Washing a bathing poncho: temperature, tumble dryer and care by material

After the beach, the pool or the sauna garden, the poncho often ends up in the bag damp, sandy and smelling of salt or chlorine. Fortunately, washing a bathing poncho is straightforward if you keep a few things in mind: it is bigger and heavier than a towel, has pockets, a hood with a drawstring and, depending on the model, a completely different material. In this guide we show you what the manufacturer's information on our Wave Hawaii ponchos says, how to proceed step by step and what matters for terry, AirLite and waffle piqué.

Contents9

1. Washing a bathing poncho: what the manufacturer's information says
2. Before washing: sand, salt and pockets
3. Step by step: washing a bathing poncho in the machine
4. Washing a bathing poncho by material
5. Drying: tumble dryer or washing line?
6. How often should you wash the poncho?
7. Typical problems and what helps
8. Conclusion
9. Frequently asked questions

Washing a bathing poncho: what the manufacturer's information says

For all six Wave Hawaii models in our shop, the product description says the same thing: machine washable and suitable for the tumble dryer. The descriptions do not state a specific washing temperature. That is why the sewn-in care label of your poncho is always what counts. The overview helps you classify material and weight, because both determine how much room the poncho needs in the drum.

Model	Material according to description	Weight	Care according to description
AIR	cotton terry, 100 % cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100	approx. 1,300 g	machine washable, tumble dryer safe
FARO	cotton terry, 100 % cotton	approx. 1,350 g	machine washable, tumble dryer safe
MOVE	100 % cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100	approx. 1,400 g	machine washable, tumble dryer safe
PENICHE	AirLite, 95 % cotton, 5 % recycled polyester	approx. 850 g	machine washable, tumble dryer safe
CUMBUCO	AirLite, 95 % cotton, 5 % recycled polyester	approx. 850 g	machine washable, tumble dryer safe
PAMPATAR	waffle piqué, 100 % cotton	approx. 700 g	machine washable, tumble dryer safe

For comparison: a large hammam towel in our shop weighs approx. 270 to 450 g depending on the model. A terry poncho is therefore about three to five times as heavy when dry, and correspondingly more when wet. That is the main reason why ponchos need slightly different treatment in the machine than a towel.

Before washing: sand, salt and pockets

Before you can wash your bathing poncho, a quick check is worthwhile. Most problems do not arise in the machine but beforehand. A few simple steps save you trouble:

• Shake it out thoroughly: sand likes to collect in the pockets, hood and hem. Ideally shake it out outdoors and turn the pockets inside out. Sand in the drum rubs against both the fabric and the machine.
• Empty the pockets: keys, hair ties or tissues do not belong in the wash. The large front pocket of the AIR or the side pockets of FARO and MOVE in particular swallow quite a lot.
• Secure the drawstring: tie a loose knot in the ends of the hood drawstring so it does not slip out of its channel.
• Do not leave it wet: a poncho bundled up damp quickly starts to smell musty. If you cannot wash it straight away, at least hang it up.
• Rinse out salt and chlorine: after the sea or the indoor pool, a rinse in clear water is often enough until the next proper wash.

Step by step: washing a bathing poncho in the machine

1. Read the label: temperature, tumble dryer symbol and any notes such as "wash separately" are on it. If you are not sure how to read the symbols, our guide Care symbols explained will help.
2. Turn it inside out: this protects the outside, and sand residue comes out of the seams more easily.
3. Separate colours: many ponchos are two-tone, for example with a dark lower part. Wash a new poncho only with similar colours or on its own for the first few times.
4. Do not overload the drum: a wet terry poncho is heavy. Add only one or two towels so that everything can move freely and is rinsed well.
5. Use detergent sparingly: too much detergent stays in thick fabric and makes it stiff. A colour detergent is a common choice for colourful ponchos.
6. Skip the fabric softener: it leaves a film on the fibres and can reduce absorbency. This applies to terry just as much as to waffle piqué.
7. Spin well: a medium to high spin speed, as far as the label allows, shortens the drying time considerably.

Washing a bathing poncho by material

Terry: AIR, FARO and MOVE

Terry has lots of small loops that absorb a lot of water and also hold on to sand and salt. That is why thorough shaking and rinsing is especially worthwhile here. If you want to wash a terry bathing poncho, make sure there is enough room in the drum and use detergent sparingly, otherwise the terry will become hard after a few washes. If individual loops are sticking out, carefully cut them off rather than pulling them.

