You've found swimwear you love.

It fits beautifully.

You've taken it on holiday.

Now you want to keep it looking that way.

Swimwear has a harder life than most of the clothes in your wardrobe.

It deals with:

• Chlorine
• Salt water
• Heat
• Sunlight
• Sunscreen
• Sand
• Repeated stretching
• Wet-to-dry cycles

And when you're wearing specialist tan-through fabric, you may naturally wonder whether it needs any special treatment.

The good news?

Looking after your SWIMSARA doesn't need to be complicated.

A few simple habits can help keep your tan-through bikini or swimsuit looking and feeling its best for longer.

Swim. Rinse. Repeat.

SWIMSARA's tan-through fabric is lightweight, breathable and quick-drying, making it ideal for days that move between the pool, sea and sun lounger.

But just like any quality swimwear, how you care for it matters.

Rinse it.

Wash it gently.

Let it dry properly.

And give the fabric a little care between holidays.

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How Often Should You Wash Swimwear?

You don't necessarily need to give your swimsuit a full detergent wash every single time you put it on.

But you should rinse it after swimming.

This is particularly important after exposure to:

• Chlorinated pools
• Salt water
• Heavily treated spa water

A thorough rinse in clean, cool or lukewarm fresh water helps remove residue from the fabric before it sits there for hours.

If you've spent the entire day swimming, we'd make rinsing your swimwear one of the first things you do when you get back to your hotel room.

It takes minutes.

Should You Rinse Swimwear After the Pool?

Yes.

Chlorine is useful for keeping swimming pools hygienic, but repeated exposure isn't particularly kind to stretch fabrics.

Once you've finished swimming, rinse your swimwear thoroughly in fresh water.

Don't leave it rolled up wet in a beach bag until the next morning if you can avoid it.

That combination of moisture, heat and chemical residue isn't how we'd choose to store any quality swimsuit.

Should You Rinse Swimwear After Swimming in the Sea?

Yes.

Salt water can leave salt deposits behind as it dries.

Again, the solution is simple.

Rinse your swimsuit or bikini in clean fresh water after swimming in the sea.

Pay particular attention to:

• Straps
• Ties
• Toggles
• Waistbands
• Gathered sections

These areas can hold more water and residue than flat sections of fabric.

How Do You Wash Tan-Through Swimwear?

We recommend treating your SWIMSARA gently.

Step 1: Rinse

Rinse thoroughly in cool or lukewarm fresh water.

Step 2: Hand Wash

Hand wash using a small amount of gentle detergent suitable for delicate garments.

Step 3: Don't Scrub

Gently move the garment through the water rather than aggressively rubbing the fabric against itself.

Step 4: Rinse Again

Remove detergent thoroughly with fresh water.

Step 5: Remove Excess Water Gently

Don't twist or aggressively wring the garment.

Instead, gently press out excess water.

Step 6: Air Dry

Allow the garment to dry naturally.

That's it.

Your tan-through swimwear doesn't need an elaborate cleaning routine.

It just needs gentle treatment.

Can You Put Tan-Through Swimwear in the Washing Machine?

For the longest possible garment life, hand washing is the gentler option.

Washing machines introduce:

• Friction
• Repeated agitation
• Stretching
• Contact with other garments
• Potentially inappropriate wash temperatures

A delicate cycle may sound gentle, but hand washing gives you far more control.

Considering how quickly lightweight swimwear can be washed by hand, we'd avoid putting it through a full machine wash simply for convenience.

Can You Put Tan-Through Swimwear in the Tumble Dryer?

We wouldn't recommend it.

Heat can be hard on the stretch fibres used in swimwear.

One of the advantages of SWIMSARA's lightweight fabric is that it dries quickly naturally anyway.

There's little reason to subject it to the additional heat and tumbling of a dryer.

Let the fabric do what it does best.

Dry naturally.

Should You Wring Out a Swimsuit?

Try not to.

It's tempting—particularly when you've just washed your swimsuit and want it dry quickly.

But aggressively twisting a wet swimsuit places unnecessary strain on the fabric and seams.

Instead, gently squeeze or press the excess water out.

Then allow the garment to dry naturally.

How Should You Dry Tan-Through Swimwear?

After rinsing or washing:

• Reshape the garment gently
• Lay it flat or position it so it isn't being heavily stretched
• Allow it to air dry
• Avoid direct high heat

Don't leave a wet swimsuit hanging from one tiny strap if the weight of the water is pulling the entire garment down.

Support the garment as it dries.

Why SWIMSARA Dries So Quickly

Tan-through fabric has a very different construction from thick, heavily lined swimwear.

The lightweight structure holds less water, which means it can dry considerably faster than many traditional swimsuit fabrics.

