The Do’s and Don’ts for Looking After Swimwear

Your swimwear faces quite the myriad of situations. From beach days to spa days, and even dips in the pool (when Canadian weather permits, of course), the suits you are wearing come in contact with chemicals, salts, sand, dirt, lotions and oils. Though most quality swim fabrics are engineered to withstand these things, they still require deliberate care practices. With many intricacies and important need-to-knows, we turned to expert cleaner Melissa Maker, YouTuber of Clean My Space, to break down the best process for caring for swimwear.

How to clean/wash it: 1. Swimwear must be rinsed off after each wear. 2. Hand wash your swimwear by adding a teaspoon of laundry detergent, something gentle and low-sudsing like Tide HE Turbo, to a basin filled with warm water. Low-sudsing is key here, since it will reduce rinse time and residue left on the swimsuit. 3. Soak for 10 minutes or so, and gently work the soapy water into the swimwear. 4. Rinse well. 5. Press along the side of the basin to remove excess water. 6. Hang to dry.

Note: stay away from products with bleach that will break down fibres. Non-abrasive agents are best.

How to store it: 1. Store it in a dust bag. This isn’t necessary, but will ensure it stays safe. 2. Tuck it away from possible contact with velcro and other abrasive trims and hooks. Again, depending on the style (ie. fine mesh), they can still be delicate even though they look sturdy.