It’s summer: pack your swimwear and head to the beach or outdoor pool. But how do you get sand, sunscreen residue and chlorine out of your swimwear? We show you how to wash your swim trunks or bikini so that you can enjoy them for a long time.

Before you wear your swimwear for the first time, you should wash your swim trunks or bikini. This way you will make sure that chemicals from the production process are completely removed. Otherwise, you may get a rash if you are allergic to any of the substances.

Wash bikini:

If you wear the bikini on vacation, it is enough to wash it with lukewarm water after swimming. This will remove sand, algae, sunscreen and chlorine residues. However, you should wash your bikini thoroughly about every four days. It’s best to check the washing instructions on the bikini’s label. In general, you have two options:

  • Hand wash the bikini

To avoid damaging the fine fabric of the swimwear, wash the bikini by hand in the sink. Let it soak with some mild detergent for about 30 minutes and then wash it thoroughly with clean water.

  • Wash the bikini on a gentle cycle

If your washing machine has a hand wash or gentle cycle, you can also machine wash your bikini. Use mild detergent or special detergent for sportswear. You should not use fabric softener, as it destroys the Lycra and polyester fibers. The water should also not be warmer than 86 °F and it is best to turn the swimsuit inside out and put it in a laundry net – especially if there are glitter stones or other applications.

Drying swimwear:

Swimwear should not be put in the dryer or in the sun. This can cause them to lose their shape and fade. The best way to dry swimwear is to put it on a clothes horse. Note: If you hang them up, the wet material will pull down and bikini and swim trunks will wear out.

Once you know how, caring for your swimwear isn’t that hard. How do you care for your swimwear?