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The fastest way to remove chlorine from a swimsuit is to rinse it in fresh, cool water as soon as you leave the pool, then wash it by hand in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent the same day. Rinse it again, press out the water without wringing, and dry it flat in the shade. That routine clears most chlorine and the smell that comes with it. It also protects the stretch and color of the suit, which is what chlorine attacks over time.
Below you will find the full routine step by step, what to do when the smell lingers, which products to avoid, and how to dry and store a suit so it lasts.
Chlorine does two things to a swimsuit. It leaves residue and an odor in the fabric, and with repeated exposure it wears down the fibers themselves. Wirecutter’s swimsuit care guide explains that prolonged chlorine exposure eventually breaks down the polymers that give a suit its stretch and recovery. Forbes Vetted says the same about Lycra and spandex: chlorine chemicals deteriorate them.
That is why the damage you notice later, a suit that sags, looks dull or no longer holds you in, often traces back to a habit rather than a single swim. A textile scientist quoted in The Conversation lists chlorine, sunscreen, body oils, heat and UV exposure as the things that actively degrade fibers, and notes that air-drying in the shade helps preserve elastane and color.
The good news: the care that removes chlorine is cheap and takes about ten minutes. Most of it is timing.
This is the step that matters most. Rinse the suit in fresh, cool water as soon as you leave the pool. Wirecutter says an immediate fresh-water rinse removes some of the chlorine and other chemical residue before a full wash. Persil’s U.S. care guide gives the reason: rinsing as soon as possible keeps residue from setting into the fabric.
Practical ways to do it:
If you are heading into the pool, a quick fresh-water rinse before you get in also helps. Wirecutter notes that a pre-swim rinse can reduce how much chlorinated water the suit’s filaments wick in.
A rinse is a start, not a wash. Wirecutter recommends washing promptly after every wear with a small amount of mild detergent, because water alone may not remove the salts, minerals and chemical deposits that sit inside the fabric’s construction.
Here is the routine, combining the common points across the care guides:
The detergent you choose matters too. A mild, gentle formula is easier on both stretchy fabric and skin, and a thorough rinse leaves less behind against your skin. If you want to think more about gentle, skin-safe laundry care, the same logic applies: less harsh chemistry, fewer leftovers in the fabric.
We also keep a short walkthrough of this routine on our blog: 6 steps to wash swimwear in 5 to 10 minutes.
Most of the time, the smell goes away with a prompt wash and a thorough rinse. Wirecutter reports a textile expert’s view that washing with detergent soon after swimming usually resolves odors without extra treatment.
If a smell lingers, you have two gentle options:
Pick one, not both at once. Soak the suit for a short time, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry fully before you decide whether the smell is gone. A damp suit can smell stronger than a dry one.
It is tempting to reach for something stronger when a suit smells. Do not. The Conversation’s textile scientist advises avoiding bleach, highly acidic or alkaline detergents, and fabric softeners, because they can damage elastane or trap odors. Wirecutter’s guidance lines up: cool water, mild soap, no bleach and no softener.
That also covers products marketed as “chlorine neutralizers”. If you use one, make sure the label says it is safe for stretch fabrics and follow the directions. For most suits, mild detergent and cool water do the job.
Hand-washing is the gentlest route, but some suits can go in the machine. Martha Stewart’s 2025 guide says machine washing is acceptable only when the care label permits it, and then with cold water, a gentle cycle and a mesh laundry bag.
A few rules for the machine:
If you are not sure which route is right for your suit, our guide to hand wash vs. machine wash for swimwear covers the trade-offs.
How you dry a suit decides how long it keeps its shape. The sources agree closely:
Do not store the suit while it is still damp, either. Wirecutter lists damp storage among the habits to avoid. More detail is in our guide to drying swimsuits safely.
| Situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Just left the pool | Rinse in cool, fresh water right away | Removes some chlorine before it sets into the fabric |
| Back home after the swim | Hand-wash in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent | Clears salts, minerals and chemical deposits that water alone may miss |
| Smell still there after washing | Soak in water with diluted white vinegar or half a cup of baking soda, then rinse | Gentle household odor remedies |
| Care label says machine-safe | Cold water, gentle cycle, mesh bag | Lowers friction and heat |
| Drying | Roll in a towel, lay flat in the shade | Protects elastic and color |
| Storing | Only when fully dry | Damp storage traps odor |
A single swim will not ruin a good suit. Repeated swims without care will wear it out. The routine that Wirecutter and Forbes Vetted both point to is simple: rinse immediately, wash promptly after each chlorinated swim, use cool water and mild detergent, avoid bleach, softener, wringing, heat, direct sun and damp storage, and follow the care label.
A few extras help if you swim often:
Chlorine is the reason most people ask us about swimsuit care. Pool days are part of vacations, and a suit that comes out of the pool smelling of chemicals feels like a ruined favorite piece.
Our approach is simple. We design swimwear with attention to detail, quality and timeless style, and we want each piece to stay wearable for many seasons. Good design sets the starting point. Care does the rest, and care starts in the first five minutes after you leave the water.
That is why we keep the routine short: rinse, gentle wash, roll, lay flat in the shade. It does not need special products, and it fits into a vacation, even a hotel bathroom sink. Treat a suit this way and the fabric keeps its shape and color better.
If you swim in chlorinated pools often, look at the care label of each piece and follow it. It is the maker’s guidance for that specific fabric.
Lital
If your current suit has given up after too many pool days, it may be time for a new one. L’ANIMAL is an online store for designer swimwear by designer and stylist Lital Simel-Rhedrick, for women and men.
Browse our bikinis and one-piece swimsuits for the pool and beach, cover-ups for the walk back, and men’s swim shorts. The full range is on lanimal.co. Check each product page for fabric and care details before you wash.
A cool, fresh-water rinse right after swimming removes some chlorine, and it is worth doing every time. It is not a full wash, though. Wirecutter notes that water alone may not remove salts, minerals and chemical deposits inside the fabric, so follow the rinse with a gentle hand wash using a small amount of mild detergent.
Both are described as safe and gentle by the textile expert Wirecutter quotes. Arm & Hammer suggests one-half cup of baking soda in the wash water for a lingering smell. If you use vinegar, dilute it and rinse the suit well in cool water afterward. Washing promptly with mild detergent often solves the smell by itself.
No. The Conversation’s textile scientist advises avoiding bleach, highly acidic or alkaline detergents and fabric softeners, because they can damage elastane or trap odors. Stick to cool water and mild detergent, and use diluted vinegar or baking soda if you need extra help with odor.
It is best not to. Forbes Vetted says dryer heat can break down fibers and make elastic breakage more likely. Roll the suit in a clean towel to absorb water, then lay it flat in a shaded, ventilated spot until it is completely dry.
After every chlorinated swim. Rinse it right away, then wash it the same day with mild detergent in cool water. Wirecutter says prolonged chlorine exposure eventually breaks down the polymers that give a suit stretch, so regular washing helps the suit last.
