We can’t stress enough the importance of washing and the laundry care of your brand-new curve fit or plus size swimsuit.

Whether you are a daily swimsuit wearer, a just a ‘once in a whiler’ or a ‘only when on vacation’ swimsuit wearer, all swimsuits are affected over time from pool chemicals, prolonged sun exposure, salt water, sand, high temperatures, body oils, moisturisers, fake tans and sunscreens. If your swimsuit is not cared for correctly these elements will ruin your beautiful new swimsuit.

Always read and follow our care instructions provided on the care label inside your brand-new curve fit or plus size swimwear garment. The most important thing you can do for prolonging the life of your swimwear is to launder it correctly.

Below we show you a step by step of how to wash and dry your garment correctly, and some added Do’s and Don’ts to help you get the most out of, and a prolonged life span of your new swimsuit.

One of the main culprits of swimsuit damage and it is no secret and that is the chemical Chlorine. We have written a whole separate blog on the effects of Chlorine on your swimsuit, and we highly suggest you give this blog a read, the effects of Chlorine on swimwear.

Following our recommendations below and you can look forward to enjoying your new swimsuit purchase for some time to come.

Click through here to see all the latest styles in our Artesands collections.

step by step guide to the best laundering practices for your new curvy swimsuit

garment care instructions

Rinse

• Rinse immediately after use to rinse off any excess salt, sand, pool water and perspiration. The beautiful elastane content of all swimsuits is effect by harsh chlorine chemicals (especially those found in resort or public pools, spas, hot tubs or Jacuzzi’s).
• Rinse your swimsuit after every use, even if you don’t go swimming.
• It’s important to rinse your swimsuit in cold fresh water as soon as possible after use. This helps to wash off any chemicals, saltwater or sand before they can damage your swimsuits fabrication.  We can’t stress enough how important this rinsing step is and how important it is that you rinse as soon as possible straight after wear. Even if strapped for time, a good rinse is better than nothing and it will wash away harmful chemicals such as chlorine, oils, and even bacteria before the start of damage can occur.
• Rinsing out your swimsuit is also necessary if you have only just worn your swimsuit to sun bake in, it is necessary to wash away sunscreen, fake tans, body sweat and even your own natural body oils, which can cause the fabrication to degrade over time.
• After rinsing, gently squeeze out the water. However, do not wring out your swimsuit. It is preferred that you either roll your swimsuit in a clean towel or use a mesh zip lock bag to transport until you can hand wash correctly… please don’t forget about a wet swimsuit.

Here are some ideas for how you can rinse straight after wear;

• At the beach - get changed out of your swimsuit at the end of your beach day and wash your swimsuit out in the beach shower, make sure to wash off all sand and any excess sunscreen from your curvy swimsuit.
• Public pool - get changed in the change room after your swim and wash your swimsuit out in the shower or sink to wash out the harsh chlorine chemicals and body oils before you go home to hand wash.
• Resort - throughout the day in Resorts it is possible after each time you get out of the resort pool to go and shower in the shower by the pool. And at the end of the day rinse and wash your swimsuit according to the care instructions.
• Backyard Pool - rinse immediately after swim. A great hack (or a cheat way) to rinse and do an initial wash is to shower straight after your swim, wearing your swimsuit into the shower and let your swimsuit drop to the shower floor as you wash your hair and body, this is a great way to quickly neutralise the damaging effects of all the chemical elements. This quick wash should not replace the actual hand washing of your garment.

Washing your Curvy and Plus Size Swimsuit

• It’s very important to wash your swimsuit after each and every wear even if you haven’t been swimming.
• Use cool fresh water. 
• Use a mild detergent, we recommend a detergent that is specifically designed for delicate fabrics
• Use a small amount of the mild detergent (add one capful) and dilute in a bucket or in a sink of cool fresh water.
• Gently hand wash your swimsuit separately. Washing your swimsuit by hand, prevents excessive stretching, rubbing, agitation and distress on your bathers.
• Don’t throw your swimsuit in the washing machine. The agitation and intensity of a washing machine wash cycle and tumbling can cause permanent damage like pulls, snags and holes in your swimsuit. This will also attribute to the overall wear and tear and a loss of integrity and shape to your garment.
• Don’t use just any old detergent that you have in your laundry. Normal detergents can be quite harsh on your curvy swimsuit and can affect the elastane fibres of the swimsuit fabrication. 
• Never use a washing detergent that contains chlorine bleach or fabric conditioner as it will destroy the structure of your swimsuit fabrication.
• Gently agitate your swimsuit for 5 mins. Chlorine and other chemicals that are not washed away gently with mild soap can eat away at your swimsuit and break down the elastane fibres.
• Do not overly rub or scrub your swimsuit. Please be gentle.
• Don’t soak. Leaving your curvy swimsuit in too long will allow the detergent water to work its way into the swimsuit fibres, and this will therefore damage your swimsuit and the fit over time, so don’t get distracted.
• Rinse out the mild detergent water from your curvy swimsuit in clear fresh water. We recommend using a fresh water tap. Rinse out until the water runs clear and there is no soak residue.
• Don't forget about your wet swimsuit. It’s really important to not leave your swimsuit laying around wet.
• Squeeze out excess water.
• Don’t wring out your swimsuit. Wringing out your curvy swimsuit will cause damage to the elastane fibres with each and every twist. Twisting and wringing out will overstretch the elastane fibres of your swimsuit, which can break the fibres and therefore effecting the stretch, return and overall fit of your beautiful curvy or plus size swimsuit garment. 

