How to Wash and Store String Bikinis So They Last

Quick answer

Rinse your string bikini in cool water immediately after every wear, then hand wash it with a drop of mild soap. Never wring, bleach, or machine dry it. Lay it flat to dry away from direct sun, and store it flat or rolled rather than on a hanger so the strings keep their shape.

A string bikini takes up almost no space in a drawer, which is exactly why it gets treated carelessly. The thin straps, minimal lining, and stretch fabric that make it feel weightless are also the parts that break down first when chlorine, sunscreen, and rough handling are left on them.

This guide walks through the full routine, from the rinse after a swim to the way you fold it at the end of the season. Follow it and you will get more summers out of the same suit, with fewer stretched straps and faded panels.

Rinse before you do anything else

The single most useful habit is a 30-second rinse the moment you leave the water. Chlorine, salt, and sunscreen residue keep working on the fibers while the suit sits in a bag, and that is what dulls color and stiffens straps. Use cool running water and work it through the fabric with your hands, paying attention to the knots and the area under the cups where residue collects.

If you cannot rinse right away, at least keep the wet suit out of a sealed plastic bag. A zippered pouch traps moisture and heat, which is a fast route to mildew and a lingering smell. A mesh pouch or a towel wrap lets it breathe until you get to a sink.

• Common mistake: rinsing in hot water because it feels cleaner. Heat is what sets stains and wears out elastic, so keep it cool.

Hand wash with the least soap that works

Fill a basin with cool water and add a small amount of mild liquid soap or swimwear wash. Submerge the bikini and gently squeeze the water through the fabric for about a minute. Do not scrub the cups or run the straps between your palms; that friction is what makes thin strings go fuzzy and lose their snap.

If the suit has a lot of sunscreen buildup, let it soak for five to ten minutes, then rinse until the water runs clear. Skip woolite-style harsh detergents, fabric softener, and anything with bleach. Softener coats the fibers and reduces stretch, and bleach breaks down elastane, which is the part that gives a bikini its fit.

• Checkpoint: after rinsing, the water should be clear and the suit should not feel slippery. If it still feels slick, rinse again.

Squeeze, never wring

To remove excess water, press the bikini flat between your palms or roll it in a clean towel and press down. Wringing twists the straps and stretches the loops that hold the cups, and once those are stretched they do not bounce back. This is the step where most string bikinis get ruined, even when the washing itself was gentle.

Handle the ties and any hardware gently. If your suit has rings or sliders, keep them from catching on the towel, because a bent ring can fray the string it sits on.

• Common mistake: hanging a dripping wet bikini by one strap. The weight of the water pulls that strap out of shape before it dries.

Dry flat, out of direct sun

Lay the bikini flat on a clean towel or a drying rack, reshaping the cups and smoothing the straps so they dry in their natural position. Direct sun and high heat fade color and weaken elastic, so a shaded spot with good airflow is better than a sunny balcony. If you must dry outdoors, turn the suit inside out and bring it in before it is bone dry.

Never put a string bikini in the dryer. The heat and tumbling are hard on thin straps, and the agitation can tangle ties into knots that stress the fabric when you pull them apart.

• Checkpoint: the suit should be dry to the touch but not stiff. If it feels crunchy, you used too much soap or did not rinse enough.

Store it so the shape holds

For everyday storage, fold the bikini flat with the cups nested and the straps tucked inside, then place it in a drawer or a breathable pouch. Avoid hanging string bikinis for long periods, because the weight of the cups pulls the straps down and leaves them stretched. If you prefer hanging, use a padded hanger and fold the suit over the bar rather than suspending it by the ties.

For the off-season, wash and dry the suit completely before putting it away. Store it flat in a cotton bag or a drawer with the rest of your swimwear, away from damp basements and hot attics. A small sachet of cedar or lavender keeps mustiness away without perfuming the fabric.

• Common mistake: storing a damp suit in a sealed bin. Even a slightly damp bikini can grow mildew in a closed container.

Handle wear-and-tear as it appears

Check the knots and the strap attachments after each wash. If a knot has worked loose, retie it snugly rather than pulling the string tighter, which can distort the fit. Small pulls in the fabric can be trimmed carefully with small scissors, but do not pull the thread, because that can create a run in stretch jersey.

If the elastic in the waistband or straps has gone slack, the suit has reached the end of its useful life for swimming. At that point it is better as a backup or a tanning suit than risking a wardrobe malfunction in the water.

• Checkpoint: run your fingers along each strap once a month. Any crunchiness or visible fraying means it is time to replace or reserve it for light use.

The five-step string bikini care routine

1. Rinse immediately after wear: Use cool running water for about 30 seconds, working it through the knots and under the cups to remove chlorine, salt, and sunscreen. Checkpoint: if you cannot rinse right away, keep the suit out of a sealed bag.
2. Hand wash with mild soap: Soak in cool water with a small amount of mild liquid soap for one minute, or five to ten minutes if there is heavy sunscreen buildup, then rinse until clear. Common mistake: using hot water, bleach, or fabric softener.
3. Squeeze out water gently: Press the bikini between your palms or roll it in a towel and press. Never wring or twist the straps. Checkpoint: the suit should feel damp, not dripping.
4. Dry flat in the shade: Reshape the cups and lay the suit flat on a towel or rack, away from direct sun and heat. Never use a dryer. Common mistake: hanging it by one strap while wet.
5. Store flat, not hanging: Fold the bikini with the cups nested and straps tucked inside, and keep it in a breathable pouch or drawer. Wash and dry fully before off-season storage. Checkpoint: no musty smell and no stretched straps when you take it out.

Care notes from pieces in the shop

• Low Rise Briefs Cherry: Made from 92% TENCEL Lyocell and 8% spandex, with a soft waist elastic band. TENCEL and spandex respond well to cool hand washing and flat drying, but heat and harsh detergent will break down the elastic band and the fiber's softness. Treat this piece the same way you would a string bikini.
• Reverent Skort: Cotton 95% and spandex 5%, with a fold-over waist and gunmetal beaded drawstrings. The cotton-spandex blend and beaded drawstrings show why you should skip the dryer and avoid soaking hardware. Press the water out instead of wringing, and dry flat so the beads do not pull on the cord.

String bikinis last longer when you treat them like the delicate pieces they are: rinse, hand wash, press, dry flat, and store flat. None of these steps takes more than a few minutes, and together they are the difference between a suit that survives one summer and one that still fits next year.