This is one of those benefits that doesn't sound particularly exciting until you're actually on holiday.

You swim before lunch.

Rinse your bikini.

Hang it up.

And rather than still having a heavy wet swimsuit hours later, your swimwear is much easier to reuse.

It's particularly useful when travelling with limited luggage.

How Do You Remove Sunscreen from Swimwear?

Sunscreen can leave oily residue or marks on swimwear, particularly around edges where your skin meets the garment.

If sunscreen gets onto your swimwear:

1. Rinse the garment as soon as practical.
2. Hand wash gently using an appropriate mild detergent.
3. Avoid aggressively scrubbing the mark.
4. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Allow it to dry naturally.

Be particularly careful with heavily coloured oils and tanning products, which can potentially mark textiles.

Prevention helps too.

Allow products applied to exposed skin to absorb before pulling your swimwear into position where practical.

Should You Put Sunscreen Under Tan-Through Swimwear?

SWIMSARA's tan-through technology is designed to allow a proportion of sunlight through the specialist fabric.

Applying a product beneath the fabric introduces another layer between the sunlight and your skin and may affect the tanning result beneath the garment.

However, sun protection should always come before tanning goals.

Tan-through swimwear isn't a replacement for appropriate sun protection, and your skin can still receive UV exposure beneath the fabric.

Follow appropriate sun-safety advice for your skin, destination and UV conditions.

Does Chlorine Damage Swimwear?

Repeated chlorine exposure can gradually affect swimwear fibres, particularly the stretch components that help garments retain their shape.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't swim in your swimsuit.

It's a swimsuit.

It's made to be used.

The important thing is what you do afterwards.

Rinse it.

Don't let heavily chlorinated water simply dry into the garment every time you swim.

A 30-second rinse can become one of the easiest habits you develop on holiday.

Does Salt Water Damage Swimwear?

Quality swimwear is designed to be worn in the sea, but repeated exposure to salt, sunlight and stretching can still contribute to normal wear over time.

Again, rinsing is your friend.

You don't need to panic every time you go into the sea.

Just give your swimwear a good rinse in fresh water afterwards.

Be Careful Where You Sit

This is one of the easiest ways to damage any swimsuit.

Rough pool edges.

Concrete.

Stone walls.

Wooden decking.

Rough sun loungers.

These surfaces can catch or abrade delicate swimwear fabric.

Always put a towel down before sitting on a rough surface.

It takes seconds and can save your swimsuit from unnecessary pulls or abrasion.

What About Sand?

Sand is unavoidable on a beach holiday.

And that's fine.

If sand becomes trapped in your swimwear, don't attack the fabric trying to remove every grain while it's still wet.

Allow the garment to dry, gently shake away loose sand and then rinse it properly.

Treat the fabric gently rather than aggressively stretching it.

How Should You Store Swimwear After Your Holiday?

Don't unpack your suitcase, find a slightly damp bikini and throw it straight into a drawer.

Before storing swimwear:

Make sure it's clean.

Make sure it's completely dry.

Then store it somewhere dry and away from excessive heat.

Try not to leave bikini cups, hardware or structured areas crushed underneath heavy clothing for months.

If you've taken the time to buy quality swimwear, take an extra minute to put it away properly.

What About Bikini Hardware?

Some SWIMSARA styles feature details such as toggles and cord ends.

When washing:

• Handle hardware gently
• Don't aggressively pull or twist it
• Rinse around hardware after swimming in salt or chlorinated water
• Let it dry thoroughly

If your bikini has adjustable elements, return them to a comfortable position rather than storing the garment under unnecessary tension.

How Do You Care for a Bandeau Bikini?

A bandeau is particularly easy to squash into the bottom of a beach bag.

Try not to.

After wearing your Bandeau Bikini:

• Rinse it
• Gently reshape it
• Make sure the detachable string isn't tightly knotted
• Allow it to dry properly
• Store it without excessive pressure on the garment

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How Do You Care for a Halter Bikini?

Pay attention to the straps and ties.

Don't leave the halterneck tied tightly when washing or storing it.

Undo the top, rinse thoroughly around the straps and allow everything to dry naturally.

This also gives the fabric a chance to return to its natural shape rather than remaining under tension.

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How Do You Care for the Aurora Halter?

The Aurora Halter Bikini features adjustable hardware, so treat the centre toggle gently.

Rinse around it thoroughly after swimming and avoid pulling aggressively on the cords when the garment is wet.

Adjustability is part of what makes the Aurora useful.

Look after those details and they'll keep doing their job.

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How Do You Care for a One-Piece Swimsuit?

The same basic rules apply.

Rinse.

Hand wash gently.

Don't wring.

Air dry.

