How to Clean a Swimsuit: The Right Way to Wash and Care for Swimwear

A swimsuit lives a harder life than most pieces in your wardrobe.

It goes through saltwater, chlorine, sunscreen, sweat, sand, body oils, heat, stretching, travel bags, beach towels, and long days in the sun. And because swimwear sits close to your skin, even small care mistakes can affect how it feels, fits, and lasts.

The good news is simple: cleaning a swimsuit properly is not complicated. You just need to treat it gently, rinse it quickly, avoid heat, and stop washing it like regular laundry.

At Makara Wear, swimwear is designed for women who love the ocean, movement, travel, and effortless island style. Whether you wear a bikini, one-piece swimsuit, active swimwear, or sustainable swimwear made with recycled materials, proper care helps keep your swimsuit fresh, soft, and beautiful for longer.

Here is how to clean a swimsuit the right way.

Why Swimsuit Care Matters

Swimwear is made from stretch fabrics that need special care. Most swimsuits contain nylon, recycled nylon, polyester, Lycra, elastane, or spandex. These materials are chosen because they stretch, dry quickly, and move with the body.

But they are also sensitive to heat, harsh detergent, bleach, rough washing, and long exposure to chlorine or salt.

If you do not clean your swimsuit properly, the fabric may lose elasticity, fade, become thin, smell bad, or stop fitting securely. The straps may stretch. The color may dull. The fabric may feel rough instead of smooth.

A good swimsuit should be treated like a delicate piece, not like a gym shirt.

Rinse Your Swimsuit Immediately After Wearing

The most important step in swimsuit care is rinsing.

After swimming, rinse your swimsuit with cool, clean water as soon as possible. This helps remove salt, chlorine, sand, sweat, sunscreen, and body oils before they settle into the fabric.

Do not wait until the next day. Do not leave your swimsuit rolled inside a towel. Do not leave it wet in a plastic bag for hours.

Even a quick rinse makes a big difference. It protects the fabric, reduces odor, and helps your swimsuit keep its shape.

If you are at the beach or pool and cannot wash it properly yet, rinse it under a shower or sink and gently squeeze out the water. Then wash it more carefully when you get home.

How to Hand Wash a Swimsuit

Hand washing is the best way to clean a swimsuit.

Fill a clean sink or bowl with cool water. Add a small amount of mild detergent made for delicate fabrics. You do not need much. Too much detergent can leave residue in the fabric and make the swimsuit feel less fresh.

Place the swimsuit in the water and gently move it around with your hands. Let it soak for around 10 to 20 minutes if it has been exposed to saltwater, chlorine, or sunscreen.

After soaking, rinse the swimsuit thoroughly with cool water until all detergent is removed.

Do not scrub hard. Do not twist the fabric. Do not pull the straps aggressively. Swimwear fabric is strong enough for movement, but it still needs gentle care when wet.

Can You Wash a Swimsuit in the Washing Machine?

You can wash some swimsuits in a washing machine, but it is not the best option.

A washing machine can be too rough for delicate swimwear. The spinning, friction, and detergent can damage elastic fibers, stretch straps, weaken seams, and affect the shape of the swimsuit.

If you must use a washing machine, place the swimsuit in a mesh laundry bag. Use cold water, a delicate cycle, and mild detergent. Wash it only with soft, lightweight items. Never wash swimwear with towels, jeans, zippers, hooks, or rough fabrics.

Still, for high-quality swimwear, bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, or sustainable swimwear, hand washing is the safer choice.

What Detergent Should You Use for Swimwear?

Use a mild detergent made for delicate fabrics or swimwear.

Avoid strong laundry detergents, bleach, stain removers, fabric softener, and heavy fragrance products. These can damage swimwear fibers, affect elasticity, and irritate the skin.

A swimsuit does not need aggressive cleaning. It needs careful cleaning.

If your swimsuit only needs a light refresh after the beach, cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent is enough. If it smells strongly of chlorine or sunscreen, a longer soak may help.

The goal is to clean the fabric without stripping it.

How to Remove Salt From a Swimsuit

Saltwater can dry into swimwear fabric and make it feel stiff or rough. It can also affect elasticity over time if the swimsuit is not rinsed properly.

To remove salt from a swimsuit, rinse it with cool fresh water immediately after swimming in the ocean. Then hand wash it with mild detergent and rinse again until the water runs clear.

If the swimsuit feels salty or stiff, soak it in cool water for 15 to 20 minutes before washing. This helps loosen dried salt from the fibers.

For ocean lovers, this step is essential. A swimsuit worn in saltwater should never be packed away without rinsing.

How to Remove Chlorine From a Swimsuit

Chlorine is one of the toughest things on swimwear.

It can leave a strong smell, fade colors, dry out fabric, and weaken stretch fibers. If you swim in a pool, rinse your swimsuit immediately after leaving the water.

To remove chlorine from a swimsuit, soak it in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and dry it flat in the shade.

For stronger chlorine smell, you can use a gentle vinegar rinse. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts cool water and soak the swimsuit for around 20 minutes. Then rinse very well with clean water.

Never use bleach to remove chlorine smell. Bleach is too harsh for swimwear and can ruin the fabric.

How to Remove Sunscreen From a Swimsuit

Sunscreen protects your skin, but it can leave oily marks or yellowish stains on swimwear, especially on lighter colors.

To remove sunscreen from a swimsuit, rinse the area with cool water first. Then gently hand wash with mild detergent. Let the swimsuit soak for 15 to 20 minutes if needed.