AirLite: PENICHE and CUMBUCO

According to the manufacturer, the AirLite material consists of 95 % cotton and 5 % recycled polyester and, at approx. 850 g, is considerably lighter. The same basic rules as for cotton apply when washing. Because there is less fabric in the drum, you can easily wash this bathing poncho together with other beach textiles in similar colours. More about the material itself is in the article AirLite poncho.

Waffle piqué: PAMPATAR

The waffle structure is flat and comparatively robust. You should close any hook-and-loop fasteners on other items beforehand, because they can snag in the structure. At approx. 700 g, the PAMPATAR is the lightest poncho and needs hardly more room in the drum than a large bath towel.

Microfibre

We do not stock microfibre ponchos, but they are widespread. If you want to wash such a bathing poncho, follow the label as well. Lower temperatures are usual here, again with no fabric softener. Synthetic fibres shed fine fibres in the wash; a special washing bag can hold back some of them.

Drying: tumble dryer or washing line?

According to the descriptions, all our ponchos can go in the tumble dryer. Terry in particular becomes pleasantly fluffy again there. A lower setting is gentler on the fibres and generally the safer choice for cotton, because high heat can encourage shrinking. Without a dryer, it is best to hang the poncho over two lines or a wide hanger so that the front and back do not lie on top of each other. The hood should hang freely. Why some ponchos dry faster than others is explained in the guide to the quick-drying poncho.

How often should you wash the poncho?

There is no fixed rule for how often you should wash your bathing poncho. A poncho that you only slip on briefly after swimming and then dry well does not need to go in the machine after every use. This guideline has proven itself:

• After the sea or an indoor pool: at least rinse with clear water, and wash properly after a few uses.
• After the sauna: here the poncho absorbs sweat. If you wear it on your skin straight after a sauna session, wash it more often.
• If it smells: if it smells musty, wash it immediately and then dry it completely.
• Before storing: at the end of the season, put it in the cupboard clean and completely dry.

Typical problems and what helps

The poncho smells musty: usually it was left damp for too long. Wash the bathing poncho, dose sparingly, dry it very well and hang it up straight away in future.

The terry has become hard: often too much detergent or very hard water is behind it. A wash without detergent rinses out residues; then fluff it up in the tumble dryer.

The poncho absorbs less: fabric softener is often the cause. One or two washes without fabric softener usually bring the absorbency back.

The poncho has shrunk: cotton can contract at high heat. That is why it is better to choose gentle temperatures and a low dryer setting. How much leeway you have in length depends on the bathing poncho size.

Related reading: Bathing Poncho: Material, Size, Uses and Buying – the Complete Guide · Quick-drying poncho: what makes it dry fast – material, weight, tips · Washing a bathrobe: temperature, detergent and how often

Conclusion

Washing a bathing poncho is no rocket science: shake it out, empty the pockets, secure the drawstring, turn it inside out, dose sparingly and wash without fabric softener. According to the manufacturer, all Wave Hawaii models in our shop are machine washable and suitable for the tumble dryer; you can read the temperature on the label. Terry above all needs room in the drum, while AirLite and waffle piqué are lighter and less fussy. And the most important thing happens after the beach day: never leave the poncho wet in your bag. You will find all models in our poncho collection.

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature do you wash a bathing poncho?

That is on the care label of your poncho. Our product descriptions do not state a fixed temperature, only "machine washable and suitable for the tumble dryer". So follow the label.

Can a bathing poncho go in the tumble dryer?

According to the manufacturer, all six Wave Hawaii models in our shop are suitable for the tumble dryer. A gentle setting with a lower temperature is still the safer choice for cotton.

Can I use fabric softener?

Better not. Fabric softener can reduce the absorbency of terry and waffle piqué. Terry becomes soft rather through using detergent sparingly and the tumble dryer.

Do I have to wash the poncho after every beach day?

Not necessarily. After salt or chlorinated water, rinsing and drying well is often enough. You should wash it properly after several uses, more often after the sauna and always when it smells.

Why does my poncho smell musty after washing?

Usually it was left damp for too long, either before washing or afterwards in the drum. Hang it up or put it in the tumble dryer straight after the wash cycle and let it dry completely.

View all bathing ponchos

Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.