Wash, Rinse, Repeat
This is why we can have nice things: Rubber care is important to make your investment last a lifetime. Learn about rubber care, storage, and repair so that you can always look your shiniest.
Rubber Care 101
Successful rubber care relies on proper STORAGE, CLEANING, and REPAIR when faced with an emergency. While no one here is going to judge you or police you on what you do with your gear, M.A.R.C. is happy to raise awareness of the craft and help members of the community care for their gear so it can last a lifetime (or at least as long as possible).
HOw to properly store your rubber
- Hang your rubber in a dark/cool space avoiding direct sunlight.
- The ideal temp is between 59-68ºF
- The Humidity should be kept around 40-50%. If too low, the latex can dry out. If too high, the latex can grow mold.
- Air circulation is important, but it is best to not store near direct drafts or vests which can deliver dust and contaminants.
- Never use metal hangers. Plastic hangers or wide, padded hangers are best.
- Make sure each piece does not touch others to avoid color bleeding and/or transfer.
- If you can’t hang your gear or accessories, the next best option is to store them in ziplock bags. Usually 1 gallon bags work, but for larger pieces it is good to get 5+ gallon bags.
- Make sure no metals or sharp items are touching the garments to avoid deterioration or accidental holes.
- Some gear has metal hardware built in. Wherever possible, it can be good to cover these with acid-free tissue paper or some other protective material in storage to avoid discoloration or accidents.
Regular Maintenance to Consider During Storage
- It is helpful to perform periodic inspections of your stored latex clothing. This is a great time to let them air out, check for any signs of mold or other sticky residue, and rewash or reapply silicone lube as necessary.
- While we all have our favorite pieces, it is a good practice to rotate your pieces in use, so as to ensure there is no prolonged pressure points from their storage that can weaken the garment over time.
Popular Cleaning & Polishing Products
beGLOSS
This specialty latex cleaner and polish company offers vegan products that are highly effective for cleaning and caring for your gear.
Vivishine
With a full line up of products including Vivishine, Viviclean, and Vividress, this is one of the most popular latex care products on the market that can support cleaning, storage/conditioning, and lubrication of gear to assist with putting it on.
Silicone Cleaner
Clean up after you clean up! This product is for your house not your gear, and melts away silicone lube, dressing oils, and polish from floors, and furniture.
There are many videos online that can help you see first-hand how to clean your latex. We just picked this one due to its clear instructions. If you are still looking for more guidance, we recommend just doing a quick search on Google or Youtube.
How to Clean Your Rubber
Proper cleaning is probably the most important thing you can do to maintain your rubber garments. We recommend following the instructions below:
- Rinse or Soak – Begin by rinsing or soaking your garments in lukewarm water. This helps remove sweat, oils, and other residues. Avoid hot water as it can deform the rubber or weaken the seams.
- Use Latex Cleaner – After a basic rinse, apply a specialized latex cleaner, mild soap (such as Dawn). Gently wipe the surface with a soft cloth or your hands to clean the rubber thoroughly. Avoid harsh chemicals or soaps with residues which can degrade the latex over time.
- Rinse – Rinse the garment again thoroughly to ensure all soap or cleaning residue is removed. Avoid ringing the garment in the process to avoid damage.
- Dry Properly – Hang your rubber to air dry in a cool, dark place, and consider using a clean, soft microfiber cloth to accelerate the drying as needed to avoid water spots.
- Shine – Once completely dry, apply a bonding agent, polish, or silicone solution on the outside. If you prefer to use talcum-powder to aide with putting rubber on, avoid getting any on the outside of the garment which can reduce shine.
Getting Dressed: Some things are worth the effort
When putting on Rubber, remember latex is a natural porous material. This means it likes to “stick” to the skin (or hair). It is important to coat your rubber with either talcum power or silicone lube. Talcum power feels great, but can dull your gear. Silicone lube is easy to apply, and starts the polishing process as you get dressed.
How to get dressed:
- Lube up your gear on the inside of the garment. Be VERY liberal with this to ensure the greatest ease.
- Apply some dress or lube to your body. Think of it like applying sunscreen. You want full coverage for where the rubber will be on your body.
- The garment should be able to slide on relatively easily, however if it gets stuck you can try a few methods:
- Slowly massage the latex over any problem areas
- Consider pre rolling your garment and then “unrolling” it onto your body. This is particularly effective for tops without zippers where it can be hard to get your arms through.
- If you are putting on gloves, socks, or suits with feet, it is important to push out the air as get dressed to ensure a good fit.
- Once the garment is on, it is time to SHINE! Apply lube or shine to the outside to look your best.
- Don’t be afriad to ask a friend for help. The best things are done with friends! Sometimes an extra set of hands can help ensure lube coverage, close a zipper, or just getting something over your arms.
M.A.R.C. Tip
“DON’T BE AFRAID OF TOO MUCH LUBE! If you don’t apply enough lube when gearing up, you might risk a blow out! Lube helps you slip into that sexy and tight suit of yours.”
Accidents Happen: Learn How to Repair Rubber
As much as we love and care for our gear, accidents happen. The best thing you can do when an accident occurs is catch it quick, and take action to repair the issue and prevent any further degradation or damage.
- Clean the area where the tear or hole has appeared.
- Apply a specialized latex adhesive or rubber cement to both sides.
- Let the rubber cement dry slightly until tacky and the waviness has subsided a little bit.
- Press firmly together with a roller to bond.
- Use patches for larger holes.
- Ensuring the area is free of oils and dirt, let the glue dry completely before wear.
* Our Favorite Repair Kit
UNRIP Repair Tape is a game changer! These kits offer flexible, strong, and durable latex patching tape with adhesive pre-applied, saving time and hassle.