The short answer is no. Tumble drying swimwear can be detrimental due to the high heat and friction, which can weaken the fabric and cause your favourite colours to fade.
Make sure that your swimsuit dries fully before putting it away, as any lingering moisture can cause odors and prematurely age fabrics. Unless your machine has a no-heat option (sometimes called “air fluff”), steer clear of the dryer—heat is damaging to the stretchy synthetics favored in swimwear.
Polyester swimsuits can shrink slightly in the dryer, especially with high-heat settings. As a synthetic fabric, polyester is more resistant to shrinkage than natural fibers. To maintain the shape of your bathing suit, it's best to air dry it flat or use the lowest setting if machine drying is necessary.
Regardless of how you wash your bathing suit, air drying is the best method to dry your swimwear.
Dry in the shade after rinsing & do not hang in direct sun light. Occasionally hand-wash with mild soap – do not machine wash or tumble dry. Apply sunscreen approximately 15 minutes before putting on your costume, as oil and/or lotion can deteriorate the fabric.
Run 30°C synthetic cycle and slow spin (be sure to read the garment care label). After the washing cycle has finished run multiple spin cycles, each time incrementally increasing the spin speed, to remove excess water. Fully Dry the garment on a low temperature in a tumble dryer.
Turn pieces inside out and place into a wash bag. Select a delicate cycle, cool or warm water and use gentle detergent. Dry swimwear by laying it out in its original shape, reshaping its cups and dry it flat. Never put swimwear in the dryer as the high heat will destroy the piece's elasticity.
Wash It on a Gentle Cycle
Set your washing machine to the gentle cycle and use cold water and gentle detergent on it. Don't toss it in with your beach towel—that's a recipe for swimsuit damage. Wash the swimsuit with similar types of synthetic fabrics.
Quick dry swimsuits are often made with fabrics such as polyamide or lycra which offer the advantage of drying very quickly.
Don't machine wash, iron or tumble dry your wetsuit. Avoid chlorine and store your wetsuit on a suitable wide-shouldered hanger, or folded over the waist while drying.
Ideally, you would wash your swimsuit every time you wear it, even if you don't end up actually getting in the water. Many sunscreens and mineral-based lotions and oils can damage the material of your swimsuit and lead to it breaking down over time.
Simply boil a pot of water, submerge the suit in it (use tongs so you don't burn your fingers!), and let the suit soak for about fifteen minutes. Carefully remove the suit, gently squeeze out excess water, and place it in the dryer on the lowest setting, or line dry.
Drying your swimsuit in a hotel room
Hang your swimsuit over the shower curtain rod. Lay your swimsuit on a towel on the floor near a vent or fan. Hang your swimsuit over the back of a chair.
Don't put a wet swimsuit in the dryer. This can shrink and damage the fabric. Drying a swimsuit in direct sunlight can fade the colors.
Effects of Heat. Heat is another cause of damage to your swimwear. Heated pools and spas can cause your swimmers to disintegrate, especially when combined with chlorine and other chemicals. Not only can heated pool water cause damage to your bathers, but also the heat from washing machines and dryers.
Wet swimsuits create a damp environment that can promote the growth of bacteria and fungi. This can increase your risk of developing skin infections, such as fungal rashes or bacterial infections. Additionally, the moisture can cause irritation and chafing, particularly in sensitive areas.
Store Swimsuits in a Cool, Dry Place
If you can dedicate an entire drawer to your suits, that's great. If not, make sure the space you choose to keep them is dark, dry, cool, and has good airflow. Allowing the suits to breathe will prevent mildew - especially important if they get put away slightly damp.
Fiber composition of swimwear fabric
Also, synthetics usually hold up better to the harsh environments that swimsuits are often used in. Most swimwear today is made from either nylon, polyester, or polyamide, which is then blended with elastane for added elastic recovery.
Regardless of how you wash your bathing suit, air drying is the best method to dry your swimwear. We recommend laying them flat to dry in order to preserve their shape.
If you take good care of your suits and rotate them out each season, you can likely get 3-4 years. However, if you only wear your suit a few times per year or don't take proper care of them, they may only last 1-2 years.
To help remove lingering chlorine smell, consider adding ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda or ARM & HAMMER Clean Scentsations Scent Booster with Odor Blasters to the wash water. Let soak for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly using cold water until there are no remaining suds.
Mulholland suggests washing swimsuits roughly every three to five wears. There is one occasion when it's beneficial to wash immediately. The ProSwimwear site suggests using a mild soap as soon as you're out of chlorinated water. Chlorine that is not washed away with soap can eat away at your suit, degrading the fabric.
The trick to getting the best clean for your swimwear is using a detergent specifically designed to penetrate and clean synthetic fabrics without hurting its performance. HEX Performance Laundry Detergent is perfect for swimmers and beach-goers looking to have their swimsuits looking, feeling, and smelling their best.
You can use mild hand soap, lingerie soap, or mild detergent. You can even try Blue Dawn Dishsoap – this seems to work wonders on everything! Swimwear should be treated gently so after the suit is washed, we recommend laying flat to dry. Avoid drying your bathing suit in the dryer.