A good burkini is an investment, and the difference between one that lasts a single summer and one that lasts years is almost entirely down to how you care for it. The fabric that makes modest swimwear quick-dry and chlorine-resistant is the same fabric that hates heat, harsh detergent, and being left balled up in a wet bag. Here's the simple routine that keeps a burkini looking new.
1. Why burkini care matters more than regular swimwear
A burkini has more fabric in contact with chlorine, salt, sunscreen, and UV than a regular suit — so there's simply more surface to protect. Chlorine and salt break down elastane (the stretch fibre), sunscreen oils stain and weaken fabric, and sun fades colour. Good habits slow all four down.
2. The 60-second post-swim rinse (the most important step)
Before anything else, rinse your burkini in cool fresh water as soon as you're out of the pool or sea — ideally within the hour. This flushes out chlorine and salt before they can set into the fibres. A quick rinse under a beach shower or hotel tap is enough; don't wait until you get home.
3. How to hand-wash a burkini
- Fill a basin with cool water (never hot — heat kills stretch).
- Add a small amount of mild, pH-neutral detergent — no bleach, no fabric softener.
- Gently swish and soak for 10–15 minutes; lightly rub any sunscreen marks.
- Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear.
- Press the water out — never wring or twist, which stretches seams out of shape.
If you must machine-wash, use a mesh laundry bag on a cold, gentle cycle — but hand-washing always wins for longevity.
4. Drying: shade, flat, and no dryer
Never tumble-dry a burkini — the heat permanently damages the elastic fibres. Lay it flat in the shade or hang it out of direct sun. Direct sunlight fades colour and weakens fabric over time, so shade-drying keeps prints vivid. Most modest swim fabric is dry in a couple of hours anyway.
5. Storing it right
Only store a burkini when it's completely dry — packing it damp invites mildew and odour. Fold it loosely (don't cram) in a drawer away from heat. For travel, a breathable pouch beats a sealed plastic bag.
6. The five mistakes that shorten a burkini's life
- Leaving it wet in a bag after swimming.
- Washing in hot water or tumble-drying.
- Using bleach or fabric softener.
- Drying in direct sun day after day.
- Skipping the post-swim rinse "just this once."
Start with a burkini worth caring for
Care habits only pay off if the fabric is good to begin with. Both of our full-coverage heroes use quick-dry, chlorine-resistant performance fabric: the Tropical Print Modest Burkini and the Solid Modest Burkini Set. Browse all modest swimwear → or, if you're choosing your first one, read the Modest Swimwear Buying Guide.
Modest fashion, refined. Shop Noora Wear.