The best way to wash your beach kit

Follow our advice for getting your towels and swimming costumes clean - and sand-free! - after a day on the beach.

What could be better than a day at the beach? Whether you're on holiday abroad or enjoying a day trip at one of Britain's coastal spots, there's nowhere better to relax, play games with the family or have a swim. Mobile Crusher For Sale

Once you've arrived home covered in sand, salt and sunscreen, it's definitely tempting to throw your kit straight into the washing machine. But if you want to keep your beach towels and swimwear in good shape, not to mention your washing machine, you may want to think again.

There's a right way to clean your beach kit, and the experts at the GHI are here to share their wisdom...

If you want your washing machine to last as long as possible, never bung your sand-covered towels straight into the drum.

"Sand is abrasive and could damage the drum as well as block the filter and pipes," explains Tailang Bu from Hotpoint. "Once sand has found its way into your machine, it’s hard to remove."

Instead, dry towels fully and shake them vigorously outdoors to get rid of as much sand as possible before washing them.

To keep your beach towels soft and fluffy, don’t add fabric softener when you wash them. Believe it or not, too much fabric softener can make towels less absorbent as it can cling to the fibres.

If you do use fabric softener, just use it once every few washes. If you want to keep your towels super-fluffy, dry them in the tumble dryer.

Soak swimwear in cool water for around 20 minutes as soon as possible after you get home to rinse away the seawater, which can damage stretchy fibres over time. Gently squeeze out the water (avoid wringing) and dry your swimwear out of direct sunlight – this helps prevent colours from fading.

GHI Tip: Never put swimming costumes in the tumble dryer as the heat can badly damage the Lycra.

To help it keep its shape, never hang swimwear by the straps. Peg bikini tops by the fabric between the cups, as you would a bra. Hand-wash swimwear every few washes in tepid water to which a little laundry detergent has been added. Rinse, then dry as above.

Emilie is Consumer Affairs Director & Sustainability Editor at Good Housekeeping. She writes about everything from cutting the cost of bills and switching banks to making sense of energy efficiency labels, recycling and understanding the environmental impact of our food. She is passionate about helping consumers make informed decisions about how they spend their money and providing readers with the facts they need to lead more environmentally sustainable lives. When she’s not writing, you can find her seeking out green spaces and she loves a spot of foraging!

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