How to Fix a Fading Swimsuit in Minutes

It happens. You purchase the dazzling swimsuit of your dreams. It’s vivid, eye-catching, and just the right color – you’re in love. Then the inevitable heart-shattering event occurs. You sport it confidently to the beach just once, and you take home a different swimsuit. It looks a little off-color, drab, dull – you might even call it faded. That’s because it is. Swimsuits are notorious for losing color, and it’s all down to the very environment they’re made for, alongside their very makeup. 

A fading swimsuit is upsetting, and it can happen faster than you think. There are three main reasons behind swimsuit fading: chlorine, strong detergents, and sunlight. Alone they can attack your swimsuit’s natural color. All combined, your swimsuit has little chance of retaining its brilliant color.

But this doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of smart precautionary measures you can take to stop your swimsuit from fading, and if tragedy has already taken place, there are even some miracle-working strategies that can revive your swimsuit, restoring it to its natural colorful self. Here’s the whole story:

How to Handle a Fading Bathing Suit

Why is my swimsuit fading?

It’s Seen Better Days

Unfortunately, there’s every chance that your swimsuit is simply getting old. In terms of how long does a swimsuit last, the answer is generally 3 months to a year depending on quality, care, and the number of wears. Fortunately, there are some strategies for prolonging the life of your swimsuit and keeping it looking healthier for longer.

Overwashing

Yes, that’s right, sometimes you’re the problem. Made from a blend of polyester, nylon, and a stretchy material (often spandex), swimsuits aren’t the most robust garment. Their fibers are delicate and liable to open up and weaken upon being exposed to heat or any harsh chemicals.

Unfortunately, this just so happens to be the optimal condition for cleansing fabrics and materials of all sorts. So, the only way to avoid your swimsuit fading from overwashing is not to wash it as much while ensuring you follow proper washing guidelines. 

How Many Times Wear Swimsuit Before Washing? 

Most bathing suit designers, swimwear experts, and manufacturers recommend washing swimsuits every three to five wears. To limit the need for washing, you can also take proper care of your swimsuit in-between washing by rinsing it out with cold, clean water after every use and leaving it to air dry out of the way of sun exposure.   

Note: Do not wring out swimwear and let it air-dry on a flat surface. Direct sunlight can cause the fabric to fade.

Do the Towel Roll

If you’d like to limit the time your swimsuit spends drying, the towel trick is for you. Here’s how it works:

1. Lay out a clean, dry towel on a flat surface. 
2. Lay your swimsuit out flat on top of and in the center of the towel.
3. Grab the towel on either side and roll it up, squeezing the water out of the bathing suit as you go. 
4. Repeat with the other side of the towel or a new towel to remove excess water. 
5. Line dry the bathing suit in the shade or let it dry flat on the towel.

And voila! Your Swimsuit should be crisp and ready to store.

Chlorine 

If you’re wondering does chlorine fade bathing suits, the answer is a resounding yes. Frequent swimmers know that chlorine can be harmful to not only your skin and hair but also your swimwear. In time, the fabric will break down, and the color will fade or discolor taking on a yellow or green hue. 

How do you Fix a Chlorine-damaged Swimsuit?

Fill your sink, a bucket, or basin with water and mix through the recommended amount of saver/tog wash. Soak your swimsuit in this mixture for around 20 minutes. Once it has soaked, massage the swimwear gently to release the chlorine. Finally, rinse your swimsuit out with cold water and allow it to dry. 

Sunshine 

Strong rays of sunshine can bleach most materials and fabrics, including that of swimsuits. 

How to stop my swimsuit from fading 

If ever you’ve wondered, “How to prevent my swimsuit from fading?” we’re here to tell you that there’s no simple answer. However, there are a few steps you can take to keep your swimsuit in tip-top shape and fade-free.

How to Prevent Swimsuit Fading

Pretreat Your Bathing Suit

People are often surprised to hear they can “lock in” their swimsuit color. Before even wearing your swimsuit, you can pretreat it to ensure its color holds fast. There is a simple method for ensuring your swimsuit stays strong come heat, sun, or chlorine. 

Add two tablespoons of distilled vinegar to a bucket or basin of cold water and soak your suit in the mixture for around half an hour. The cool water enables the vinegar to penetrate the material’s fibres and seal in color, ensuring it lasts and lasts.

Follow Care Instructions

When it comes to how to wash a swimsuit, your swimsuit will tell you how to take care of it; all you have to do is consult its tag. You’ll likely find it sewn into the inside of your swimsuit toward the bottom. Once you’ve located it, look for the fabric care details that’ll likely be listed under “Washing instructions.” 

Follow the Golden Swimsuit Washing Rule

The Rule: Always use cold-to-room-temperature water and mild detergent when washing your swimsuit.  

If you can’t find your swimsuit’s care instructions, the above rule is always your best go-to. Washing your swimsuit inside-out is also the most gentle method. That said, most suits can be safely machine-washed on a delicate cycle.

Don’t Skip the Sunscreen

Sunscreen and swimsuits don’t tend to mix, but since sunscreen is often an absolute necessity, a way has been found to enjoy its sun-blocking benefits without sacrificing on swimsuit health. 

Here’s how:

• Apply sunscreen before putting on your swimsuit.
• Allow the lotion to absorb and dry completely before putting on the bathing suit. 
• Reapply lotion or sunscreen as needed, being careful not to smear it on the edges of the suit. 
• Wash or rinse your hands after applying sunscreen.

The lotion’s oils can work their way into swimsuits leaving stains or weakened faded fibers. 

How do I Fix my Already Faded Swimsuit?

Sometimes it’s too late. For example, you’ve already got a faded swimsuit on your hands, and you want to rectify that. Or, your swimsuit is just starting to fade, and you’d rather stop the color-zapping in its tracks. There’s something you can do …

Reviving your Swimsuit’s Shades

Quick-fix Solution 

There’s a 2-ingredient solution that won’t ruin your swimsuit. To make this DIY organic swimsuit cleaner, fill a sink, bucket, or basin with cold water and add a quarter cup or three spoonfuls of white vinegar. Let the swimsuit soak for thirty minutes. After soaking, rinse the suit with cool water and use your hands to gently squeeze out the excess vinegar and water solution.

Dye it 

Sometimes you may wish you could just dye your swimsuit might ask … 

Can you Dye a Faded Bathing Suit? 

Yes, you can dye a faded swimsuit; you can even dye a non-faded swimsuit if you’d like to moderately change its shade. To brighten your swimsuit by a few shades, all you need is a washing machine and some fabric dye. 

Rit is a popular fabric dye that works well on polyester and nylon in swimsuits. It’s easy to find in general stores in the US and can be bought online by those outside the US. 

How to Dye a Faded Swimsuit?

First, fill the washing machine with water and add the desired amount of fabric dye. Next, put your swimsuit into the machine and leave it to soak for the recommended time. 

Why is my Swimsuit Discolored?

If you’ve noticed your swimsuit isn’t faded but actually discolored, that may be due to a combination of buildup of skin, body oil, bacteria, sunscreen, sweat, and chlorine damage. The salt in seawater can also act as a bleaching agent, causing colors to distort or fade. Generally, a swimsuit will turn yellow from exposure to any of these substances. 

Conclusion: Fixing a faded swimsuit

As you can see, restoring a swimsuit’s colors is easier than you think. While prevention is key through treating your swimsuit adequately before you even subject it to the elements, you can always dye it should it begin to fade. So, worry not, the colors of your swimsuit are safe in our hands. 

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