How to Care for Your Swimwear: A Guide to Long-Lasting Quality

How to Care for Your Swimwear: A Guide to Long-Lasting Quality

How to Care for Your MATIA Swimsuit

At MATIA BEACHWEAR, we carefully design every piece to become part of your life for years, not just holidays. A well-made swimsuit isn't just for one summer, it's a piece you should be able to reach for season after season. That's why we use premium recycled Italian Lycra, chosen for its exceptional softness, durability, shape retention, and resistance to sun, saltwater, and chlorine.

But even the finest fabric deserves a little care.

The way you wash and store your swimwear has a huge impact on how long it keeps its beautiful fit, vibrant color, and luxurious feel. With just a few simple habits, your favorite MATIA pieces can accompany you through countless beach days, pool mornings, and sunsets by the sea.

Why Swimwear Needs Special Care

Swimwear is unlike ordinary clothing. High-performance fabrics contain a significant amount of elastane, allowing them to perfectly adapt to your body while providing support and comfort. Although our premium Italian fabric is exceptionally resilient, constant exposure to chlorine, saltwater, sunscreen, body oils, heat, and UV rays naturally puts stress on the fibers.

Proper care protects

The elasticity of the fabric

Vibrant colors

Shape and fit

Soft hand feel

The longevity of your swimsuit

After Every Swim: Your Most Important Routine

A few extra minutes after each swim can make all the difference. Whether you've been swimming in the ocean, relaxing by the pool, or soaking up the sun, your swimsuit should be rinsed as soon as possible with cool, fresh water. Salt crystals and chlorine slowly break down elastic fibers if left in the fabric. Even if your swimsuit feels clean, these residues continue working long after you've left the beach.

Simply rinse thoroughly with cold water until all traces of salt or chlorine are gone.

If you're travelling home, avoid leaving your wet swimsuit rolled inside a towel or sitting in a beach bag for several hours. Instead, rinse it again once you're home.

Hand Washing Is Always Best

While many premium swimwear fabrics can technically tolerate a delicate machine cycle, hand washing remains the gentlest and most effective way to care for your swimsuit and ensure its longevity.

Fill a sink or bowl with cool water and add a small amount of gentle detergent or mild soap without moisturizers.

Allow your swimsuit to soak for around 15–20 minutes before gently working the water through the fabric with your hands. Never scrub, twist or wring the material. Finally, rinse thoroughly until no detergent remains.

Can You Machine Wash Swimwear?

If hand washing isn't possible, machine washing should only ever be an occasional exception. We highly recommend avoiding the washing machine altogether, even on a delicate or hand-wash cycle. Water temperatures can be difficult to regulate, and detergents formulated for machine washing are often too harsh for the delicate, high-performance fibres used in premium swimwear.

If you do choose to machine wash your MATIA swimwear, make sure to follow these tips:

  • Use a delicate or hand wash cycle.
  • Wash at a maximum of 30°C (86°F).
  • Always place your swimsuit inside a mesh laundry bag to protect the fabric.
  • Use a gentle, eco-friendly detergent.
  • Never use bleach or fabric softener.
  • Wash with similar colours only.

The less time your swimsuit spends in the washing machine, the longer it will maintain its original shape, softness, and luxurious feel.

White Swimwear Needs Extra Love

White swimwear is undeniably timeless, effortlessly elegant, and a staple that never goes out of style. Because lighter fabrics naturally show discoloration more easily than darker shades, they simply require a little extra care to maintain their crisp, fresh appearance.

To keep your white MATIA pieces looking beautiful season after season:

  • Always hand wash whenever possible using cool water and a gentle detergent.
  • Rinse thoroughly after every swim to remove chlorine, saltwater, sunscreen, and body oils before they have a chance to settle into the fabric.
  • Treat sunscreen, makeup, or tanning product stains as soon as possible with a mild soap or gentle stain remover.
  • Never leave your white swimsuit damp inside a beach bag or wrapped in a towel for extended periods, as trapped moisture can encourage discoloration.
  • Lay your swimsuit flat to dry in the shade, avoiding direct sunlight, which can gradually dull the brightness of white fabrics over time.

With just a little extra attention, your white swimsuit will continue to look as fresh, clean, and timeless as the day you first wore it and ready for countless summers to come.

Drying Your Swimwear Correctly

One of the biggest mistakes people make is hanging their swimsuit dripping wet by the straps. When soaked with water, the weight can slowly stretch the fabric over time.

Instead

Gently press out excess water with a towel.

Never twist or wring the fabric.

Lay your swimsuit flat on a clean towel.

Allow it to air dry naturally in the shade.

Direct sunlight may feel like the quickest option, but prolonged UV exposure can gradually fade even premium dyes. Patience always pays off.

Be Mindful of Sunscreen and Rough Surfaces

Your swimsuit spends a lot of time where sunscreen does and while protecting your skin should always come first, some products can leave stains or affect lighter-colored fabrics.

Allow sunscreen to absorb into your skin for a few minutes before putting on your swimsuit whenever possible.

Likewise, rough surfaces such as rocks, pool edges, wooden decks, or concrete can damage delicate knit fabrics through friction. Sitting on a towel instead of directly on these surfaces helps prevent snags and pilling.

Quality Deserves Care

Every MATIA swimsuit is crafted from premium recycled Italian Lycra, produced by one of Italy's most experienced textile manufacturers. The fabric is selected not only because it feels incredibly soft against the skin, but because it offers exceptional recovery, long-lasting compression, resistance to chlorine, UV protection, and outstanding durability.

Choosing better materials is only one part of creating swimwear that lasts. The other part is how it's cared for.

By giving your swimsuit just a little attention after each wear, you're helping preserve everything that makes it special, its fit, comfort, colour, and performance for many summers to come.

Sustainability isn't just about how something is made. It's about making it last.

MATIA's Swimwear Care Checklist

✓ Rinse with cool fresh water after every swim.

✓ Hand wash whenever possible using a gentle detergent.

✓ Machine wash only occasionally on a delicate 30°C cycle inside a laundry bag.

✓ Never use bleach or fabric softener.

✓ Avoid wringing or twisting the fabric.

✓ Lay flat to dry in the shade.

✓ Don't leave your swimsuit wet inside a towel or beach bag.

✓ Be careful with sunscreen, tanning products, and rough surfaces.

Still Have Questions?

We believe that great swimwear should be loved, worn, and enjoyed for many seasons to come. If you have any questions about caring for your MATIA swimsuit or simply need advice on how to keep it looking its best, we're always happy to help. Just send us an email at hello@matiabeachwear.com or use our CONTACT FORM and we'll gladly support you.

Here's to many summers together. With love, MATIA