The Hot Tub Is Worse for Your Swimsuit Than the Pool
Pools, the ocean and hot tubs are each hard on swimsuits in a different way. Pool chlorine breaks down stretch fibers and fades color. Salt water and sand dry out and scuff the fabric, and the sun fades it. Hot tubs are the toughest of the three, because hot water and higher sanitizer levels speed up how fast spandex breaks down. The common fix is the same everywhere: rinse the suit in cool fresh water as soon as you get out, squeeze it without wringing, dry it in the shade and hand wash it gently.
The pool: chlorine
What it does
Pool chlorine is an oxidizer. Over many swims it weakens spandex, the fiber that lets your suit stretch and snap back. Suits get saggy, fade and eventually turn thin and see-through. The pool smell comes mostly from chloramines, which form when chlorine reacts with sweat, oils and everything else swimmers bring into the water. Your suit soaks them up.
How to protect your suit
- Shower in the suit before you swim so it soaks up less pool water
- Rinse in cool fresh water right after, inside and out
- Choose polyester or chlorine-resistant fabrics for regular laps
More detail in Chlorine Is Eating Your Swimsuit. Here's How to Stop It.
The ocean: salt, sand and sun
What it does
Salt water does not break down spandex the way chlorine does, but it is not harmless. As a suit dries, salt crystals are left in the fabric, which can make it feel stiff and rough. Sand grinds into the weave and wears the surface. And beach days mean hours of direct sun, which fades color and weakens fibers. Sunscreen adds another layer, and some formulas can leave yellow or orange marks on light suits.
How to protect your suit
- Rinse out salt and sand in fresh water as soon as you can, even with a beach shower
- Shake out sand before it dries into the fabric
- Let sunscreen dry on your skin before putting the suit on
- Dry the suit in the shade, not on a hot rock or the car dashboard
The hot tub: heat plus sanitizer
What it does
Hot tubs combine the two things stretch fabric handles worst: heat and sanitizer. Spa water usually runs at around 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and hot tubs are kept sanitized with chlorine or bromine. Heat speeds up how fast spandex breaks down and how fast color fades. Many people notice that one hot tub vacation does more damage to a favorite suit than weeks in the pool.
How to protect your suit
- Keep an older suit just for hot tubs
- Rinse right after and hand wash the same day
- Never leave a hot tub suit balled up in a bag or a hotel bathroom overnight
Pool vs. ocean vs. hot tub at a glance
| Pool | Ocean | Hot tub | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main threat | Chlorine | Salt, sand, sun | Heat plus chlorine or bromine |
| What you notice | Fading, sagging, pool smell | Stiff, rough fabric, faded color | Fast fading and stretched-out fit |
| Rinse | Right away | Right away | Right away |
| Hand wash | Every 3 to 4 swims | Same day | Same day |
One routine for every kind of water
- Rinse in cool fresh water as soon as you get out.
- Squeeze the water out or use a suit dryer. No wringing.
- Freshen it before it goes in the bag.
- Dry in the shade with airflow.
- Hand wash in cool water with a mild, swimwear-safe cleanser. Full steps in our guide on how to wash a swimsuit.
For the pool smell that follows you home
TRIHARD's Fresh & Clean Swimwear Spray fits step 3, after the pool, the hot tub or the beach. Rinse first (at the beach, that is what gets the salt and sand out), squeeze, a few mists, into the bag. It leaves your suit smelling fresh for the next swim instead of like the pool. It does not remove salt or chlorine and it is not a wash, so the hand wash stays on the list. Pool smell out. Fresh suit in.
Want the whole post-swim routine in one go? The Post-Swim Reset Kit pairs the spray with our Chlorine Removal Shampoo and Body Wash. The Head-to-Suit Kit adds the Chlorine Protection Conditioner: hair, skin and suit, sorted after every swim.
Not sure if, or what you actually need?
Tell us how chlorine shows up in your life and we'll point you to the right fit.
Not sure you're actually affected?
Your hair and skin feel it too
Every type of water affects the swimmer as well as the suit. See saltwater vs. chlorine: what each does to hair and skin for that side of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does salt water ruin swimsuits?
Salt water is gentler on spandex than chlorine, but dried salt, sand and long hours in the sun still stiffen, scuff and fade a suit. Rinse it in fresh water as soon as you can and dry it in the shade.
Is chlorine or salt water worse for swimsuits?
For the stretch fibers, chlorine is usually worse. For color and surface wear, a sunny beach day can be just as hard on a suit because of the sun and sand. Hot tubs are generally harder on suits than either.
Do hot tubs ruin swimsuits?
They speed up wear a lot, because hot water and sanitizer together break down spandex and fade dyes faster. Use an older suit for the hot tub, rinse right after, and hand wash the same day.
Should I wear a different swimsuit in the hot tub?
Yes, if you can. An older suit or a polyester suit is a better choice than a favorite nylon and spandex suit.
How do I get sunscreen stains out of a swimsuit?
Rinse the suit right after the beach and hand wash it in cool water with a mild cleanser. The sooner you treat it, the better. Stains that sit and dry, especially on white or light suits, are much harder to remove.
