Whether you prefer chilling by the pool or splashing around in the sea, your swimwear is bound to see plenty of action during the summer. But do you know how to wash bathing suits, bikinis, and swim trunks properly to help them last all summer? Read on to learn how to wash your swimsuits properly with Persil®.
Before washing, check for stains from sunscreen, deodorant, or sweat. Apply a little Persil® detergent directly on the stains, work it into the fabric with your fingers, and then let it soak in for 5-10 minutes.
Check your laundry care tag. Whether it’s swim trunks or bikinis, the best way to wash a swimsuit is usually by hand. Choose a detergent designed for synthetics, like Persil® Activewear Detergent, to prevent damage to the swimsuit’s fibers and hand wash the swimsuit. It’s recommended to wash your bathing suit in cold water – cooler temperatures not only keep garments vibrant for longer, but protect elasticity too.
Air dry the swimsuit, either flat on a drying rack or hanging on a clothesline. And never tumble dry your swimsuit – the heat can damage the fabric and reduce its elasticity!
Chlorine can fade and wear garments over time. Rinse swimwear with clean water as soon as possible after swimming in salt or chlorine water, to prevent residues setting into the fabric before washing. You can even rinse your swimsuit with fresh water before swimming, which may help reduce the amount of chlorine, salt, or sunscreen the fabric absorbs.
Learning how to wash swimsuits by hand may sound like a lot of effort, but it’s actually really easy! Fill a sink or basin with cool water, add a small amount of Persil® Activewear Detergent and let the bathing suit soak for a while. Gently move the fabric around, but avoid twisting or scrubbing, as this can damage elasticity. Finally, rinse the swimsuit with cool water and gently press out excess water with your hands—avoid wringing or twisting, as this can weaken the fabric’s elasticity and cause stretching. Finally, lay your swimsuit flat on a clean towel to dry, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, or metal rods that could cause rust stains or distort the fabric.
It’s important to choose an appropriate detergent for your swimwear. Since the best way to wash swimsuits is by hand, choose a liquid detergent such rather than laundry detergent pacs, which are intended for machine washing.
Persil® laundry detergents help protect fabrics from color fading. Persil® Activewear Clean liquid detergent is specially formulated for activewear and synthetics fabrics and helps maintain fabric shape and stretch while fighting body oil and sweat. If you or your family have sensitive skin, you may also want to consider the Persil®’s dye-free and fragrance-free Free & Sensitive Detergent.
Generally, hand washing bathing suits and bikinis individually is the best method as it helps to protect both their fabric and color. Some washing machine cycles may not be gentle enough on the material and therefore affect its longevity. However, this does depend on the specific fabrics your swimsuit is made from, so it’s worth checking the care label of your garment. If the care instructions allow machine washing, it’s recommended to wash your swimsuit on the delicates setting to be on the safe side.
It’s not always strictly necessary to wash your swimsuit after every single use, but it’s recommended to at least rinse it with fresh water. This is especially important if you’ve been swimming in chlorine treated water. After leaving a chlorine pool, immediately rinse your swimsuit in cool, fresh water to remove as much chlorine as possible before washing. Washing swimsuits to get chlorine out will really help to keep them in good condition. Other substances such as sweat and sunscreen can also affect the elastic fibers in bathing suits, so it’s worth washing them regularly after use.
For more laundry tips that help keep you looking and feeling good, explore our library of fabric care guides. For more on washing synthetic fabrics, check out our article on how to wash workout clothes or how to wash polyester.