Quick answer
Rinse your swimsuit in cool water immediately after every swim, then wash it gently with a mild detergent and lay it flat to dry. Skip the washer, the dryer, and any hot water, because heat and agitation break down elastane and fade dye faster than chlorine does. That routine is how to wash a swimsuit without stretching it out or dulling the color.
A swimsuit takes more abuse in one afternoon than most clothes take in a month: salt, chlorine, sunscreen, sand, and repeated stretching. The fabric is built for it, but only if you give it a little care between wears. The good news is that proper swimsuit care takes about two minutes and no special products.
This guide walks through a rinse-first routine that covers how to wash a swimsuit, how to dry a bikini without warping the cups or straps, and how to keep swimsuit color from fading. Follow the steps in order and your suit will hold its shape and hue far longer.
Why the rinse matters more than the wash
Chlorine, salt, and sunscreen are the three biggest threats to swimwear fabric. Chlorine oxidizes elastane, the stretch fiber that gives a suit its snap, and sunscreen oils can cling to fibers and trap dye-dulling residue. A 30-second cool rinse after every swim removes most of that before it sets in.
If you only do one thing, do this one. Rinsing immediately is the single highest-value swimsuit care tip because it prevents damage rather than trying to reverse it later. A suit that gets rinsed after every wear can go several wears before it needs a full wash.
- Rinse in cool water, not hot. Hot water accelerates elastic breakdown.
- If you are at the beach, a quick rinse in the outdoor shower beats waiting until you get home.
- Never wring or twist the suit to remove water. Press it gently between your palms or against the side of the sink.
How to wash a swimsuit by hand
Fill a sink or basin with cool water and add a capful of mild detergent or swimwear-specific wash. Submerge the suit and gently knead it with your hands for about a minute, focusing on areas that contact sunscreen and sweat. Rinse thoroughly in cool water until no suds remain.
Avoid Woolite-style harsh detergents, fabric softener, and bleach. Fabric softener leaves a coating that traps oils and reduces stretch recovery over time. If you must use a washing machine, put the suit in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle with cold water, but hand washing remains the safer default.
- Checkpoint: after rinsing, the water should run clear. If it still feels slick, rinse again.
- Wash bikini tops and bottoms together but do not let hooks snag mesh or lace.
- Never leave a wet suit balled up in a bag. Mildew and dye transfer happen fast.
How to dry a bikini and one piece without damage
Lay the suit flat on a clean towel, reshape it to its original dimensions, and let it air dry away from direct sun. If you hang it, use a padded hanger or drape it over a drying rack so the weight of the wet fabric does not stretch the straps. Direct sunlight fades dye, so shade is better than a sunny balcony.
Never put a swimsuit in a tumble dryer. The heat destroys elastane and can shrink or warp cups, straps, and linings. If you need it dry fast, roll it in a dry towel and press gently, then lay it flat.
- Dry cups stuffed with a small towel or tissue to hold their shape.
- Flip reversible suits inside out periodically so both sides dry evenly.
- Make sure the suit is fully dry before storing it, or mildew will set in.
Keeping color from fading and stretch from going slack
To keep swimsuit color from fading, minimize sun exposure when drying and avoid hot tubs and heavily chlorinated pools when you can. Rinse immediately after any chlorinated water, since chlorine is the primary cause of color loss and fiber degradation. Rotating between two suits also helps because it gives each one time to recover its shape between wears.
Stretch recovery is the other half of swimsuit maintenance. Store suits flat or folded loosely, not stretched on a hanger for months. If a suit starts to feel baggy, a gentle hand wash and flat dry often restores some snap, but once elastane is gone it does not come back.
- Use a swimwear-specific wash if you want extra protection for dark or bright colors.
- Avoid sitting on rough concrete or pool edges, which snag and pill fabric.
- For how to remove chlorine from swimsuit fabric, rinse first, then wash with mild detergent and cool water.
Your swimsuit care steps, in order
- Rinse immediately after every swim: Use cool water to flush out chlorine, salt, and sunscreen before they set into the fibers. Checkpoint: if you can still smell chlorine, rinse again.
- Wash by hand with mild detergent: Knead gently in cool water for about a minute, then rinse until the water runs clear. Mistake to avoid: using hot water or fabric softener.
- Press, do not wring: Gently squeeze water out between your palms or against the sink edge. Checkpoint: the suit should keep its original shape while damp.
- Lay flat to dry in the shade: Reshape the suit on a towel and keep it out of direct sun and away from dryers. Mistake to avoid: hanging a wet suit by its straps, which stretches them.
- Store fully dry and loosely folded: Once dry, fold the suit and keep it flat rather than stretched on a hanger. Rotate between two suits to extend the life of both.
Volcom pieces that pair with a rinse-first routine
- Men's Everett Oxford Short Sleeve Shirt: A modern blend oxford shirt with a slim fit, patch pocket, and custom buttons. A breathable button-down that works as a cover-up on the walk to and from the water.
- Women's Heartland Trucker Hat: A 5-panel foam front with breathable mesh, a snapback adjuster, and a flocked front logo. Shade for your face and scalp on long beach days when you are drying a suit in the shade.
- School Backpack: A 26L pack with three compartments, a zip-entry padded laptop sleeve, and a front organizer with key clip. Keeps a damp suit separate from dry clothes if you pack a small wet bag inside.
- Men's Lined Up Short Sleeve Tee: A heathered cotton-poly blend tee with a modern fit and soft crackle ink graphics. An easy layer to pull on after a swim while your suit dries flat.
A rinse, a gentle hand wash, and flat drying in the shade are all it takes to keep a swimsuit looking and fitting the way it did on day one. Build the habit now and you will replace suits far less often.
