How to Care for an Expensive Swimsuit
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There are lots of nice-looking yet affordable swimsuits out there (my fellowStrategist staffersare particular fans of the offerings atAerieandLands’ End), but I’ve tragically always been drawn to brands that cost $200 or more. And while I do swimoften in the summer, somewhat justifying the spend, I’ve also become more paranoid about keeping my pricey bikinis andone-piecespristine for as long as possible.
After speaking with severallaundryexperts, I’ve found that swimsuit care comes down to understanding fabric composition. Whether they’re designed for fashion or athletic performance, expensive swimsuits tend to cost more than cheap ones because they’re constructed from a tightly woven nylon and elastane fabric rather than a looser polyester and elastane one. This means that expensive swimsuits are stretchier, smoother, and more compressive; it also means that with the right care, they can last for many more seasons than their less-durable counterparts. (It’s worth taking note of the fabric composition of any $100-plus swimsuit you purchase, though — some more fashion-forward brands are selling baggy polyester suits at tight nylon prices.)
Rinse your swimsuit after swimming
As soon as you get out of the water, rinse your swimsuit to get the chlorine or salt out, advises Melanie DiSalvo, founder ofA Look Behind the Seams. But don’t wring it out too much, because those tight nylon fibers are more delicate than they look.
Hand-wash with as little detergent as possible
You’ve probably already guessed that swimsuits and dryers don’t mix, but washing machines are also best avoided. From the very first wear, sand, salt, chlorine, sunscreen oils, and pool chemicals “devour elastane,” says ACE Commercial Laundry sales manager Andy Wray. The agitation of regular washing machines “will magnify this chemical damage and add the mechanical damage to the zippers, hooks, and other fabrics that are mixed in the wash.” So it’s best to hand-wash your expensive swimsuit “for a maximum of ten minutes using a mild, neutral-pH liquid detergent that has no bleach additives in cold water below 85 degrees Fahrenheit.” Avoid powder detergents, the granules of which get caught within tight nylon fabric fibers and stretch them out. And in terms of detergent dosage, “less is more,” adds DiSalvo.
Marta Pawlik, a creative director with a background in high-end textiles, hand-washes her expensive swimsuits using enzyme-free detergents like Woolite and Soak (which we also like forsweaters). She sometimes uses Eucalan, too, “because it needs no rinsing and it keeps the elastane from going brittle.” Fashion consultant Mikara Reid likes to use Soak as well, and she also recommends baby detergent in a pinch.
Or use a mesh bag if you must
I will admit to throwing my bikinis into the washing machine (on cold!) even though I know I shouldn’t. Sometimes one’s pace of life doesn’t allow for the hand-washing of delicate garments. If you’re on the same page, at least consider investing in a mesh bag to protect your nylon from too much abrasion, advises Capri Swim founder Ashley Capri. Many high-end swimwear brands actually include these bags with purchase — I’ve got a nice one from Nu Swim.
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Avoid dryers and UV rays
“Almost all swimwear has elastic for stretch, and heat destroys stretch fibers,” says DiSalvo. As Wray puts it, the fiber memory that retains the shape of your swimsuit “is lost forever” when the garment is exposed to dryer heat over 105 degrees Fahrenheit. So it’s crucial to avoid not only dryers but also UV exposure when drying out your swimsuit.
Instead, all of the experts I spoke with recommended placing your freshly cleaned swimsuit on a dry towel out of the sunlight, gently rolling the towel to draw out moisture, then laying the suit flat again. Don’t be tempted tohang drythe swimsuit, as all that drooping will stretch out the nylon and elastane rather than letting it snap back into shape.
No swimsuit will last forever
The saddest outcome of my research for this story is knowing that no matter how well care I take of them, my expensive swimsuit purchases are doomed to last only a few summers more than cheap ones. “You have to be realistic,” says DiSalvo. “Sadly, because of the nature of how swimsuits are used, they just don’t last forever.”
Even aside from elastane deterioration, more performance-oriented swimwear pieces are typically treated with salt- and chlorine-resistant chemicals that will wear away over time even when treated with extreme care, and fabric dyes will obviously fade when repeatedly soaked in water. Cold-water rinsing and heat avoidance are key to swimsuit longevity — but perhaps once my expensive little strips of nylon finally do wear out, I’ll switch to Aerie.
A few of our favorite swimsuits
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