With the Paula Fitted Swimsuit, reshape the garment after washing so the neckline and body sit naturally while drying.

And because a one-piece contains more fabric than a bikini, make sure it's completely dry before packing it away.

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How Do You Care for Long-Sleeve Swimwear?

A Long Sleeve Top has more fabric, so take a little extra care when wet.

Don't hang the entire weight of a soaking garment from one small point.

Gently remove excess water and support it while drying.

Make sure the sleeves aren't twisted or bunched.

The lightweight fabric should dry quickly without needing heat.

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How Long Should a Swimsuit Last?

There isn't one useful number.

How long swimwear lasts depends heavily on:

• How often you wear it
• Chlorine exposure
• Salt-water exposure
• How you wash it
• Heat
• Friction
• How you store it
• How carefully you treat the fabric

Someone wearing the same swimsuit in a chlorinated pool every day will put it through very different conditions from someone wearing it for two holidays a year.

Instead of focusing on a fixed lifespan, look at the garment.

Is the fabric still recovering properly?

Does it still fit?

Are the seams secure?

Does it still feel comfortable?

Your swimsuit will tell you far more than an arbitrary number of years.

Should You Alternate Your Swimwear on Holiday?

If you have the space, yes.

Giving one swimsuit time to rinse and dry while you wear another can make holiday life easier.

This doesn't mean you need seven bikinis for seven days.

A small capsule works beautifully.

For example:

Day 1: Aurora Halter Bikini
Day 2: Paula Fitted Swimsuit
Day 3: Bandeau Bikini
Day 4: Long Sleeve Set

Then repeat.

Because they're all tan-through styles, you can change your coverage while continuing to wear the same specialist type of fabric.

Why Buying Better and Caring for It Matters

We're not interested in swimwear that gets worn once for an Instagram photograph and then forgotten.

SWIMSARA is produced in small batches in Scotland.

We'd rather create pieces you love enough to take on holiday again and again.

That means choosing a style that genuinely suits you—and then looking after it.

Care doesn't need to be complicated.

Most of it comes down to:

Rinse it.

Wash it gently.

Avoid unnecessary heat.

Protect it from rough surfaces.

Store it clean and dry.

Simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you wash tan-through swimwear?

Rinse it in fresh water, hand wash gently using a mild detergent, rinse thoroughly and allow it to air dry naturally.

Can you machine wash tan-through swimwear?

Hand washing is the gentler option and gives you more control over temperature, friction and stretching.

Can tan-through swimwear go in the tumble dryer?

We recommend air drying rather than using a tumble dryer, as excessive heat can be hard on stretch swimwear fibres.

Should you rinse swimwear after every swim?

Rinsing after swimming is a good habit, particularly after exposure to chlorine or salt water.

How do you dry tan-through swimwear?

Gently remove excess water without wringing and allow the garment to air dry naturally while supporting its shape.

Can chlorine damage tan-through swimwear?

Repeated chlorine exposure can affect swimwear fibres over time. Rinsing thoroughly after swimming helps remove chlorine residue.

Does salt water damage swimsuits?

Swimwear is designed for the sea, but rinsing salt water from the fabric after swimming is good care practice.

How do you get sunscreen out of swimwear?

Rinse the garment promptly and hand wash gently using a mild detergent. Avoid aggressive scrubbing.

Should you wring out a swimsuit?

It's better to gently press excess water out rather than twisting or aggressively wringing the fabric.

How should you store swimwear?

Store it clean and completely dry, away from excessive heat and without crushing structured areas or hardware.

Related Guides

The Ultimate Guide to Tan-Through Swimwear
Our complete guide to tan-through technology, fit, results and choosing your swimwear.

What Is the Best Tan-Through Swimsuit? How to Choose the Right Style for You
Find the tan-through style that matches your preferred support and coverage.

Is Tan-Through Swimwear Worth It? What to Know Before You Buy
Understand the benefits and limitations before buying your first piece.

How Should a Swimsuit Fit? Your Complete Swimwear Fit Guide
Learn how to recognise the correct fit and protect the shape of your swimwear.

Does Tan-Through Swimwear Really Work?
Discover what you can realistically expect from specialist tan-through fabric.

Look After the Swimwear You Love

Good swimwear should go on more than one holiday.

It should remind you of places you've been.

Pools you've jumped into.

Beaches you've discovered.

And those days where you did very little beyond moving between the sea and your sun lounger.

SWIMSARA is designed to be worn—not kept pristine in a drawer.

So swim in it.

Travel in it.

Enjoy it.

Then give it a rinse, wash it gently and let it dry.

A little care goes a long way.

Ready to find your next holiday favourite?

Shop SWIMSARA's best-selling tan-through swimwear collection.

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