Step by Step on How to Wash your Curvy or Plus Size Swimsuit

• Fill a bucket or your sink with cool fresh water.
• Add one capful of mild neutral detergent and mix well into the fresh cool water.
• Add your curvy swimsuit garment by itself. It’s important to wash your swimsuit separately.
• Gently agitate it for at least 5 minutes.
• Lightly rub any stains.
• Rinse the item in cool fresh water until all soap residues has been removed and the water runs clean.
• Gently squeeze the excess water out – do not wring.
• Press down on your swimsuit to get the water out. Press it between your hands or roll it in a dry towel to remove excess water gently.
• Remember to be gentle and don’t wring it out. It may be tempting, but the twisting motion is very damaging to the elastane fibres in your curvy swimsuit.

Drying

• The drying step of air drying your swimsuit is another very important stage in the care and prolonged life of your curvy or plus size swimsuit garment.
• The best way to dry your swimsuit is to gently roll your bathers in a clean dry towel, lightly pressing on the rolled-up towel to remove the excess water.
• It’s very important to not leave your curvy swimsuit rolled up wet or store when damp.
• When you’re finished removing the excess water from your swimsuit, we recommend laying your swimsuit out flat to dry. Do this in a shaded and well-ventilated area. This prevents water from pooling in areas of the swimsuit and stretching the fibres. It also reduces any wrinkles or creases forming in your swimsuit.
• Drip dry. Swimsuits are designed to be quick drying.
• Dry Flat. Lay your curvy swimsuit out to dry or if you can’t lay your swimsuit flat on a dry, flat and smooth surface you can hang on a clothesline or on a hanger but laying flat is the highly preferred method.
• Do not dry your curvy swimsuit in direct sunlight. The UV rays can cause the fabric to fade and will cause permanent colour damage. A common mistake people make is to put their curvy swimsuit in the sun for it to dry faster. Yes, this will dry the swimsuit faster however it will have lastly detrimental effects on the fabrication of the swimsuit. We recommend drying your swimsuit laying it flat in the shade, under a tree, on a balcony, inside by the breeze of an open window.
• Do not tumble dry. Do not put your swimsuit in a clothes dryer or use a hand dryer. The heat from dryers can do permanent damage to your beautiful swimsuit fabrication.
• It’s very important to not store your curvy or plus size swimsuit when damp.

Storing your Curvy or Plus Size Swimsuit

• Make sure your swimsuit is really dry before storing or packing away after use.
• If swimsuits are stored wet or damp the moisture will eventually work, its way into the fibres and damage the stretch and recovery of the beautiful swimsuit fabrication.
• Storing damp or wet can also breed mould and bacteria.
• Store your curvy swimsuit at room temperature or in a location with fewest temperature fluctuations.
• Store your curvy swimsuit away from external disruptions such as a heater, open doors, leaking pipes, mould, mildew or pet or child threat. This will ensure that heat and cold do not expand and contract the material and that sunlight doesn’t cause fading.
• The best way to store your dry swimwear is to place your swimsuit with room to breathe in drawer, on a shelf or in a dry container such as a plastic storage bin.
• For longer storage, your curve fit swimwear can be placed in a garment bag and vacuum-sealed for added protection.

It is most important that you follow the care instructions on your swimsuit carefully. Here are some additional guidelines to help you get the most life from your curvy or plus size swimsuit:

