How to Care for Ties, Bows and Delicate Swimwear Details
By Marlies Dekkers Lingerie & Swimwear | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Tips & Care
Ties and bows are usually the first parts of a bikini to fray or lose shape. Follow this ordered hand-wash and drying routine to keep them intact.
Quick answer
Hand wash tie and bow bikini pieces in cool water with a drop of mild soap, and never let them sit in a soaked bag. Rinse, press the water out in a towel, and dry the briefs flat with the ties and bows laid out straight so they keep their shape instead of curling or fraying.
Why ties and bows age faster than the rest of a bikini
Ties and bows take more stress than any other part of swimwear. They are narrow, they get knotted and pulled tight, and they catch on sand, pool edges, and bag zips. The fabric is also usually cut on a thin strip, so a single loose thread can unravel quickly. Bows sit in the same chlorine and sunscreen as the rest of the suit but have less material to absorb the wear.
That is why the care routine below treats ties and bows as the priority, not an afterthought. If you protect them first, the body of the bikini follows.
What to do before and after every swim
Rinse the whole piece in cool fresh water as soon as you leave the water. Salt, chlorine, and sunscreen break down stretch fibers and can dull the shine on microfiber. If you cannot rinse immediately, at least untie the knots so the ties are not stretched while the suit dries.
When you take the bikini off, undo the bows rather than pulling the ends through. Pulling tightens the knot and stresses the loop, which is where fraying usually starts. A few extra seconds here saves repair time later.
How to dry ties and bows without curling them
After washing, lay the bikini flat on a clean towel and smooth each tie and bow into its natural shape. Do not hang the suit by the ties: wet fabric is heavy, and the knots will stretch the straps. Keep it out of direct sun, which can fade digital prints and weaken elastic over time.
If a bow has dried slightly creased, mist it with cool water and reshape it flat. Never press it with a hot iron, even through a cloth, because heat can melt or glaze swimwear fabric.
Step-by-step: hand washing tie and bow swimwear
- 1. Untie every knot before washing: Open the bows and hip ties so the fabric can move freely in the water. Common mistake: tossing the bikini in the sink still knotted, which traps soap and stretches the loops. Checkpoint: all ties should be flat and untwisted before they touch water.
- 2. Fill a basin with cool water and a drop of mild soap: Use cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent or swimwear wash. Hot water and strong detergent can dull microfiber and weaken elastic. Common mistake: pouring soap directly onto the fabric instead of mixing it in first. Checkpoint: the water should feel cool and look only slightly soapy.
- 3. Submerge and press gently for a few minutes: Let the bikini soak briefly, then press the water through the fabric with your palms. Do not scrub, wring, or rub ties against each other. Common mistake: treating a small stain by rubbing it hard, which distorts the knit. Checkpoint: no part of the suit should be twisted or stretched while wet.
- 4. Rinse in cool water until no soap remains: Refill the basin or hold the bikini under a cool tap and press the water through until it runs clear. Soap left in the fabric can attract dirt and irritate skin. Common mistake: stopping when the surface feels clean while soap still sits in the lining. Checkpoint: squeeze a section gently and check that the water runs clear, not bubbly.
- 5. Press water out in a towel, never wring: Lay the bikini on a clean towel, roll the towel up, and press down to absorb water. Wringing twists the ties and can snap elastic threads. Common mistake: hanging the wet bikini by one tie, which stretches it out of shape. Checkpoint: the bikini should be damp, not dripping, before you lay it flat to dry.
- 6. Dry flat with ties and bows laid straight: Reshape each tie and bow on a dry towel or drying rack and leave them flat, away from direct sun and radiators. Common mistake: drying on a hot radiator, which can bake in creases and fade prints. Checkpoint: ties and bows should be straight and untwisted when fully dry.
Details that reward careful care
- tie and bow bikini bottom: The tie and bow bikini bottom has adjustable ties on both hips and is made from shiny microfiber fabric lined with recycled fabric. Adjustable ties mean you can loosen the knots before washing instead of forcing them, and microfiber keeps its sheen better when you skip hot water and harsh detergent.
- high waist bikini bottom: The high waist bikini bottom is made from recycled fabric with a digital print of tropical plants and birds. Digital prints are more sensitive to heat and friction, so washing it by hand with cool water helps the pattern stay sharp.
