Swimwear rarely wears out from swimming. It wears out from what happens in the hour after.
The three things that destroy a swimsuit
Chlorine
Chlorine attacks elastane — the fibre that gives swimwear its stretch and recovery. As it breaks down, the suit stops springing back, goes baggy at the seat and bust, and eventually turns slightly transparent when stretched.
This is cumulative and irreversible. You can't restore elastane once it's gone; you can only slow the damage.
Salt water
Salt crystallises in the fabric as it dries. Those crystals are abrasive, and they cut the fibres from the inside every time the suit flexes. Salt also accelerates fading in bright colours and dark prints.
Sunscreen and body oils
The oils in sunscreen stain — particularly whites, pastels and anything with avobenzone, which leaves a stubborn yellow-orange mark. Oil also degrades elastic over time.
The routine that prevents most of it
It takes two minutes.
- Rinse in cold fresh water immediately. Not later, not at the end of the day. Before the salt dries or the chlorine sets. A shower rinse while you're still wearing it is fine.
- Press, don't wring. Wringing permanently deforms the elastic. Squeeze the water out by pressing the suit between your palms, or roll it in a towel and press.
- Dry flat, in the shade. Hanging a wet suit by its straps stretches them under the weight of the water. Direct sun fades colour and degrades elastic — the same UV that burns your skin damages the fabric.
What to avoid
- The washing machine, even on delicate. The agitation and the drum stretch the fabric.
- The tumble dryer. Heat is the fastest way to kill elastane.
- Hot tubs, where hot water and high chlorine combine — this is the single harshest environment for a swimsuit.
- Sitting on rough concrete or pool edges in a suit. It pills and snags the fabric on the seat, which is the most common visible wear point.
Washing properly
Every few wears, hand wash in cool water with a small amount of mild soap or a dedicated swimwear wash. Never use fabric softener — it coats the fibres and destroys the suit's ability to recover its shape.
Rotate your suits
The elastic needs roughly 24 hours to fully recover its shape between wears. Wearing the same suit two days running is one of the main reasons a favourite suit goes baggy first.
Two suits worn alternately last more than twice as long as one suit worn daily.
Looking for something new? See what's in stock.
