hair dryer to dry your swimsuit quickly, but make sure not to angle it too close to any one spot, just like how you would dry your hair. 

If you’re looking for a faster yet safer alternative using a dry towel is a great option, as laying your swimsuit flat on a towel will have the towel absorb the water. But laying them on a flat surface will usually do the trick the best. 

Do hot springs ruin swimsuits?

Not at all. They are like the type of damage that a pool with chlorine will cause. This means all you need to do to prevent any permanent or long-term damage is the proper swimsuit maintenance.

Enjoy the hot springs for as long as recommended, but after you’re out, that’s right, it’s time for a cold-water maintenance rinse! This will wash off all those relaxing minerals that have accumulated on your swimsuit. Then it’s all about drying your swimsuit on a flat shaded surface. 

While the heat may not ruin the swimsuit, you may want to be careful where you sit or how you navigate the hot spring. Since it’s a natural formation of rocks, scraping or minor rips could occur if not sitting properly in these hot springs. But, again, these will probably ruin your swimsuits before the water itself does it. 

How to read the wash label of a swimsuit

Reading the wash label on a swimsuit will help give you the proper instructions to take care of it without the worry of accidentally damaging your swimsuit. Look for the bucket-shaped icon that will reference if your swimsuit is machine washable. If there isn’t a big X through it, you can look for a number inside that will tell you the best temperature to wash it. If there’s a hand icon, that means handwashing them.

Then you’ll see a triangle shape which references bleach. Again, an X through it means never use bleach. From there, you will see a square with a circle inside. This references a dryer. Regardless of the icons, you never really want to place your swimsuit on a dryer. Then you’ll see an ironing symbol, and if you’re able to steam or see a big X through them, don’t iron. The final one, which stands for a circle, is whether you can dry clean them or not. This is more for the drycleaners themselves, and they’ll act accordingly based on the symbols. 

Can you iron your swimsuit?

You don’t really ever need to iron a swimsuit. In fact, if you do it the wrong way, or you have a delicate swimsuit, you’ll simply burn it and damage it beyond repair. If, for some reason, you still want to iron your swimsuit, just consider some thoughts. Use a barrier like a cloth between the iron and the swimsuit. The heat of the iron can easily damage the materials and fibers. Another way to prevent this is always iron at the most minimal setting possible. The last item to think about is to iron inside out, so you don’t stain your swimsuit with ironing marks. 

A better option would be to steam your swimsuits, but that also needs to be done with certain considerations. You want to steam gently and not get your swimsuit too wet, which will lead to non-dry swimsuits, which should be avoided. 

How to get a discolored white swimsuit white again?

There are a few options, so don’t think you need to live with those stains, yellowing, or discoloration. First, some of the cleaning materials mentioned earlier can help to break down the discoloring and have them rinsed away. With a baking soda/water mixture, you’ll want to soak it for at least two hours before rinsing. 

If you’re going to go down the vinegar route, use the 1 cup of vinegar to three cups of water ratio and soak it for around two hours. If the damage is isolated to only a specific area, you could also use club soda to break down and eliminate the stains. For a less organic approach, oxygen bleach such as OxiClean can help with a capful to one gallon of water ratio. This will need to soak for around six hours.

If all else fails, even though we always tell you not to, leaving it out in the sun could help to eliminate the yellowing and bring your white suits back to their full brightness. 

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