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Hand washing is the safer method for swimwear. A washing machine is acceptable only when the care label allows it, and then only on a delicate cycle, in cold water, with the suit inside a mesh bag. Below: how the two methods compare, what each does to stretch fabric, and a routine you can follow after a beach day, a pool session or a week of vacation.
The two methods differ in how much mechanical force the fabric sees, how much detergent stays behind and how much control you have over the process.
| Factor | Hand wash | Machine wash (delicate) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical stress on stretch fibers | Low, you control it | Higher, even on gentle settings |
| Water temperature | Cool or cold, easy to control | Cold, if you select it |
| Detergent amount | A small amount, easy to rinse out | Machine dispenses by cycle, can leave residue |
| Risk of snagging on hooks, ties, hardware | Very low | Moderate, lower with a mesh bag |
| Time | 5 to 10 minutes of attention | Hands-off, but the cycle takes longer |
| Best for | Bikinis, one-pieces, anything with padding, ties or embellishment | Simple, sturdy suits and trunks with a care label that allows it |
The tradeoff is convenience against the life of the garment. If you rinse and wash a suit by hand, you spend a few minutes. If you machine wash it, you save those minutes and accept some risk of stretching.
Most swimwear is a knit of nylon or polyester blended with elastane. Elastane is what lets a suit hold its shape and recover after you move. It is also the first thing to wear out.
A 2019 study on repeated home laundering of elastane knitted sportswear fabrics looked at how repeated washing affects the way these knits deform and recover. The practical point for swimwear: the more wash cycles and agitation a stretch knit goes through, the more its recovery can change. Less agitation means a longer working life.
Wirecutter’s swimsuit washing guide and ARM & HAMMER’s swimsuit guide both lean toward hand washing for the same reason. The washer tumbles, twists and spins the garment. Your hands can squeeze gently and let the water do the work.
What the damage looks like in practice:
None of these show up after one wash. They build over a season, which is why the habit matters more than any single load.
Some swimsuits can go in the washer. The deciding factor is the care label inside the garment. Maytag says you can machine wash a swimsuit if its care label says so, and recommends the delicate cycle in cold water with the suit in a mesh laundry bag. The American Cleaning Institute advises reading the product label and learning the fabric care symbols before you wash anything.
The care label overrides everything you read online, including this article. If it shows a hand symbol or says “hand wash only,” follow it. If it shows a washer symbol with a gentle setting, the machine is an option, not a requirement.
A machine load makes the most sense when:
It makes the least sense for a suit you paid a lot for, a style with structure, or anything you want to keep for several summers.
Skip bleach and skip the dryer, regardless of the cycle you picked.
Hand washing is faster than people expect. We lay out the same routine in our 6-step swimwear washing guide.
Regular laundry detergent is built for cotton towels and sweaty T-shirts. It can be harsher than a swimsuit needs, and a strong, sudsy formula takes extra rinsing, which means extra handling. A mild formula made for delicates or synthetics is a better fit. No-rinse delicate washes are an option if you want to cut the rinsing step. Whatever you pick, measure it. A teaspoon or two in a basin is usually plenty.
The wash method matters, but so does what is on the suit when it goes in.
There is also a hygiene side. Health departments note that pool water can be contaminated, and that chlorine does not kill germs instantly. A swimsuit worn in a pool is not a clean garment just because the pool is treated. Wash it after each wear.
A careful hand wash can be wasted by a hot dryer or an hour on a sunny railing. Heat and direct sun both degrade stretch fibers and fade color. Wirecutter and Persil both advise against the dryer. Use this instead:
More detail is in our swimsuit drying guide.
After every wear, as a general rule. At a minimum, rinse in fresh water after every swim and wash with detergent after each full day in the sun, in a pool or in the ocean. If you wear a suit for a short time, say a quick dip and a shower, a thorough rinse may do for the day. Rotating two suits on a vacation gives each one time to dry fully, which is easier on the fibers than putting on a damp suit.
We design swimwear to be worn often, so we get asked about care more than almost anything else. Our answer is the same each time: hand wash, cool water, little detergent, dry flat in the shade. It takes about as long as brushing your teeth.
That is the position we take because of how a suit is made. A piece with fine stitching, a precise cut and a lining keeps its line only if the stretch fibers are treated gently. The washer is not forbidden, but every cycle is a small test the fabric has to pass. We would rather our customers spend five minutes at the sink than replace a suit after one summer.
If a suit’s label allows the machine and you are in a rush, use the settings above and a mesh bag. A good wash, even a quick one, beats an unwashed suit left in a beach bag.
— Lital
If you shop for swimwear you want to wear for years, care is part of the purchase. Our collections include bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, cover-ups and men’s swim shorts, all designed by Lital Simel-Rhedrick. Each piece comes with care instructions to check before its first wash. For the reasoning behind choosing quality pieces, see why we think it is worth to invest in swimwear.
Vacation is where most swimsuits get washed in a hurry. A hotel sink is a good hand wash station: a small travel pouch of mild detergent, a few minutes of soaking and a towel roll are all you need. Pack a mesh bag or a zip bag for the damp suit on the way home, and unpack it as soon as you arrive. Our packing tips for swimwear cover how to keep suits flat and protected in a suitcase.
Sometimes. Check the care label first. If it allows machine washing, use the delicate cycle with cold water, a low spin and a mesh bag, and skip the dryer. Hand washing is the gentler option for any suit.
For swimwear, it is better at protecting the fabric. Hand washing exposes the stretch fibers to less agitation than a machine cycle. For removing chlorine, salt and sunscreen, a quick rinse plus a gentle hand wash does the job.
Use the delicate cycle, cold water and the lowest spin speed available. Put the suit in a mesh bag, use a small amount of mild detergent and take it out right away when the cycle is done.
Yes, wash after each wear, and rinse in fresh water right after swimming. Chlorine, salt, sunscreen and sweat all stay in the fabric and wear it down. A rinse alone may be enough after a very short swim, but a full wash is better after a day out.
