Why You Shouldn't Wash Your Swimsuit

From the sand at the beach to the chlorine at the pool, our swimsuits take a serious beating every summer. So how can we make them last? Audrey Slater is the fashion director of Redbook magazine, and she shares the rules of swimwear care.

  • Don't wash unless necessary. Treat your swimsuits like your favorite pair of jeans, Audrey says. "You shouldn't wash them unless you absolutely have to."

  • Shower it off. If you've spent the day at the beach or the pool, "When you get home, jump in the shower with your swimsuit still on."

  • Wash gently. If you've been supersweaty, hand wash your suit in the sink. "Let it sit in a warm, tepid bath," Audrey says. "After 20 minutes, rinse it out. Done." Try not to wash your swimsuit in a washing machine more than twice a season, and never, ever wash with towels. "Towels will really erode the surface of your swimsuit and give you lots of pilling," Audrey says.

  • Squeeze, don't wring. "You just really need to squeeze out the extra moisture," Audrey says. "Don't wring, because wringing is going to tear those elastic fibers." Then hang it up to dry, ideally outside.

  • Be smart about stain removal. Spill a blob of ketchup or mustard on your suit? Audrey suggests using the flat surface of a credit card or plastic knife to scrape off the mess. When you get home "put a little baking soda on the spot if it's still there, and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes in a warm water bath."

  • Avoid snags and pulls. "If you're going to sit down on a gravely or rough surface, towel down before your bum goes down," Audrey says. Your swimsuit will thank you.

  • Rotate your suits. If you wear the same suit every single day, your suit will have a much shorter life. Rotate your suits to make sure the fabric has time to bounce back. "Buy two to three swimsuits this season; you won't have to go shopping again for three summers," Audrey recommends.