You’ve found the perfect-fitting suit and you want to keep it that way. How do you make sure your suit lasts when it endures more than any other garment you own? Below are 10 steps to help your new suit last for many seasons to come.

1. Before you wear your new swimsuit, rinse it in a mixture of two teaspoons of white vinegar and one quart of cold water to help slow down fading and keep bright colors vibrant longer.

2. Get your suit wet by standing under the poolside shower before you get in the pool. It will absorb less chlorine if it’s wet.

3. After you’ve enjoyed the sun, beach, or pool, you’ll want to make sure to rinse your swimsuit in fresh water right away, as the chlorine, salt water, and sand can cause damage to your suit.

An easy option is to wear your suit in the shower and rinse thoroughly. You can use liquid body wash to clean the suit. If it’s mild enough for your skin, it’s mild enough for your swimsuit. You can always hand wash your suit by using a mild liquid detergent and cool water. Let it soak for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

4. After rinsing, gently squeeze out excess water and lay flat to dry on an absorbent towel, or hang dry by draping the suit over a line or towel bar. Make sure you don’t twist or pull on the fabric.

5. If your suit has sequins or any type of embellishments, use extra care when rinsing your suit.

6. Never put your swimwear in the washing machine. The agitation in a washing machine can cause problems – from the padding in the cups, to the elastic in the straps, to the seams.

7. Never put your swimsuit in the dryer. We all know the heat from the dryer wreaks havoc on delicates.

8. Try to avoid hot tubs as the heat and chlorine will wear the suit out quickly. If you plan on going in the hot tub, wear an older suit.

9. Avoid oil based suntan lotions. The oil causes harm to the elastic and can also stain some fabrics.

10. Have at least two suits, especially if you’re going on vacation and plan on wearing one every day. You should wait 24 hours for your suit to dry before wearing it again because it takes some time for the suit to get back to its normal shape. Wearing the same suit the next day will prevent the fabric from doing this. You don’t want a saggy derriere on your next outing!