Do’s

• The most important thing you can do for the care of your new curvy or plus size swimsuit is to RINSE it out. I know we have mentioned it a few times, but seriously it really is super important. It doesn’t matter whether you have swum or not. Rinsing out in fresh cool water removes all the chemicals that may have transported to your swimsuit.
• Get rid of the sand – don’t take the beach home with you. Rinse off all the sand before leaving the beach. You can remove sand by shaking your swimsuit first or using your hands to brush sand off and then remove all traces of sand by rinsing in cool fresh water. Don’t wash out your swimsuit in the ocean, that defeats the purpose of removing the sand.
• Do avoid Chlorine where possible. Chlorine is a caustic element in bleach that kills germs but can cause colours to fade in certain fabrics and damage fibres. Although pool water has less chlorine than laundry bleach, it will still wear away at the integrity of your suit.
• We recommend that you do not wear your swimsuit in spa baths, hot tubs, Jacuzzi’s, sauna’s or public highly chlorinated pools, as it will most likely cause damage to your swimsuit.
• Do avoid contact with sunscreens where possible. Sunscreens contain ingredients that can be damaging to the fabric and can lead to the eventual breakdown of the elastane fibres in your swimwear garment. Some SPFs are more detrimental than others. Mineral-based lotions and body oil formulations can cause a yellowing effect or gradual staining over time if swimsuits are not washed properly.
• Where possible we recommend putting on lotion or sunscreen before you put your curvy swimsuit on. Wait a few minutes for it to dry and then get into your swimsuit. (this also makes sure you don’t miss any spots with the sunscreen too).
• Avoid contact with rough and abrasive surfaces like sand, pebbles, dirt, velcro, rocks, starting blocks, pool stairs and edges and pavers as this may cause pulling and damage to your curvy swimsuit.
• Do use a towel to prevent contact with rough surfaces. Have a towel between your swimsuit and any rough or jagged surface to prevent these surfaces rubbing against your beautiful swimwear fabrication and causing pills, pulls or holes.
• It is important to note that jewellery can also snag your swimsuit.
• Avoid Harsh Detergents. As mentioned in our how to wash segment above, use a mild soap for delicate fabrics as regular detergents are too harsh and will affect your swimsuit fabrication.
• Do avoid contact by your swimsuit with bleach, moisturizers, suntan lotions, cosmetics, fake tanning lotions and body oils as they can damage the elasticity (stretch and return) and fabric of your swimsuit. Exposure can cause discoloration and damage the synthetic fibres in swimsuits and leave stains that can grow over time and break down the fabric.
• Do dry your swimwear in the shade to prevent colour fade and damage to your swimsuit fabrication.
• On your way home from the pool, utilize a mesh bag or wet bag for your swimsuit to air out and dry. There's nothing worse than getting home to a suit that smells of mildew from being bunched up in the bottom of your swim bag.
• If you plan to be out in the sun for an extended period of time, take a break from the sun and cool off in the shade, under a tree or an umbrella. This break is also great for your skin and hair and not just for your curvy swimsuit.
• Purchase the correct swimsuit for your swimwear needs. Different kinds of swimsuit fabrics have different resistances to the degrading elements. If you are a regular pool swimmer than we highly recommend a chlorine resistant swimsuit. Click through here to see our range of chlorine resistant swimwear. 

Click through here to read up on the differences between chlorine resistant curvy or plus size swimwear and regular nylon / elastane curvy or plus size swimwear to help you make the right swimwear purchase decision.

Don'ts

• Do not use detergent Bleach. Do not bleach your swimsuit.
• Do not iron. Read our blog here on why you should never iron your swimsuit.
• Do not dry clean your swimsuit.
• Do not use bleach on swimwear.
• Do not tumble dry. Do not put your swimsuit in the dryer. The heat weakens the stretch and return fibres of the elastane fabrication.
• Do not use electric dryers.
• Do not leave a wet swimsuit wrapped in a towel of a period of time. The towel will hold in the moisture and chemical elements allowing for the gradual penetration into the swimsuit fibres and the degradation of the swimsuit.
• Do not put wet swimwear in a plastic bag or a similar restrictive space. As this will cause mould and mildew to grow, leading to gradual break down of fibres in your curvy swimsuit.
• Do not sit on rough surfaces. Sitting on a rough surface will ruin your swimsuit.  Always lay down a towel before you sit down in your curve fit and plus size swimwear.
• Do not soak a swimsuit overnight.
• Do not let your swimsuit dry directly in the sun. This will cause colour fading.
• Do not use coconut or powder soaps to wash your swimwear. They are not considered mild soaps.

If your curvy or plus size swimsuit is stained

• Some sunscreen lotions, tanning oils, cosmetics and fake tanning products may mark, stain or damage your swimwear. Please avoid using these products when wearing your new beautiful swimsuit.
• Treat stains on your swimsuit immediately.
• Treat stains directly with spot cleaner for delicate fabrics.
• Rinse immediately.
• Soak the stain in cold water (do not use hot water as this can set the stain).
• Apply a small amount of a mild liquid detergent to the stain and gently rub it in (do not scrub it). Then wash as normal. (see washing instructions above).
• Then clean your swimsuit by hand washing with mild detergent mixed in a bath of cold water for 30 minutes (but no longer).

