How to care for your swimwear so it lasts

A good swimsuit can last for seasons if you treat it right. What wears it out isn't the wearing — it's chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and heat. Six habits and you're set.

1. Rinse it as soon as you're out of the water

Before it dries, run it under cold water. Chlorine and salt keep working on the lycra while they sit in the fabric, and they eat away at the stretch.

2. Hand wash it, in cold water

Cold water and a mild soap. No washing machine, hot water, or bleach: heat and harsh chemicals break down the elastic fibers.

3. Don't wring it

To get the water out, wrap it in a towel and press gently. Wringing distorts the fabric and the straps.

4. Dry it flat, in the shade

Direct sun fades and dries out the fabric. Lay it flat on a towel, never hanging from the elastic.

5. Keep it off rough surfaces

Pool edges, lounge chairs, and sand snag and pill the fabric. Put a towel in between.

6. Sunscreen first, swimsuit second

Apply sunscreen and let it absorb before you get dressed. Oils stain and degrade colors, especially light ones.

One extra tip: if you swim often, rotate between two suits. Lycra needs about 24 hours to recover its shape after each wear.