If you’ve ever fallen in love with a swimsuit on vacation only to have it fade, stretch, or lose its shape by the time you’re home you’re not alone.
Swimwear goes through a lot: sun, salt water, chlorine, sunscreen, heat, sand, and whatever mystery chemicals are floating around the hotel pool.
And if your swimsuit is small-batch, handmade, crocheted, macramé, or beaded, it needs a little more care than a basic suit from a fast fashion rack.
At Sandy Bottom, we curate pieces made by women artisans around the world crafted with intention, not mass produced. And the truth is: when you care for swimwear properly, it can last for years. Not one trip. Not one summer. Years.
Here’s our complete guide to keeping your swimwear looking flawless, season after season.
This is the #1 habit that makes the biggest difference.
After the sea or pool, rinse your swimsuit with cold water as soon as you can. Salt, chlorine, and sunscreen break down elastics and dull colour even if the suit looks fine in the moment.
Travel tip: if you’re out for the day, a quick rinse in the hotel shower is better than letting it sit in a beach bag until dinner.
Washing machines are violent. Even on delicate.
Swimwear should be hand washed using a gentle detergent and treated like what it is: a fitted garment, not activewear.
How to do it properly:
Fill a sink with cool water
Add a small amount of mild detergent
Swish gently for 1–2 minutes
Let soak for a few minutes if needed
Rinse thoroughly with cold water
Avoid strong soaps, bleach, stain removers, or anything “heavy duty.” Those products are designed for cotton and towels not swim fabrics.
This is how swimsuits lose their shape.
Instead:
Lay it flat on a towel
Roll the towel up and press gently to remove excess water
No twisting. No wringing. No drama.
Direct sunlight fades colour especially brights, reds, and pinks and heat can weaken elastic fibres.
Always lay swimwear flat to dry in a shaded, well-ventilated area. Never hang it by the straps (it stretches). Never throw it in the dryer (it destroys).
If you’re on vacation: balcony shade is your best friend.
Sunscreen oils and tanning products are one of the biggest causes of staining and fabric breakdown.
My best tips:
Let sunscreen and oils absorb fully before putting your swimsuit on
Avoid sitting down immediately after applying
If staining happens, don’t panic — rinse as soon as possible and soak gently
If you know, you know: rough stone + textured pool edges can catch fabric and cause pilling.
If you're sitting anywhere questionable:
Sit on a towel
Or a sarong
Or literally anything other than concrete
Your future self will thank you.
These pieces are the showstoppers and they require softer care.
Best practice:
Cold soak + gentle rinse
No harsh rubbing
No aggressive squeezing
Reshape while damp
Lay flat to dry in the shade
These aren’t “throw it in the wash and hope for the best” pieces. They’re handmade craft.
And when you treat them properly, they can last a lifetime.
The way you store your pieces matters.
Do:
Ensure the suit is completely dry
Store flat when possible
Keep crochet/beaded pieces in a dust bag
Avoid tight drawers where beads can snag
Don’t:
Store damp swimwear (it causes odour and fabric damage)
Store in heat (like a car)
Swimwear should never be disposable.
A beautifully made piece crafted in small batches by women, deserves care. Because when you invest in the good pieces, the goal isn’t to replace them every season. The goal is to travel with them, make memories in them, and reach for them again and again.
The best vacation wardrobe isn’t bigger.
It’s better.
And it lasts.
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