Swimwear takes more abuse than almost any other garment. Chlorine, salt, sunscreen, UV exposure, and repeated stretching and wet-drying cycles all degrade fabric over time. The difference between swimwear that lasts one season and swimwear that lasts five is largely care.
Here is a practical guide for getting the most out of sustainable swimwear — including pieces made from ECONYL® and REPREVE® recycled fabrics.
Rinse immediately after every swim
This is the single most impactful thing you can do. Chlorine and salt are both degrading agents. The longer they sit in the fabric, the more damage they do. Rinse your swimwear in cool fresh water as soon as you leave the pool or ocean.
You do not need soap for this rinse — water alone is enough to remove the majority of chlorine and salt. The wash with detergent can come later.
Hand wash in cool water
Machine washing is the fastest way to shorten the life of swimwear. The agitation stretches and distorts the fibres, the heat damages elastane, and the spin cycle puts stress on seams and fabric structure.
Hand washing in cool water with a small amount of gentle detergent is all swimwear needs. Swirl it gently, give problem areas a light squeeze, and rinse thoroughly.
If you do machine wash — and sometimes life requires it — use a mesh laundry bag, the delicate cycle, cold water, and skip the spin cycle or take it out before the spin starts.
Never use hot water
Heat is elastane's main enemy. Elastane (also called Lycra or spandex) is the component that gives swimwear its stretch and shape recovery. Hot water breaks down the elastane polymer structure over time, leading to swimwear that bags, sags, and loses its fit.
This applies to washing, rinsing, and storage. Never run hot water over swimwear and never leave it in a hot car or on a surface that retains heat.
Dry flat in the shade
Hanging swimwear to dry puts gravitational stress on wet, heavy fabric and stretches it out of shape over time. Laying flat is better.
UV exposure — even the UV that comes through cloud cover — fades colour and degrades fabric fibres over repeated exposures. Drying in the shade significantly extends colour and fabric life.
Never tumble dry swimwear. The combination of heat and mechanical agitation is very damaging.
Do not wring or twist
Wringing removes water quickly but it torques the fabric and distorts the shape. Lay the swimwear flat and gently press out excess water instead, or roll it in a clean towel.
Be careful with sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the primary causes of discolouration and fabric degradation in swimwear. Specifically, oxybenzone and avobenzone — common chemical UV filters — react with fabric dyes and cause orange or rust-coloured staining that is very difficult to remove.
Mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are less reactive with fabrics and better for reef ecosystems. If you use chemical sunscreen, apply it before putting on your swimwear and let it absorb into your skin before dressing.
Rotate between multiple pieces
Wearing the same swimwear every day without giving it time to fully recover between wears compresses the elastane fibres and reduces their ability to spring back. If you swim daily, having two or three pieces to rotate between significantly extends the life of each.
This is one practical advantage of buying separates: you can mix and match tops and bottoms to create more combinations from fewer pieces, and rotate more effectively.
Specific care for ECONYL® and REPREVE® fabrics
ECONYL and REPREVE recycled nylon fabrics are built to be durable and chlorine-resistant. They respond well to the care practices above. A few specifics:
- Both fabrics are colour-fast and hold dye consistently, but prolonged UV exposure will still cause fading over time. Shade drying matters.
- ECONYL fabrics have a smooth, slightly firmer hand feel than some swimwear fabrics — this is normal and they soften slightly with use and washing.
- REPREVE printed fabrics are slightly lighter in weight. They respond particularly well to gentle hand washing and shade drying.
When to retire swimwear
Well-cared-for swimwear made from quality recycled fabrics should last three to five seasons with regular use. Signs it is time to replace a piece:
- The fabric has gone thin, pilled, or sheer
- It no longer holds its shape or returns to shape after washing
- The elastic has lost its recovery and the swimwear stays stretched out after wearing
- Seams are fraying or the lining has deteriorated
Colour fading alone is not a reason to retire swimwear — a faded piece that still holds its shape and structure is still functional.
Shop Raw X Salt
Raw X Salt swimwear is made from ECONYL® and REPREVE® certified recycled fabrics, designed to hold up with proper care across many seasons. Sizes XS to XL, mix and match separates.