How To Look After Your Swimwear

We sat down with Beth the founder of Charlie Mae Swimwear to discuss how to take care of your swimwear. Beth started a beautiful Australian swimwear boutique 2 years ago and has been collecting swimwear for years. We asked her a few questions we thought you might want the answers to!

How do you look after your swimwear?

Our recycled polyester is a very soft fibre fabric and like all delicate fabrics hand wash only. My routine is to rinse them after swimming with a gentle body wash. I rinse them thoroughly to make sure there is no soap build up. I then squeeze out any excess water gently, then lay them to dry on top of a clean towel. I like to lay my bikini to avoid peg marks and stretching with the weight of any excess water. If you find any left over sand after washing pull gently on either side of the fabric and gently rub with your finger tips, any left over sand should fall off.

How do you get fake tan out of swimwear?

When I tan I always make sure I tan the day before hitting the beach. This way I shower the night before and morning of wearing my bikinis to make sure no excess tan is left on my skin.

If you do get some tan on them by mistake we can help you get it out. Simply pop them in warm water straight away and use a stain remover that is recommended for swimwear. Soak for 10 minutes, then form a paste with your stain remover and lightly rub the paste into the stain with your fingertips. Then rinse after 5 minutes. Repeat until the stain is removed. Once the stain is gone give your whole bikini a full hand wash. You can also use white vinegar if you do not have the correct washing powder.

Please note that this method might not work on all stains as some might have more stubborn ingredients. Please always be sure to read the stain remover instructions to ensure they are safe to use on lycra and colours. 

Should you wash your swimsuit after every use?

Make sure to wash your swimsuit after each and every wear, even if you don’t go in the water. Sunscreen contains ingredients that can be damaging to the fabric and can lead to the eventual breakdown of the material. 

Mineral-based lotions and oil formulations can cause yellowing or gradual stains over time if swimsuits are not washed properly. Ensure you are being meticulous about washing your suit, particularly if you jump in a pool, as Chlorine is harsher on swimwear fabrics than fresh or salt water. It can make bright colours especially susceptible to fading.

How to wash your swimwear

How you hand wash your swimsuit makes a big difference too. Start by filling your sink with cold water and add one capful of polyester friendly mild detergent or white vinegar. Let the swimsuit soak in the solution for up to 30 minutes, and then rinse with cool water and dry laying flat.

Don’t forget your towel! 

When hitting the beach or pool make sure your bottom is sitting on a towel. Our fabrics are delicate, and rough surfaces like wooden benches, concrete and rocks can pull on the fabric. Over time this may lead to a balling effect. This balling effect can also be caused if they are rubbing against a hard fabric like denim. If you are rocking skin tight jeans it’s best to slip on some nickers and carry your bikini in a linen bag and pop it in your beach bag. 

What not to do:

• Don’t soak a swimsuit overnight. This can loosen fibres.
• Don’t let a swimsuit dry directly in the sun. This may cause fading.
• Don’t put a swimsuit in the dryer. The heat weakens the elasticity of the polyester. This is the same reason why you shouldn’t wear your favourite bikini in a spa.
• Don’t hang a swimsuit on a metal rod to dry. Hanging can alter the shape of the swimwear while the metal rod could leave a rust mark that’s impossible to get out.

Storing a Bathing Suit