Quick answer

Rinse your swimwear in cool fresh water immediately after every swim, then wash it gently by hand or on a delicate cycle with mild soap. Skip the dryer and dry it in the shade. That one-two-three routine prevents chlorine, salt, and sunscreen from breaking down the fibers, so your swim shorts keep their fit and color all season.

Swimwear takes a beating that everyday clothes never face. Chlorine, salt water, sunscreen, and hot sun all attack the fabric at once, and the damage usually shows up as faded color, a stretched waistband, or a smell that won't wash out. The good news is that you don't need special products to prevent it.

The routine below works for any swim short or beach boxer, including HOM styles like the Nautical Cup Beach Boxer and the Anglet Swim Shorts. It takes a few minutes after each swim, and it's the difference between swimwear that looks tired by August and swimwear that still fits and feels right next summer.

Rinse immediately after every swim

The single most important habit is rinsing your swimwear in cool fresh water as soon as you leave the pool or sea. Chlorine and salt are the two biggest causes of fading and fiber damage, and they keep working on the fabric as long as they stay in it. A quick rinse in the shower or a sink dilutes them before they can do lasting harm.

Turn the shorts inside out and rinse both sides, paying attention to the inner mesh lining and waistband where water and sweat collect. Don't wring or twist the fabric to speed up drying. Squeeze gently instead, because twisting stretches the elastic and distorts the cut.

  • Common mistake: leaving damp swimwear in a plastic bag or gym locker for hours. That traps moisture and encourages odor and mildew.
  • Checkpoint: if the water runs clear and the fabric no longer smells of chlorine, you've rinsed enough.

Wash gently, and only when needed

Rinsing handles most days. A full wash is for when the shorts are visibly dirty, heavily sunscreen-covered, or worn several times. Hand washing in cool water with a mild liquid soap is the safest option. If you use a machine, choose a delicate cycle, cold water, and a low spin speed, and put the swimwear in a mesh laundry bag.

Skip harsh detergents, fabric softener, and bleach. Softener coats the fibers and can reduce the quick-drying and stretch properties that make swim fabric comfortable. For specific fabric guidance, check the care label on your pair, since materials differ.

  • Common mistake: washing swimwear with heavy towels or jeans. The abrasion wears down the fabric surface.
  • Checkpoint: after washing, the shorts should still feel smooth and spring back when stretched, not stiff or limp.

Dry in the shade, never in the dryer

Heat is the enemy of elastic and color. Lay your swimwear flat on a clean towel or hang it in a shaded, airy spot. Direct sun fades prints and weakens fibers over time, and a tumble dryer can shrink the fabric and break down the waistband elastic in a single cycle.

If you're drying a pair with a drawstring waist, like the Balata Beach Boxer, make sure the cord isn't knotted tightly while drying. Hang the shorts by the waistband rather than by one leg to keep the shape even.

  • Common mistake: drying swimwear on a hot car dashboard or radiator. It's the same heat damage as a dryer.
  • Checkpoint: the shorts should be fully dry before you fold them away. Damp storage is what causes that musty smell.

Store and rotate for a longer life

Once dry, store swimwear flat or loosely folded in a drawer, away from damp areas. If you own more than one pair, rotate them. Giving each pair a rest between wears lets the elastic recover and spreads out the wear from chlorine and sun, so no single pair takes the full hit of the season.

This is also a good time to check for loose stitching, a stretched drawstring, or thinning fabric. Small repairs or a replacement decision are easier to make in September than next June.

  • Common mistake: storing damp swimwear in a sealed bag at the end of a beach day. Let it dry completely first.
  • Checkpoint: at the end of the season, a well-cared-for pair should still match its original size and color closely.

Your 5-step swimwear care routine

  1. Rinse right away: As soon as you leave the water, rinse your swimwear in cool fresh water, inside and out, focusing on the lining and waistband. Checkpoint: no lingering chlorine or salt smell.
  2. Wash only when needed: Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, or use a delicate machine cycle in a mesh bag. Never use bleach or fabric softener. Checkpoint: fabric still feels smooth and elastic, not stiff.
  3. Dry in the shade: Lay flat or hang in a shaded, airy spot. Avoid direct sun, radiators, and tumble dryers. Checkpoint: completely dry before storing.
  4. Store dry and flat: Fold loosely in a drawer away from damp. Don't seal damp swimwear in a bag. Checkpoint: no musty odor when you unfold it.
  5. Rotate your pairs: Alternate between two or more swim shorts so each pair gets recovery time between wears. Next step: at season's end, check each pair for stretched elastic or fading and decide what to replace.

Fabric facts that affect how you care for HOM swimwear

  • Nautical Cup Beach Boxer | Khaki Green 402757-00xd: Made from 100% polyester with a 100% polyester inner mesh, this fabric resists chafing, doesn't wear out easily, and doesn't loosen or deform over time and washes. Polyester holds up well to rinsing and gentle washing, so you can follow the routine without worrying that the fabric will lose its shape.
  • Anglet Swim Shorts | Turquoise Print 402983-I0PF: Made from high-quality microfiber that is resistant to chlorine and salt water, won't crease, and respects the intensity of colors. This is exactly the fabric that benefits most from a post-swim rinse: it's built to resist pool and sea water, and rinsing keeps the color and finish intact longer.
  • Balata Beach Boxer | Navy Print 402905-P0RA: Features a mesh brief lining and a drawstring waist with branded metal ends, plus two side pockets and a back patch pocket with a Velcro flap. When washing, fasten the Velcro flap and check the metal drawstring ends so they don't snag the mesh lining or other laundry.

Caring for swimwear isn't complicated, but it is consistent. Rinse after every swim, wash gently and rarely, dry in the shade, and store it dry. Do that, and your beach boxers and swim shorts will keep their fit, color, and comfort from the first swim of the season to the last.