How to make your swim last

Swimwear has a hard life. Spray tan, sunscreen, pool chlorine, ocean salt, sand, the friction of a thong cut moving with you all day. Even the best fabric eventually shows it. The good news: a few small habits will keep your favourite pieces holding shape long past the trip.

Rinse the second you're out

Cold tap water, two minutes. This one step undoes most of the damage from chlorine and salt before either has a chance to set into the fibres. Do it the moment you're out — not back at the villa, not the next morning. A hotel sink works fine.

Hand-wash, never the machine

Mild soap, lukewarm water, gentle squeeze. Twisting and wringing breaks the elastane down faster than anything else — and elastane is what holds a cheeky or thong cut where it's meant to sit. Even a quick rinse and lay-flat is better than the machine.

Dry flat, dry shade

Direct sun fades prints and weakens the elastane. Lay flat on a towel somewhere airy. Skip the dryer entirely, and don't drape over the back of a sun lounger.

Rotate

Elastane needs a day or two to recover its shape between wears. Two suits in rotation will outlast one suit worn every day. Pack two.

Sunscreen is the silent killer

Oily sunscreens stain pale fabrics, and the chemical filters in some SPFs degrade elastane on contact. Let it fully absorb — ten minutes — before pulling your suit on. If you can, spray over the top of the suit, not under it.

Pack it dry

If you're flying home with a damp suit in a plastic bag, wash and dry it as soon as you land. Damp + dark + 24 hours is how prints start to bleed.