The Swimsuit Care Guide Every Mom Needs This Summer

Posted By: Truly Free Home|Posted On: 5/27/2026

The Best Way to Wash a Bathing Suit

The single most important swimsuit care habit is rinsing immediately after every wear. Chlorine, salt, sand, body oils, and sunscreen all break down swimsuit fibers over time, and the longer they sit on the fabric, the more damage they do. You don't need soap for this step, just hold the suit under cool running water and give it a good rinse until the water runs clear.

After rinsing, you have two options: hand wash or machine wash. Hand washing is gentler and better for the suit, but the machine works too, as long as you take a few precautions.

How to Hand Wash Swimsuits

Hand washing is the recommended method for swimsuit care, especially for women's suits that include padding, underwire, or delicate embellishments. Luckily, it only takes about 5 minutes. Here’s how to hand wash swimsuits:

Fill a sink or basin with cool water and add a small amount of gentle, fragrance-free laundry detergent. Truly Free Home Laundry Wash is a good fit here because it uses plant-powered ingredients that clean without harsh surfactants and dyes that can break down swimsuit fabric.
Submerge the suit and gently swish it around for 2 to 3 minutes. Don't wring, twist, or scrub.
Drain the soapy water, refill with clean, cool water, and rinse until all the detergent is out.
Gently press the water out of the suit by pressing it flat against the side of the sink or laying it on a clean towel and rolling the towel up. Never wring—twisting stretches out elastic and warps the shape.

Can You Wash Swimsuits in the Washing Machine?

Yes, but with some ground rules. The washing machine is fine for everyday suits, swim trunks, and rash guards as long as you protect them from agitation, which damages stretch fabric the most. Here’s how to properly wash swimsuits in the washing machine.

Place each suit in a mesh laundry bag to prevent snagging, stretching, and tangling with other items.
Use cold water only. Hot or warm water accelerates the breakdown of spandex and elastane.
Select the delicate or gentle cycle. A standard cycle is too aggressive for swimwear.
Use a small amount of gentle, non-toxic detergent, about half of what you'd use for a regular load. Skip fabric softener entirely. Fabric softener coats fibers and breaks down the stretch and water-repellent properties of swimsuit material.
Wash swimsuits separately from heavy items like towels and jeans, which can rough up the delicate fabric during the cycle.

How to Wash Swim Trunks

Swim trunks are more durable than most women's swimwear, but it’s still important to wash them with care. The main differences are the construction details: board shorts and trunks often have mesh linings, velcro closures, and drawstring ties that need a little extra attention. Here’s how to wash swim trunks.

Velcro: Press all velcro tabs closed before washing. Open velcro catches on other fabrics and can snag or pill mesh linings.
Mesh linings: Turn swim trunks inside out before washing to make sure the lining gets fully cleaned and rinsed, as this material dries more slowly than the outer fabric and can trap sand and salt.
Drawstrings and ties: Tie drawstrings loosely before washing so they don't tangle or get pulled through the waistband channel.

Swim trunks handle the washing machine better than women's suits, but it’s still a good idea to use a mesh bag, cold water, and the gentle cycle. And the same rule applies for drying: skip the dryer, lay flat, or hang to dry.

Should You Put Swimsuits in the Dryer?

No. The fastest way to ruin a swimsuit is to put it in the dryer. The heat from the dryer breaks down spandex, elastane, and Lycra, the fibers that give your suit its stretch and shape. Even a low-heat or "delicate" dryer setting is too much for swimwear.

Instead, lay the suit flat on a clean, dry towel in a shaded spot and let it air dry. Avoid hanging swimsuits to dry, especially by the straps. The weight of the water pulls on the fabric and stretches it out. And skip direct sunlight, which can fade colors and further degrade elastic fibers.

How to Brighten a White Bathing Suit

White swimsuits are the first to show the effects of chlorine, sunscreen, hard water, and detergent residue. They turn yellow, dingy, or gray faster than any other color, and bleach—the product most people think is the solution—actually makes it worse. Bleach weakens swimsuit fibers and can turn white suits a splotchy yellow over time.

Instead, soak white swimsuits in cool water with a scoop of oxygen bleach for 30 minutes to an hour before washing. Truly Free Home OxyBoost is a non-toxic, color-safe alternative to bleach that lifts stains and yellowing without damaging the fabric. After soaking, hand wash or machine wash on delicate as usual.

For sunscreen stains specifically (the yellowish marks that show up on white suits), pre-treat with a small amount of Truly Free Home Laundry Stain Spray before soaking. Our formula’s safe, eco-friendly surfactants break down the oils in sunscreen that cause the discoloration without harsh cleaning agents.

Swimsuit Care Instructions by Fabric Type

Most swimsuits are made from nylon-spandex or polyester-spandex blends, and the care instructions are broadly the same. But it's important to always check the label before washing, especially for suits with specialty fabrics or construction.

Nylon/spandex blends: This is the most common swimsuit fabric. It’s soft, stretchy, and comfortable, but more sensitive to chlorine and heat than polyester. Hand wash when possible, and always air dry.
Polyester/spandex blends: These blends are more chlorine-resistant and colorfast than nylon. They’re a good choice for competitive swimmers or families who are at the pool daily, but still benefit from rinsing after every wear and air drying.
Ribbed, textured, or crinkled fabrics: These fabrics can trap sunscreen and sand in the texture, so be sure to soak them for a few extra minutes during washing and rinse thoroughly.
Suits with padding or removable cups: Remove cups before washing if possible, and wash them separately. Cups that stay in during machine washing can get bunched, folded, and permanently misshapen.

Swimsuit Care Tips to Make Them Last All Summer

Aside from hand washing, using a mesh bag, and air drying, here are a few extra habits that extend the life of your family's swimsuits:

Rotate suits if possible. Elastic needs about 24 hours to fully recover its stretch after wearing. Alternating between two suits gives each one time to bounce back.
Rinse before you swim, too. Wetting the suit with clean water before getting in the pool means the fabric absorbs less chlorine.
Don't sit on rough surfaces like concrete pool decks or textured pool chairs in your suit. Rough surfaces snag and pill swimsuit fabric quickly.
Wash sunscreen off your hands before adjusting straps and ties. Sunscreen is one of the biggest causes of fabric breakdown and discoloration.
Store suits dry and flat at the end of summer. Don't leave them wadded up in a swim bag or drawer. A clean, dry, flat fold prevents mildew and helps the suit hold its shape for next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fabric softener on swimsuits?

No. Fabric softener coats fibers with a chemical layer that breaks down the stretch and moisture-wicking properties of swimsuit fabric. That means skip dryer sheets, too.

How often should I wash my swimsuit?

Rinse after every single wear. A full wash with detergent is fine after every two to three wears, or immediately if the suit was in chlorine, saltwater, or got a lot of sunscreen on it.

Can chlorine permanently damage a swimsuit?

Over time, yes. Chlorine breaks down spandex and elastane fibers, which is why suits lose their stretch and start sagging after heavy pool use. Rinsing immediately after swimming and choosing polyester-blend suits for frequent pool use help slow that process down.

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