Regular swimmers may be overlooking an important hygiene habit, and it has nothing to do with the pool itself.
For many people, swimming is a go-to way to stay fit. And if you’re heading to a public pool, you’ll obviously need some form of swimwear.
In plenty of leisure centres and gym locker rooms, you’ll also find swimsuit spin dryers. They’re designed to remove excess water in seconds, which means you don’t have to carry home dripping trunks or a soaked bikini in your bag.
Most people assume the next step is simple: take the swimwear home and wash it. But it seems not everyone is doing that.
A discussion on Reddit revealed that some swimmers were genuinely unaware that swimsuits should be washed after use.
“I never wash my suits,” one person admitted (per Metro Online). “I just rinse them out when I shower after a swim, put them in the suit spinner and then hang them to dry when I get home.”
Another commenter shared a similar routine.
“Rinse it in the shower, toss it in the spinner if your pool has it, and air dry at home. I swim daily, and get about two years out of a suit.”
Because so many people are putting used swimwear into communal spin dryers, the term ‘filth spinners’ has been used online to describe the bacteria that could be building up inside them.
Pharmacist Thorrun Govind told Metro that these dryers should not be mistaken for something that cleans or disinfects your costume.
She explained: “A swimsuit placed inside may still have traces of chlorine, sweat and skin cells.
“The inside of the dryer could also potentially accumulate bacteria over time if it’s not cleaned and maintained properly, particularly because it’s a damp environment. Bacteria tend to thrive in moisture.”
That doesn’t mean people need to stop using spin dryers altogether. Drying swimwear properly after leaving the pool is still helpful, especially because chlorine, salt water and sunscreen can all be tough on delicate stretch fabrics.
Public-health guidance also stresses that showering before and after swimming helps remove sweat, body oils and other residue from the skin, while a proper rinse and wash routine helps keep swimwear in better condition for longer.
“Rinsing your costume after use and letting it dry properly helps keep it fresh and hygienic, she said.
But if a swimsuit goes through the dryer and is then left unwashed, it can become what Govind described as ‘a lovely breeding ground for bacteria’.
She also noted that keeping swimwear clean can help preserve the fabric and make it last longer.
Experts generally recommend rinsing swimwear as soon as possible after a swim, gently washing it according to the care label, and letting it air-dry rather than putting it through high heat. That is especially important for suits made with elastane or other stretch fibres, which can break down more quickly if they’re repeatedly exposed to heat and harsh treatment.
The takeaway is straightforward: rinse it, dry it, and make sure you wash your swimwear after swimming.