After swimming in a chlorinated pool, rinse off in a warm shower right away, wash and condition your hair, moisturize while your skin is still damp, dry your ears well and rinse your swimsuit in cool fresh water. These six steps remove pool water from your skin, hair and suit, help with dryness and lower the chance of swimmer’s ear.
Here is why each step helps and how to do it.
1. Should you shower right after swimming?
Yes. Rinsing off right after a swim removes pool water before it dries on your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises rinsing thoroughly with a warm shower right after swimming, and it says pool chemicals can dry the skin (AAD). AAD also advises against hot water for this rinse.
CDC adds two habits for hot tubs and pools: remove your swimsuit and shower with soap after you get out of the water, especially after a hot tub, and wash your swimsuit after you use it (CDC, 2025).
2. How do you get the chlorine smell off your skin after swimming?
A soap-and-water shower is the simplest way to remove the smell. The “chlorine” smell swimmers carry home usually comes from irritants that form when chlorine mixes with pee, sweat, dirt, skin cells, deodorant and makeup in the pool. CDC says that if you smell “chlorine” where you swim, you are probably smelling those irritants (CDC, 2025). Our post on what causes pool chlorine smell explains why.
Some swimmers use body washes or sprays with vitamin C. Vitamin C does neutralize chlorine in water quickly: a 2005 USDA Forest Service report found that 1 gram of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) neutralizes 1 mg/L of chlorine in 100 gallons of water (USDA Forest Service, 2005). That research is on treated water, and little research has tested vitamin C products on skin, so think of them as optional.
3. How should swimmers care for their hair?
Protect hair before the swim and wash it right after. AAD recommends a swim cap for pools, or putting oil or a leave-in conditioner on your hair before you get in (AAD, 2021). After swimming, AAD advises rinsing your hair right away, washing it with a shampoo made for swimmers and following with a deep conditioner.
Light-colored hair can turn green after swimming. AAD explains that chlorine works with metals in the water and the hair absorbs them, giving it a green tint (AAD, 2021). A 1995 case report in Cutis also traces green hair to metal deposits from pool or household water, with damaged hair and frequent chlorinated water exposure making it more likely (Cutis, 1995). A cap and a post-swim rinse help prevent it. For more tips, see how to protect your hair and skin from pool chlorine.
4. Why should you moisturize after swimming?
Moisturizing right after you rinse helps replace the moisture pool water takes from your skin. AAD’s advice for children with eczema works well for anyone with dry skin: rinse off, pat skin with a towel so it stays a little damp and apply moisturizer within 3 minutes (AAD). AAD also suggests applying moisturizer before swimming.
People with eczema or skin that reacts to pool water can read our guides on swimming with eczema and chlorine rash and sensitivity. A rash that does not clear up should be checked by a doctor.
5. How do you prevent swimmer’s ear after swimming?
Dry your ears well after every swim. Swimmer’s ear is a bacterial infection of the outer ear and is most often seen in children (CDC, 2025). CDC recommends these steps:
- Tilt your head back and forth so each ear faces down and can drain.
- Dry each ear well with a towel.
- Pull your earlobe in different directions while the ear faces down to help water come out.
- If water is still in the ear, use a hair dryer on the lowest heat and speed, held several inches from the ear.
CDC also says to check with a healthcare provider before using ear-drying drops, and not to use them if you have ear tubes, a punctured eardrum, swimmer’s ear or ear drainage.
6. How should you wash a swimsuit after a chlorinated pool?
Rinse your swimsuit in cold or lukewarm fresh water as soon as you can, hand wash it with a mild detergent and dry it flat in the shade. Textile scientist Carolina Quintero Rodriguez of RMIT University explains that most swimsuits are about 80% polyester or polyamide and 20% elastane, and that elastane is the most vulnerable part of the fabric (Quintero Rodriguez, The Conversation, 2026). Chlorine and sunlight over 300 hours, about 35 summer days, may reduce fabric strength by 65%.
Her other advice: never use hot water, skip bleach and fabric softener, and never put a swimsuit in the dryer.
Does pool water quality change how you feel after swimming?
Yes. A well-run pool with balanced water produces fewer of the irritants that cause the chlorine smell and red eyes. CDC’s tips for swimmers help too: shower before you swim (one minute of rinsing removes most dirt), never pee in the water and take children on bathroom breaks every hour (CDC, 2025).
For home pools, Clear Comfort’s hydroxyl-based AOP is a supplemental system that breaks down contaminants in the water, so the pool can run on a low chlorine residual (typical free chlorine of 0.5 to 1.5 ppm with hydroxyl-based AOP). A low chlorine residual is still needed. Learn more in what chloramines are and how to reduce them and why peeing in the pool matters.
Frequently asked questions
What should you do after swimming in a chlorinated pool?
Rinse off in a warm shower right away, wash and condition your hair, and moisturize while your skin is still damp. Then dry your ears well and rinse your swimsuit in cool fresh water. These steps follow AAD, CDC and textile care guidance.
Should you shower after swimming?
Yes. A shower right after swimming rinses pool water off your skin and hair before it dries. AAD recommends a warm shower after swimming, and CDC recommends removing your swimsuit and showering with soap after getting out of the water, especially after a hot tub.
How do you get rid of the chlorine smell after swimming?
Shower with soap and warm water, and wash your hair with a shampoo made for swimmers. The smell usually comes from irritants that form when chlorine mixes with sweat, pee and dirt in the pool, according to CDC. Vitamin C products are optional; vitamin C neutralizes chlorine in water, but little research has tested these products on skin.
Why does my hair turn green after swimming?
Green hair comes from metals in the water, which chlorine helps the hair absorb, according to AAD. Light-colored and damaged hair are most likely to show it. Wearing a swim cap and rinsing and washing your hair right after swimming help prevent it.
How do you dry your ears after swimming?
CDC recommends tilting your head so each ear can drain, drying your ears with a towel and gently pulling your earlobe while the ear faces down. If water stays in the ear, use a hair dryer on the lowest heat and speed, held several inches away. Drying your ears helps prevent swimmer’s ear.
Want a home pool that is easier on skin, hair and swimsuits? See how Clear Comfort’s low-chlorine pool systems work.