Avoid rubbing the stain aggressively because this can damage the fabric. Also avoid hot water because heat can set stains and weaken stretch fibers.

A smart habit is to let sunscreen absorb into your skin before putting on your swimsuit when possible. This reduces buildup on the fabric.

How to Dry a Swimsuit Properly

Drying is where many people damage their swimwear.

After washing, gently press the water out of the swimsuit. Do not wring it. Wringing can stretch the fabric and damage the shape.

Place the swimsuit flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel gently to absorb extra water. Then lay the swimsuit flat to dry in the shade.

Avoid direct sunlight for long periods. Sun can fade color and weaken elastic fibers. Also avoid dryers, irons, radiators, hair dryers, and any direct heat.

Heat is one of the fastest ways to ruin a swimsuit.

If you want your swimwear to keep its shape, dry it slowly and gently.

Should You Dry a Swimsuit in the Sun?

A little sun exposure while wearing your swimsuit is normal. But drying it in strong direct sunlight for hours is not ideal.

Direct sun can fade colors and weaken fibers, especially in swimwear that contains Lycra or elastane. Over time, this can make the swimsuit less supportive and less comfortable.

The best place to dry a swimsuit is somewhere shaded, airy, and clean. This helps the swimsuit dry properly without unnecessary damage.

Can You Put a Swimsuit in the Dryer?

No, you should not put a swimsuit in the dryer.

The heat from a dryer can damage elastic fibers, shrink or warp certain areas, weaken seams, and make the swimsuit lose its original fit.

Even a low-heat cycle is risky for high-quality swimwear. Air drying is always the better choice.

A swimsuit is designed for water, not machine heat.

How Often Should You Wash a Swimsuit?

You should rinse your swimsuit after every wear.

If you swam in saltwater, chlorine, or wore sunscreen, you should hand wash it properly after wearing. If you only wore it briefly without swimming, a rinse may be enough, but a gentle wash is still better before storing it.

Never store a swimsuit while it is dirty, salty, or damp. This can create odor, mildew, stains, and fabric damage.

Clean it, dry it fully, then store it.

How to Clean a One-Piece Swimsuit

A one-piece swimsuit should also be hand washed in cool water.

Because it has more fabric than a bikini, make sure water moves through the entire piece. Pay attention to the bust area, straps, inner lining, and leg openings.

After washing, rinse thoroughly and press out water with a towel. Lay it flat to dry in the shade.

Do not hang a wet one-piece swimsuit by the straps. The weight of the water can stretch the straps and affect the fit.

How to Keep a Swimsuit Smelling Fresh

If your swimsuit smells bad, it usually means it stayed wet too long or was not rinsed properly.

To keep swimwear fresh, rinse it immediately after swimming, wash it gently, and dry it fully before storing. Never leave it inside a closed bag, suitcase, or towel while damp.

If your swimsuit already smells musty, soak it in cool water with mild detergent. For stubborn odor, use a small amount of white vinegar diluted in water, then rinse thoroughly.

Fresh swimwear is mostly about timing. The sooner you rinse and dry it, the better it smells.

How to Store a Swimsuit

Store your swimsuit only when it is completely dry.

Fold it gently and place it in a drawer, fabric pouch, or travel organizer. Avoid stuffing it tightly into a bag with heavy items. Do not hang it by the straps for long periods, especially if the fabric is delicate.

Keep swimwear away from direct sunlight, heat, and damp spaces.

If you travel often, do not pack a damp swimsuit in your suitcase. Let it dry first whenever possible. If you must carry it wet for a short time, use a breathable wet bag and wash it properly as soon as you can.

Sustainable Swimwear Needs Better Care

Sustainable swimwear deserves careful care because the goal is to keep it wearable for longer.

Makara Wear uses high-quality Recycled Nylon Lycra ECONYL® in selected swimwear pieces. ECONYL® is regenerated nylon made from waste such as discarded fishing nets and other nylon waste. The brand also creates apparel with organic cotton and dead stock materials, focusing on small, sustainable runs rather than overproduction.

But even better materials need proper care. If you wash swimwear harshly, dry it with heat, or leave it soaked in chlorine, you shorten its life.

Caring for your swimsuit properly is part of conscious fashion. The longer you wear and love a piece, the better the choice becomes.

Common Swimsuit Cleaning Mistakes

The most common mistake is leaving a wet swimsuit in a bag for too long. This creates odor and weakens fabric.

Another mistake is washing swimwear with harsh detergent or bleach. These products are too strong for delicate stretch fabric.

Many people also wring swimsuits aggressively, which can stretch the fabric and damage the fit.

Machine drying is another major mistake. Heat can ruin elasticity quickly.

Finally, some people skip rinsing after swimming. Salt, chlorine, sunscreen, and sweat should not stay on swimwear longer than necessary.

Good swimsuit care is mostly about avoiding damage before it starts.

Final Thoughts: How to Clean a Swimsuit Properly

So, how do you clean a swimsuit?

Rinse it with cool water after every wear. Hand wash it with mild detergent. Remove salt, chlorine, and sunscreen gently. Press out water with a towel. Dry it flat in the shade. Avoid bleach, hot water, dryers, rough washing, and direct heat.

A clean swimsuit feels better, smells fresher, holds its shape longer, and stays beautiful through more ocean days, pool swims, and beach adventures.

Makara Wear designs sustainable swimwear and apparel for women who live close to the water and care about comfort, elegance, and conscious choices. When you care for your swimsuit properly, it continues to move with you — season after season, swim after swim.