How to Get Rid of Smells on Bathing Suits

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Things You'll Need

  • Bucket

  • Mild detergent

  • White vinegar

  • Fan

Bathing suits may develop odors if not washed soon after use.

Whether used for swimming in the sea, a lake or a swimming pool, when bathing suits are not washed immediately after use, they easily develop unpleasant odor. This will worsen the longer the suit is stored wet and unwashed. If you are unable to wash a bathing suit immediately, drying the suit quickly can prevent some odor -- however, unpleasant odor may still remain even in this case. Taking extra steps in hand-washing the bathing suit will help.

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Step 1

Fill a clean bucket with warm water. Add ¼ tsp. of mild laundry detergent.

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Step 2

Place the bathing suit in the bucket. Leave it overnight to soak.

Step 3

Remove the bathing suit from the bucket and rinse the suit under cool water. Smell the suit to check for remaining odor.

Step 4

Dump out water from the bucket and refill with 1 gallon of water and ½ cup of white vinegar. Submerge the bathing suit in this mixture and allow it to soak for two minutes.

Step 5

Remove the bathing suit from the bucket. Rinse it under cold water. Gently press the water out and hang it to dry. Turn a fan on high, aimed at the bathing suit, to speed drying.

Tip

You can hang the bathing suit outdoors to dry, but be aware that sunlight may fade the color.

Warning

Washing bathing suits in a washing machine is usually not recommended. The agitation of the machine is too rough on the fabrics.

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