How To Get Chlorine Smell Out Of a Swimsuit?

If your swimsuit smells of chlorine, then simply rinsing it out after a swim won’t solve the problem. If you like, even wash it with a mild soap and then go ahead to dry it, trust me, when it’s dried, the smell, that irritating bleach-like smell, will still be there.

Chlorine is good, I mean it's good in the pool to kill germs and keep the water clean. But like so many things with advantages, it also comes with disadvantages. And that includes fading your swimsuit color, wearing down the elasticity, and having a strong, horrible smell. In fact, research shows that swimsuits can lose up to 65% of their strength after staying 300 hours in chlorinated water. Yup. So, if you’re planning to wear that swimsuit this summer, then you’ll need to follow this step-by-step guide on how to get chlorine smell out of swimsuit.

How to Get Chlorine Smell Out Of a Swimsuit?

Rinse Immediately After Swimming

The first step in removing the smell of chlorine from your swimsuit is to rinse it immediately you step out of the pool. Yes, I know I said just rinsing isn’t how to get chlorine smell out of swimsuit, but this way, you won’t give the chlorine a chance to start doing its work. So once you come out of the water, remove your suit, and run it through cold or lukewarm water.

In fact if the smell of chlorine on your swimsuit is that bad, then you can even rinse it before you start swimming. This may sound like too much stress, but listen to me. If your swimsuit is already soaked with clean water, then it won’t absorb that much chlorine again. This simple but extra trick isn’t just a suggestion, but you can take it as you like.

Soak in a Vinegar and Water Solution

Rinsing alone won’t get the chlorine smell out of a swimsuit; you’ll need to soak it in a vinegar and water solution. Yup. We’re using vinegar cos it's slightly acidic and it will break down the chlorine molecules. Science babes in the house give me a whoop. 

And it's not that your swimsuits will start smelling like vinegar, nope, but it will help neutralize chlorine so your suit won’t smell of it either. By the time you fully soak your swimsuit in a 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts cold water with no srubbing or fussing, you’ll see the difference. After the soak, you can rinse your swimsuit again and wash it to come back to its old look.

Extra Tip: Try Baking Soda Soak For Strong Odors

Sometimes the smell of chlorine on your swimsuit is so strong that even after following all these steps, it still doesn’t go away. This is the point where you go old school - using baking soda. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that removes strong chemicals from fabrics. And that is the idea we are working it.

So, after rinsing your suit again, soak it for 30 minutes in a sink of cook water with a half cup of baking soda. Once it's 30 minutes, you can then wash it off a little and rinse with cold water again. No matter how strong or stubborn the smell of chlorine can be, with this step, it is gone.

Use a Gentle Swimsuit Cleaner or Mild Detergent

The next step on how to get chlorine smell out of a swimsuit is to wash it with cold water and a bit of mild detergent or swimsuit cleaner. Don’t use your regular laundry soap cos that might cos more issue than harm. So stick with mild soaps rather than all those harsh ones.

If you have a swimsuit cleaner, you can even use that instead, cos the swimsuit cleaner is made to neutralize the smell of chlorine. So it's just perfect for this. You’ll need to soak the swimsuit in soapy water, wash it, not wring or squeezing, and then rinse it again with cold water. This is all you need to get the chlorine smell out of your swimsuit.

Mistakes to Avoid When Removing Chlorine Smell from Swimsuits

I know thinking about how to get the chlorine smell out of your swimsuit is almost frustrating you, seeing as you have tried a lot of things. But no matter what you do, avoid:

Using Hot Water

Hot water might be nice and relaxing on your skin, but it is a very good way to destroy your swimsuit. It will make the elasticity of the swimsuit slack, so before you know, your swimsuit will be fading, sagging, and loose. So, the moral here is to stick to cold water for every rinsing and washing.

Using a Washing Machine or a Dryer

Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise; using a washing machine to wash your clothes will only destroy its delicate materials. Then imagine having to add dryers to the mix, its like you’re already prepred to get s new suit. The best way to wash is gently by hand, and the best way to dry is by gently removing the water and air drying in a cool, shaded area.

Using Scented Detergents

No matter what you do, never use scented or fragranced detergents thinking they’ll make your swimsuits smell nice. Remember, your swimsuit already smells like chlorine, so mixing the two of them together will be a disaster. Instead, stick to gentle or mild unscented soaps and detergents.

Scrubbing Too Hard

It’s okay to think that the smell of chlorine will leave your swimsuit if you scrub it harder, but that isn’t the case. You’ll only be stressing yourself and ruining your swimsuit material. What you should do instead is to gently hand wash your swimsuits and treat them like a delicate material.

How to Prevent Chlorine Smell from Building Up

As the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”, so as much as you need to know how to get chlorine smell out of swimsuit, you’ll also need to know how to prevent the smell from getting to that level. The prevention methods you need to follow are:

Rinsing After Swimming

The best way to prevent the smell of chlorine from being too much in your suit is by rinsing it immediately after leaving the pool. You can even rinse it with cold water while wearing it. This will help remove every chlorine, sweat, salt, and dust residue before it settles fully into your swimwear fabric. Then, when you remove it from your body, rinse it off again before drying it out.

Rotate Swimsuits If You Swim Regularly

If you’re wearing the same suit every day, then you won’t be able to stop the chlorine smell from building up. That’s why you’ll need to get a couple of suits and rotate wearing them to the beach or pool. This way, you’re giving the rest suits enough time to completely dry up and rest before entering the pool again.

Use A Swimsuit Bag If You’re On The Go

If you’re going to the beach market or lunch with the girls straight from the beach, then you’ll need to pack along a breathable swimsuit bag. This is where you’ll keep your swimsuit. It will help separate the wetsuit from your other clothes, and since it's not a plastic bag, air can circulate better, so the minute you get home, you rinse and wash it.

Conclusion

These steps on how to get chlorine smell out of swimsuits are not complicated or stressful. The only thing is that you might be doing it in the wrong way, like using hot water or scented detergents. You don’t need all that; all you need is consistency and the right prevention method to keep your swimsuit smelling fresh and clean.

The truth is that the minute you start smelling the chlorine on your suit then that’s the time to start using these steps - rinse, soak with either vinegar or baking soda, wash, rinse again, and dry. Treat your swimsuit with enough love, care, and attention, and it’ll remain your favorite during the summer days.