Latex Care Guide

Latex Care and Use

Latex is a product made from natural materials and should be treated with care.

The following list highlights things that will damage, stain and prematurely age latex:

• Sunlight: avoid prolonged exposure to any UV light.
• Moisture: be sure your latex is dry when you store it. Most latex glue is waterproof, but still try to avoid long term submersion.
• Oils and greases: beware of oil based body products, makeup, vaseline, etc. These can degrade your latex. Even excessive skin oil can stain very light colored latex.
• Solvents: including nail polish remover and paint thinner, they will eat away at latex.
• Copper and copper alloys: even small traces may stain light colored latex, be careful with jewelry, coins, collars, etc.
• Heat: excessive heat will damage latex sheeting, and may cause it to stick to itself.
• Keep latex away from sharp objects, like jewelry or fingernails, as it is easy to scratch or tear latex.

CLEANING
Never machine wash, tumble dry, steam, iron, or dry clean latex.
Wherever possible wash latex by hand in clean warm water only. Massage the surface of the latex very gently with your finger tips  (be careful with your fingernails!) to remove any marks. Ensure you wash inside and outside and rinse in clean water.
Shake off excess water and hang to drip dry, once dry turn inside out to ensure both side are dry. Do not leave your latex on the hanger for long periods of time as it can eventually cause stretching.
Marks that do not come off with warm water may be removed with a very mild soap, but be careful to avoid any products containing oils. Always rinse several times in clean water.
Some colors of latex may have a cloudy appearance when washed. This will disappear as the rubber dries.

POLISHING
Latex rubber garments can be worn with a matte finish or with shiny polished finish. To achieve a glossy shine, spray with a silicone product such as our latex polish and dressing, Eros, Wet Platinum, or STP Son of a Gun and rub lightly with a soft cloth. We do not recommend Armor All as it contains petroleum, which can degrade your latex. For items that come into contact with sensitive skin, you may prefer to use a personal lubricant like Wet Platinum or Eros.

STORING YOUR GARMENT
After washing and drying, lightly powder the latex garment with talcum powder or cornstarch to absorb any moisture, and keep it in a cool dark place. Store it in a plastic bag on a shelf, drawer or place it in a storage box. For travel, place the garment in a large zip lock plastic bag with a small amount of talcum powder or corn starch and place in your luggage. Do not store your garment covered in silicone lubricants or dressings. The silicone leaches into the seams and unsticks the bond cementing the seams together.


Latex Balloons
To enter your balloon, first stretch is gently. Make sure you will not come into contact with any sharp materials like buckles, snaps, fingernails, or jewelry, as latex is a delicate fabric. Dust the body with powder before using your balloon to make it slide over the skin more easily. Enter the balloon one leg at a time, very slowly. Stretch the latex a little at a time. Never put your head inside the balloon unattended.
If you wish to inflate the balloon, make sure to stretch it gently first and inflate it very slowly. The neck can usually be closed with a cable tie or strong elastic.