How to Keep a Bathing Suit from Fading

To prevent discoloration a bathing suit needs a little TLC.

Because lurking deep within the waters of your swimming pool are chemicals that can cause your beloved suit to fade.

Instead of throwing your swimwear into the washing machine, use these tips to keep your bathing suit from fading and maintain your swimwear’s shape, size and coloring all year-long.

What bathing suit maintenance supplies will you need?

• A small basin
• Detergent or mild soap made specifically for swimwear
• Lukewarm water
• Baking soda
• White towels
• A flat surface, in a cool place, to dry your bathing suit
• A mildew-free zone to air-dry your swimsuit

Step 1 – Review the manufacturer’s recommendations for washing your swimwear.

Written on the care tag located inside your swimsuit, lies the secret to keeping your bathing suit from fading.  Read the specific cleaning instructions provided by the swimwear designer to wash your bathing suit accordingly.

Step 2 -After each dip in the pool or the ocean, immediately rinse your swimsuit in cold water.

Whether you’ve taken a plunge in your backyard pool or caught some waves at the beach, your bathing suit is filled with sand, chemicals and bacteria invisible to the eye.

Before starting the swimwear cleaning ritual, wash your swimsuit in cold water to dilute any chemicals and release sand from the inner lining of your swimwear.

Step 3 -Create a swimsuit-friendly cleansing solution using detergent and lukewarm water.

Mix lukewarm water and mild detergent in a small basin. Add one teaspoon of Dove or a mild fabric cleaner like Woolite to one gallon of water. Make sure to dilute the cleansing agent with a large quantity of water.

Without diluting the cleansing agent, whether it is mild or not, your bathing suit could fade beyond repair.

Step 4 -Wash your bathing suit tenderly.

Start the washing process by letting your suit soak in the soapy mixture for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes. Clean your swimsuit by swirling it around in the small basin.

Once the suit is clean and odor free, remove your suit from the basin.

A word of caution: Soaking your swimsuit in the cleansing solution for more than 30 minutes may cause fading.

Step-5 Use cold H20 and baking soda to give your bathing suit a final rinse.

Empty the basin filled with the soapy mixture. Proceed to refill the basin with a mix of cold water and one tablespoon of baking soda.

Rinsing your suit with a final splash of cold water will remove any lingering traces of residue and soap from your bathing suit.

Use a towel to remove the cool water from your bathing suit.

Instead of wringing your bathing suit in your hands, use a large white towel to squeeze the remaining water from your swimwear. If you spin your suit in the washing machine, you risk stretching your swimsuit’s fabric beyond repair.

Dry your suit on a flat surface for 24 hours.

Locate a dry and cool place to dry your suit. Place your suit on another flat towel to complete the drying process. Placing your suit in a hot dryer may cause the elastic to break and the suit to shrink due to the heat.

Here are a few additional tips to keep your bathing suit from fading:

1. Keep your suit out of the sun to prevent fading and more opportunities for discoloration.
2. Drying your bathing suit on a hanger may stretch the garment during the drying process.
3. Whether the bathing suit is white or not, bleaching your swimwear will damage your swimsuit and is strongly discouraged.
4. After swimming, rinse your swimwear immediately in cold water to prevent suntan lotion, sand, chlorine and salt water from settling into your bathing suit.