4 Simple Ways to Dry Your Swimsuit Fast (And What Not to Do)!

Nothing is quite like taking a dive into the invigorating water of a pool or the ocean.

However, when it’s time to come out of the water, it’s also time to figure out how you’re going to get your swimsuit to dry.

Sometimes you need to dry your swimsuit as quickly as you possibly can, and you can’t quite figure out how to do so.

Not to worry; you’ve come to the right place!

Read on to find out more about how to dry a swimsuit fast as well as what not to do when trying to dry your swimsuit.

How to Dry Your Swimsuit Quickly

The following method is one that’s tried and tested, and is sure to get your swimsuit dry in no time. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1 – Rinse Your Swimsuit in Cool Water

The first thing you should do is have water with a mild temperature run over your swimsuit. You can do this by showering with your swimsuit on or by rinsing it in the sink.

The purpose of this step is to get rid of any chlorine, or salt water if you were taking an ocean/sea swim, that’s lingering within your swimsuit’s fabric.

If you don’t do this, these residues, as well as sunscreens and oils that may have gotten into your swimsuit, can have an adverse effect on its color and the elasticity of its fabric in the long run.

If the majority of the time you spend in the water is in chlorinated pools, you might want to purchase de-chlorinating drops. Applying a couple of drops to some water and soaking your swimsuit in it for 10 minutes will get all that pesky chlorine out.

2 – Roll Your Swimsuit in a Towel

The next phase of this drying technique is to get rid of excess water in your swimsuit. You should get a dry towel, lay it out, and lay your swimsuit flat on top of it. Then, proceed to roll the towel with your swimsuit inside of it.

This is highly effective as it makes the towel absorb the excess water from your swimsuit at a rapid pace. You can also expedite the process by gently squeezing the towel over your swimsuit.

What you should never do is apply any twisting force to your swimsuit to expel the excess water in it. Although this may be tempting (and kind of satisfying), all it does is put pressure on your swimsuit’s fabric.

This will shorten your swimsuit’s life while having a minimal effect on speeding up the drying process.

3 – Lay Your Swimsuit on Another Towel

Now it’s time to unroll your swimsuit from the towel and lay it on another one. Make sure the new towel is also clean and dry, and that it’s laid on a flat surface.

Be sure to pick a surface that won’t be ruined by the water being absorbed by the towel from your swimsuit.

You may actually want to buy a flat drying rack, especially if you frequently do laundry for clothing items that don’t dry well when hung.

4 – Make Sure the Drying Area Is Well-Ventilated

If you’re drying your suit indoors, it’s a good idea to have a fan nearby to get the air circulating and speed up the drying process.

If you’re drying it in the breezy outdoors, this step is unnecessary. However, you should avoid leaving your suit for extended periods under direct sunlight. Sure, the sun’s heat will help your swimsuit dry quicker, but it’ll also damage it.

Other Methods

If for some reason you aren’t able to go through any of the above steps, not to worry; we’ve got you covered.

Here are some alternative methods that you could use.

Salad Spinner Method

If you’re a person that goes for a swim multiple times a day, chances are you need your swimsuit to dry in a matter of hours. Although this method is unconventional, it’ll help you dry your swimsuit at lightning speed.

What you should do is get your hands on a large salad spinner and throw your swimsuit inside of it. Next, start turning it until all the moisture has seeped out of your swimsuit.

Towel Squatting Method

Just came out of the water and are planning to keep your swimsuit on? This nifty trick is just for you. All you need is a towel at hand!

Take the towel and wrap it as tightly as you can around your swimsuit. By squatting with the towel in this position, you’ll be applying pressure to it and causing all the excess water it’s holding to be squeezed out.

Towel Swinging Method

This is yet another great drying method for which all you’ll need is a towel. Here’s how it works:

Carefully encase your swimsuit inside the towel, then grab hold of the towel’s corners and swing it in circles as fast as you can.

This will apply centripetal force to your swimsuit, causing it to expunge all of the water lingering in its fabric.

What Not to Do

There are some things you simply should never do when it comes to drying your swimsuit, as they can permanently damage it and make it unwearable.

These no-nos include the following:

Don’t Use a Dryer

Using a dryer on your swimsuit is arguably the worst possible thing you could do.

Dryers wreak havoc on the fabric of your swimsuit even if you only use them on it once. They severely damage it and shorten the lifespan of your swimsuit.

This is especially the case if you set the dryer on a high-temperature setting, as this can have an irreversible effect on the elasticity of your swimsuit.

If you have no other option but to use the dryer, ensure that it’s in a setting that emits no heat.

If you’re intentionally trying to shrink your swimsuit, using a dryer could actually be beneficial. Otherwise, there are other easy ways to shrink your swimsuit even without a dryer.

Don’t Dry Your Swimsuit in Sunlight

Using the sun’s rays to dry your swimsuit is equally as bad, if not even worse than using a dryer. In addition to the adverse effect it has on your swimsuit’s elasticity, drying your swimsuit in the sun can also alter its color.

The sun causes your swimsuit’s color to fade, and because not all parts of your swimsuit are equally exposed to the sun, chances are it’s going to fade unevenly. This can render your swimsuit unusable.

This happens due to the permanent effect of ultraviolet rays on the chemical components in the dye that gives your swimsuit’s fabric its vibrant color.

Therefore, even if you’ve dried swimsuits in the sun before without issue, don’t take the risk.

Don’t Hang Your Swimsuit to Dry

Another thing to avoid is hanging your swimsuit out to dry. When your swimsuit is soaking wet, the moisture within it makes it much heavier than usual. This causes its fabric to stretch significantly when it’s in a hanging position.

This can have a permanent effect on the shape and dimensions of your swimsuit, turning it from one that fits you perfectly, to one that you simply can’t wear anymore.

How to Pack Wet Swimsuits

If you’ve been on vacation, you probably want to stow your swimsuit in your luggage when it’s dry. However, there are some instances in which that’s simply not possible and you’re forced to put your swimsuit in your bag when it’s still wet. If not packed in the correct way, certain issues can arise.

That said, it’s important to know the correct fashion in which you should place a wet swimsuit in your bag.

Pack It in an Outside Pocket

The key to packing a wet swimsuit in your bag is to keep it isolated from the rest of the bag’s contents. You should always make use of your beach bag’s outside pocket in this situation.

By doing this, you’ll have kept everything else in the bag away from contact with the wet swimsuit. Also, the outside pocket is usually perforated, allowing air to reach your swimsuit and help it dry.

Use a Zip Lock Bag

In the case where your beach bag doesn’t have an outside pocket for you to place the wet swimsuit in, your next best alternative is to pack it in a zip lock bag.

Make sure to keep plenty of zip locks on hand, place your wet swimsuit in one of them and seal it tightly. This will ensure the safety of your other belongings from the moisture in your swimsuit.

Use a Plastic Bag

If you don’t have access to a zip lock bag, you can use a plastic bag as a makeshift solution.

Place your wet swimsuit inside it and make sure to seal it off from the rest of your bag’s content with a tight knot.

Final Takeaway

If you want to maintain your swimsuit in tip-top condition and prolong its lifespan, you need to know how to dry it the right way. By using the methods outlined in this article you’ll be doing just that.

On the other hand, you’ll also want to avoid using the dryer, drying your swimsuit in the sun, or hanging it out to dry. No matter how fast you need your swimsuit to dry, you should never do these things.

Happy Drying!