How To Make Your Bikini Last Season After Season

Hi, I'm Emma, founder of Avenue Swim. I grew up in and around the water in San Clemente, California, and these days I split my time between San Clemente, Hawaii, and Bali — basically wherever the sun is shining and the water is warm. I've spent my entire life in the ocean and in bikinis, so every piece of advice below isn't theory, it's tested. Salt water, chlorine, sunscreen, hours in the sun — I've put my own suits through all of it, more times than I can count.

That's really the whole idea behind Avenue Swim: bikinis made for those long days in the sun, built to last season after season. But even the best-made suit needs a little help along the way. Here's exactly how I take care of mine, so yours can go the distance too.

✿  Rinse Right After You Swim

As soon as I'm out of the water — whether that's a pool in Bali or the ocean back home in San Clemente — I rinse my bikini in cold, filtered water, usually right in the shower. A quick rinse is all it takes to wash out salt, chlorine, and sunscreen before they have a chance to sit in the fabric and break it down. I do this every single time, even if I'm only in for five minutes. It's a small habit, but it's the number one reason my suits last as long as they do.

✿  Hand Wash, Skip the Machine

After rinsing, I give my bikini a gentle hand wash — just a swish in cool water, no washing machine and definitely no dryer. Machines and heat are hard on delicate fabric and elastic, and they'll wear out a suit fast. A gentle wash by hand, then a rinse in fresh water, is really all it needs.

✿  Hang Dry in the Shade

This one matters more than people think: always hang dry in the shade, never in direct sun. Direct sunlight fades color fast, and a faded bikini never looks quite as rich again. I hang mine somewhere shaded and let it air dry completely before I wear it again or pack it away. It takes a little patience, but it's what keeps colors looking true wherever in the world I'm wearing them.

✿  Let Sunscreen Dry Before Suiting Up

Oils and certain chemical sunscreens can stain fabric or break it down on contact. I always give sunscreen a few minutes to fully absorb before pulling on my suit, and I rinse my bikini off again at the end of the day to clear any leftover residue.

✿  Rotate Your Suits

Elastic needs time to recover its shape between wears. When I'm in the water most days — which is often — I rotate between a few suits so each one gets a chance to rest and bounce back. It keeps the fit feeling as good as day one, for much longer.