Other important points to note in the care of your curvy and plus size swimwear

• Some colours may bleed or transfer when wet. We do use the best quality dyes, however complete colour fastness on some intense colours cannot be guaranteed. Be careful not to wear light coloured clothing over your wet swimwear the first-time few things you wear your curvy swimsuit as occasionally some dyes may bleed or transfer when wet.
• Rotate your curvy swimsuits. If you are a regular swimsuit wearer or going on vacation, take with your no fewer than 3 swimsuits, and rotate your swimsuits daily. Keep one swimsuit separate (your oldest swimsuit) for wearing in harsh chemical environments, like spa’s, hot tubs, Jacuzzi’s etc. By rotating the wearing of your curvy swimsuits you can give the one you wore the previous day a good wash and this allows your swimsuit time to dry out thoroughly. Even though your curvy swimsuits are made to be in water it takes a toll on the elastane fabrication to be constantly wet and may degrade over time.
• When you are on a vacation, we recommend always choosing the ocean or other natural water way over a public highly chlorinated pool, spa or hot tub whenever you can.
• Chlorine is not the only culprit to the damaging effects on your swimwear. Heat, other chemicals and the twisting action of wringing out also have major effects on our swimwear fabrication, so please avoid these elements wherever possible.
• Swimsuits are made to be worn in the sun, but sunlight may fade some colours on your swimsuit.

Chlorine Resistant Curvy and Plus Size Swimsuits

Chlorine resistant swimmers are highly recommended for those of our curvy girls that spend a lot of time in chlorinated pools. Whether it be for swim training, aqua aerobics, hydrotherapy, spa’s, the kids swimming lessons or any regular use in chlorinated pools. Regular Nylon elastane swimsuits will break down over time in Chlorinated environments if not cared for correctly. Click through here to read up on the differences between Chlorine resistant and regular nylon / elastane swimwear here on our blog. This blog will help you make the decision of what fabrication of swimwear is best suited to your needs. 

Click through here to see our range of Chlorine Resistant swimwear.

For those of us that are cheat washes

We really don’t recommend this, but we know there are some of you that will cheat with the correct washing of your curvy or plus size swimsuit. AND if you are going to cheat, we would prefer you to cheat for the best possible outcome. The above hand washing instructions, WILL, if followed correctly, have your beautiful new swimsuit looking its best for season after season. But if you are a cheater and don’t have the time to hand wash your curvy swimsuit as per the suggested care instructions. Here are a couple of cheating steps you can take.

• Use a wash bag for your swimmers when you put in the washing machine on a gentle cycle. A wash bag will prevent as much damage as possible occurring during the wash cycles agitations, having your swimsuit in a wash bag will also ensure that your bathers will not get twisted, stretched out, caught up or snagged.
• Use a gentle mild detergent designed for use on delicates.
• Choose the gentlest cycle available on your washing machine.
• Wash in cold water in your washing machine.
• Never use bleach on a bathing suit.
• There is no cheat way to dry your swimsuit, please do not use a tumble dryer or apply heat to your curvy swimsuit to dry it.
• Quickest way to dry your swimsuit is to roll up separately in a clean towel to squeeze out any water. A cheat hack here is to stand on the rolled-up towel and gently press up and down your towel, this will remove the excess water. Do not leave your swimsuit rolled up in a towel.
• Lay your swimsuit flat to drip dry away from sunlight.
• Make sure your curvy swimsuit is dried completely before packing away.

Click through here to see all Artesands latest curvy and plus size swimwear styles to suit your curves. 

Replacing your favourite swimsuit will be inevitable after a period of time of constant wear even if you follow the care instructions carefully. Wear and tear on your swimsuit is bound to happen over time. Unfortunately, this is due to the nature of the beautiful elastane fabrication that is required to make swimwear fabric stretch and return to shape so that it fits our bodies and the elements in which we need to wear our swimwear (pool, salt water, in the heat, with sunscreen on etc.), and these elements and requirements do not make for the best long-lasting fibre structure & bather design combination.

By following our step-by-step care and washing instructions for your curvy and plus swimsuits will make your swimsuit last way longer than if the care instructions are not adhered too. We don’t want you to be disappointed with your swimsuit, we want your swimsuit to look as fantastic on you in a year as it did the day your bought it. We promise you that adding a bit of time into the care of your curvy swimsuit after each wear and it will be you that will benefit from it in the long run.

At Artesands it is our vision to help all women LOVE their bodies and feel comfortable in their own skin. Get out in your curvy or plus size swimwear and enjoy the beautiful sunshine, as its your life to live.

All of our women’s curve fit women’s swimwear is available in plus sizes US 8 - US 20 and sizes AUST 12 - AUST 24.   

 To find swimwear in your size click the size link:

size AU12 / US8

size AU14 / US10 

size AU16 / US12

size AU18 / US14

size AU20 / US16

size AU22 / US18

size AU24 / US20

FREE shipping on orders over $150 AUD

The A-Team 

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