Rinse your swimsuit after every swim.

That’s the single most important thing. Chlorine, salt water, and sunscreen are brutal on fabric. Rinsing in cold water immediately after getting out removes most of the chemicals before they have time to break down the fibers and fade the color.

Hand wash with a tiny bit of mild detergent if you’re being extra careful. Never wring it out—that stretches the fabric. Just squeeze gently, then lay flat on a towel to dry in the shade. Sunlight fades colors almost as fast as chlorine. And for the love of all things stretchy, don’t put it in the dryer.

Store it flat or loosely folded. Hanging a wet swimsuit stretches the straps and