How to Clean Your Bathing Suit Properly

You spent time choosing a bathing suit that fits exactly right. But between chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and sand, swimsuits are subjected to some of the harshest environments any garment can face.

Most people treat swimwear as semi-disposable, but if you have a piece you intend to wear for several seasons—or a designer suit with intricate hardware—the way you clean it determines whether it keeps its shape or sags by July.

The truth is that most bathing suits are designed to be cleaned at home. You do not need a professional cleaner for every wash. However, there is a specific set of rules for doing it correctly. If you ignore them, you aren’t just leaving in dirt; you are chemically degrading the fibers.

Here is how to properly clean and maintain your swimwear to ensure it lasts.

The Three Enemies of Swimwear

Before looking at the “how,” it is important to understand what actually destroys a bathing suit. It isn’t usually one single event, but a cumulative degradation caused by three things:

1. Residual Chlorine
Chlorine does not stop working the moment you leave the pool. If it isn’t flushed out of the fabric completely, it continues to eat away at the elastic fibers (Spandex/Lycra) long after the suit is dry. A simple rule of thumb: if you can still smell chlorine on the garment, it hasn’t been washed out properly.

2. Improper Storage
Storing a bathing suit while it is still damp is an invitation for mold and mildew. This is especially common with suits used in lakes or during watersports like wakeboarding and jet skiing, where the organic matter in the water provides a breeding ground for growth that is much harder to remove than simple salt.

3. The Sun
UV rays naturally break down synthetic fibers over time. While you cannot control the sun, reducing the amount of time your suit spends hanging in direct sunlight after it has already been worn helps preserve the color and elasticity.

Step-by-Step: How to Wash Your Bathing Suit at Home

1. The Immediate Rinse

The moment you take off your suit, rinse it in cool, fresh water. This removes the bulk of the salt or chlorine before it has a chance to set into the fibers.

2. Dealing with Lingering Chlorine Odors

If a standard wash doesn’t remove that distinct, chemical chlorine smell, the chemicals are still active in the fabric and will continue to degrade the elastic. In these cases, you can use an “anti-chlor” treatment to neutralize the residue.

A highly effective method is using Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate). Mix 1/2 tsp of sodium ascorbate for every 4 ounces of distilled water. Soak the suit for 10 minutes before proceeding with a final rinse. This chemically halts the chlorine reaction that would otherwise continue while the suit sits in your drawer.

3. Spot Cleaning Sunscreen and Oils

Sunscreen and body oils create stubborn spots that can become permanent if they are “baked” into the fabric by the sun.

To treat these, mix a mild laundry detergent with water (50/50) in a small cap. Place the garment on a hard surface and use the back of a spoon to gently work the mixture into the fibers. For particularly tough oil-based stains, a small amount of Dawn dish soap mixed with water can be used in the same manner. You aren’t trying to remove the stain entirely at this stage; you are simply preparing the fibers for the wash.

4. Choosing Your Wash Method: Hand vs. Machine

Always start by reading your care label. While many guides insist on hand-washing only, the reality depends on the garment’s construction and intended use.

Hand Washing (For delicates/embellishments)
Many ladies’ suits or those with intricate designs require a gentle touch. Fill a bucket with cool water and a small amount of mild detergent. Gently agitate the suit, let it soak, then repeat. Rinse thoroughly until all soap and odors are gone.

Machine Washing (For standard suits and deep cleans)
Most men’s swim trunks and children’s swimwear can handle a regular wash cycle. If your suit is heavily stained or soiled, machine washing provides the mechanical action necessary for a deeper clean. To do this safely:

Isolate your swimwear: Do not wash bathing suits with other types of clothing. Heavy fabrics like denim or towels can cause pilling on the smooth surface of swimwear through friction.
Use a mesh net bag: For ladies’ suits or any piece with delicate designs, this is non-negotiable to protect the fabric from excessive agitation and snagging.
Gentle cycle & cool water: Use room temperature or cool water.
Add an extra rinse: If your machine allows it, add an additional rinse cycle to ensure every trace of detergent and chemical residue is fully flushed from the fibers.

The Golden Rule of Drying: Never Use the Dryer

Regardless of how you washed your suit, there is one absolute rule: Air dry only.

The high heat of a dryer is the fastest way to kill the elasticity in a bathing suit. Once those elastic fibers snap or melt from heat, the “sag” is permanent; no amount of professional cleaning can restore the original fit.

To speed up the process without damage, roll your suit into a clean, dry towel and gently press the water out (do not wring or twist the fabric). Lay it flat to dry in the shade.

When to Call a Professional

While most swimwear is managed at home, there are three scenarios where you should avoid the home laundry and bring your piece to Janet Davis:

Designer Hardware: Suits with metal clasps, intricate beading, or high-end hardware can be ruined by home washing machines or improper drying techniques.
“Dry Clean Only” Labels: Some luxury swim fabrics are not water-stable in the way standard Lycra is. If the label specifies dry cleaning, follow it.
Deep Restoration: When a suit has developed deep odors or stains that survived a machine wash, professional wet cleaning and gentle steaming can often refresh the piece without damaging the structure.

A note on “savable” suits: It is important to be honest about the lifespan of swimwear. If a suit is very old or was made from low-grade materials, the elastic eventually reaches its end-of-life. Once the fabric has lost its recovery (the ability to snap back), it cannot be “fixed.” At that point, the garment has simply worn out.

Summary Checklist for Long-Lasting Swimwear

Rinse immediately after every wear.
Use a Vitamin C soak if you can still smell chlorine after washing.
Spot treat sunscreen before washing.
Isolate swimsuits from other laundry and add an extra rinse cycle.
Air dry only. Never use the dryer.

If you aren’t sure how to read your garment’s specific care instructions, we invite you to use our Care Label Symbols Guide to ensure you are using the safest cleaning method for your swimwear.

Questions We Hear Often

Can I use bleach to get a white bathing suit bright again?
Never use chlorine-based bleach, as it will yellow the fabric or cause it to thin and tear. However, you can use a non-chlorine based oxygen bleach, such as OxiClean powder. Follow the package directions exactly; if the water is too hot or the garment soaks for too long, damage can still occur.

Why does my swimsuit feel “crunchy” after drying?
This usually happens when salt or chlorine hasn’t been fully rinsed out, leaving mineral deposits in the fibers. A thorough rinse in fresh water—or a Vitamin C soak for pool swimmers—usually resolves this.

How often should I actually wash my suit?
After every single outing. Leaving sunscreen, sweat, and chemicals on the fabric for days between wears accelerates the breakdown of the elastic.

Is it okay to wash my bathing suit with my regular laundry?
No. We recommend isolating swimwear from other clothing types to prevent pilling and friction damage. Use a dedicated delicate load or wash them separately.