How to Wash Swim Briefs: Swimwear Care for Chlorine, Salt and Sunscreen
Updated October 2026
The short version
Rinse in cool, fresh water after every swim. This one habit does most of the work.
Hand wash cool with a little mild detergent every few wears, and after any sunscreen-heavy day.
Press the water out, don't wring. Dry flat in the shade.
Never use heat, bleach or fabric softener.
Own two and rotate, so each one gets a full day off.
Learning how to wash swim briefs takes two minutes, and it's the difference between a brief that keeps its color and snap and one that's faded and baggy by August. Chlorine, salt and sunscreen are what wear swimwear out, and a hot wash fixes none of them. This is general care advice for most stretch swimsuits; always check the care label on yours, because the label wins.
What damages swimwear the most?
Chlorine, salt, sunscreen and heat do most of the damage. Chlorine and heat break down the stretch fibers, salt and sand dry out and rub the fabric, and sunscreen can stain it and wear down the elastic.
None of it happens in one afternoon. It's residue left in the fabric, swim after swim, that turns a sharp brief into a tired one.
| Culprit | What it does | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pool chlorine | Breaks down stretch fibers and fades color over time | Rinse in cool fresh water as soon as you get out |
| Salt water | Dries into crystals that stiffen the fabric | Rinse, then a gentle wash |
| Sand | Rubs the fabric and hides in the seams | Rinse the seams, then shake out the rest once dry |
| Sunscreen and oils | Can leave yellowish marks and wear down elastic | Let it sink in before you dress; wash after |
| Hot tubs | Hot water plus concentrated chemicals | Wear an older suit and rinse right away |
| Heat | Weakens elastic and warps the shape | Air dry flat in the shade |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
General swimwear care advice. Always follow the care label on your swimsuit.
How do you wash swim briefs after every swim?
Rinse the brief in cool fresh water, wash it gently with a mild detergent when it needs it, press the water out and dry it flat in the shade. Then store it dry and give it a day off before the next wear.
Here's the five-step routine:
Rinse right away. Rinse it inside and out in cool, fresh water as soon as you can after swimming. A beach shower, the pool shower or a hotel sink all count.
Wash gently. Every few wears, and after any day with sunscreen, hand wash in cool water with a small squeeze of mild detergent. Swish it for a minute or two, then rinse until the water runs clear. If the care label allows a machine, use a mesh laundry bag on a cold, delicate cycle, and keep it away from towels and anything with a zipper.
Press, don't wring. Roll the brief in a clean towel and press down to squeeze the water out. Wringing twists and stretches the fabric and the elastic.
Dry flat in the shade. Lay it flat on a dry towel or a drying rack, out of direct sun and away from heaters. Hanging it wet by the waistband can pull it out of shape.
Store it dry, then rotate. Once it's completely dry, keep it flat or loosely folded in a drawer. Give each brief at least a day between wears so the elastic has time to recover.
How do you get chlorine out of swimwear?
Rinse it in cool fresh water the moment you leave the pool, then give it a gentle wash with mild detergent. You can't undo chlorine damage once it's done, so the goal is to keep chlorine from sitting in the fabric.
Shower before you swim. Fabric that's already wet with fresh water tends to soak up less pool water, and most pools ask you to shower anyway.
Swim laps every day? Keep a dedicated training suit for the pool and save your favorite brief for vacations and beach clubs.
How do you care for swimwear after the beach?
Rinse the salt and sand out in fresh water before they dry into the fabric, then shake out any leftover sand once the brief is dry. Salt left in overnight makes fabric stiff, and sand trapped in the seams acts like sandpaper every time you move.
Watch where you sit, too: rough pool edges, rocks and concrete snag and pill swimwear fast, so put a towel down first. And never leave a wet brief rolled in a towel in a hot car.
How do you get sunscreen stains out of swimwear?
Treat the mark as soon as you spot it: work a drop of mild detergent or dish soap into the spot with your fingers, then rinse in cool water. To prevent stains, let sunscreen sink in for 10 to 15 minutes before you put your swimsuit on.
If a mark survives, repeat the treatment rather than reaching for anything stronger. Some sunscreen ingredients can react with minerals in hard water and leave an orange-ish tint, so a final rinse in clean tap water helps. Never use bleach on a sunscreen stain; it will cost you the color long before it shifts the mark.
What should you never do to swimwear?
Never use heat, bleach or fabric softener, and never wring it out or leave it wet in a bag. These are the habits that quietly kill elastic and color, and none of them actually saves you time.
The never rules:
Never tumble dry it. Dryer heat is the fastest way to ruin elastic.
Never wash it hot. Cool water only.
Never use bleach. It's a concentrated version of the thing you're trying to rinse out.
Never use fabric softener. It coats the fibers and can dull the stretch.
Never wring or twist it. Press it in a towel instead.
Never iron it or dry-clean it. Heat and solvents both hurt stretch fabric.
Never dry it in direct sun or on a radiator. Shade and patience win.
Never leave it wet and balled up in a bag, a towel or the trunk of your car.
How do you make a swim brief last longer?
Rotate between two briefs so each one dries and recovers fully between wears, and follow the five-step routine every time. Care keeps the shape, but rotation is what stops one brief from doing all the work.
That's half the reason the Swim Brief Duo (2 for $69.98) exists: one red, one black, one on and one drying. The other half is that red and black look good together on a sun lounger.
If a brief has gone baggy, it's usually heat, wear and a size that was a little big to begin with. Before you replace it, read how men's swim briefs should fit and check our swim brief size guide. Confused by rise and lining? See our swim brief glossary.
Ready for a fresh one? The Mandate Swim Brief comes in red or black, sizes S, M and L, for $39.99. Orders ship from California, and unworn items can be returned or exchanged within 30 days.
FAQ
How often should you wash swim briefs? Rinse them in cool fresh water after every swim. Give them a gentle hand wash with a mild detergent every few wears and after any day with sunscreen.
Can you put swim briefs in the washing machine? Only if the care label allows it. If it does, use a mesh laundry bag on a cold, delicate cycle, then air dry flat.
Can you put swimwear in the dryer? No. Dryer heat weakens elastic and stretch fibers, so always air dry swimwear flat in the shade.
How do you get the chlorine smell out of swimwear? Rinse it in cool fresh water right after swimming, then hand wash it with a mild detergent. Washing promptly works better than any fix after the fact.
Does sunscreen ruin swimwear? Sunscreen can leave yellowish stains and wear down elastic over time. Let it sink in before you get dressed, and wash your swimsuit after sunscreen-heavy days.