Closet care: How to make your swimwear last longer

Sun, chlorine, and salt water are the essence of summer, but they are also surefire ways to shorten the life of your swimwear. Colours quickly fade in the sun if left out too long, and styles can lose their shape if carelessly handled after plunges into a pool. "All these factors will cause the colours to fade and the fabric to lose its stretchiness. Suddenly your swimsuit only lasts for one summer season," says Frej Lewenhaupt, co-founder and CEO at Swedish clothing care company Steamery. "Taking care of your swimwear is essential in making it last for seasons to come," agrees Laura Saarinen, founder of Finnish swimwear brand Lilja the Label.

While the summer elements may be against us, here are some easy guidelines to follow if you want your pieces to last. Below, find Vogue Scandinavia's 'dos and don'ts' to keeping your swimwear spiffy, season after season.

If you favour lighter coloured swimmers, it is fair to assume that you've encountered those pesky, stubborn yellow stains that come with sunscreen. "The stains can be extremely stubborn," says Lewenhaupt. "My advice is to wait at least 30 minutes before you put on your swimwear." It is a sentiment shared by Saarinen. "It’s always important to rinse your swimsuit with fresh water after each use, and as soon as possible," she says. The salt in sea water and the chemicals in pool water may weaken the fabric, and sunscreen and sun oils can stain the fabric, shortening the swimwear's lifespan in your wardrobe.

A rule of thumb that extends the life of all garments, including swimwear, is to be economical with laundry. Elastane, which is widely used in swimwear, activewear and other items needing stretchy, unrestricted movement, can require some extra love to ensure a long lifecycle. "If you don’t get visible stains on your swimsuit, rinsing is often good enough," says Saarinen. This to avoid hot water which damages the stretchy elastane fibre.

However if you need to wash it, she recommends hand washing the garment in lukewarm or cold water with a mild detergent. "In general we recommend avoiding machine washing, but when done correctly, the swimwear can handle it," she says. So if your swimmers are really worse for wear, Saarinen says to try a gentle cold wash program with no other items to avoid tangling and damaging the swimwear. Following these occasional washes, never tumble-dry your swimwear. Just like with hot water, the dryer is not compatible with elastane.

"Always remembering to unpack your beach bag as soon as you get home," urges Saarinen. "It’s natural to roll your wet swimsuit inside your towel or in a separate bag when you leave the beach, but it’s also essential to unpack this wet bundle once you get home." As Lewenthorp points out, "If you leave swimwear in your beach bag too long, it will attract a foul smell." If, despite best efforts, you end up with an unpleasant damp smell, a gentle detergent and low-heat cycle is your best bet.

Exposure to the sun is almost a given with swimwear, and even though they are made to withstand harsh UV rays, it’s important to not leave your swimmers in direct sunlight for longer periods. Following Saarinen's excellent tips, our best advice is to dry your cozzies on a flat surface in the shade to avoid fading. "We also always recommend to avoid hanging your swimsuit from the straps," Saarinen points out. "As they are the thinnest part they may stretch when holding the entire weight of the wet swimsuit." Instead, she suggest, you should dry your swimsuit hanging from its widest section.

And even though the sun is an essential part of any beach day, if a product is let out in direct UV rays for a long time, the colours may fade. To best avoid this, "dry your swimwear hanging inside-out in the shade to preserve as much colour as possible," Lewenhaupt suggests.