Rubber care guide

Rubber clothing can be a stylish and unique addition to your wardrobe, but it requires special care to maintain its appearance and longevity. Whether you’re new to rubber clothing or a seasoned wearer, following the right cleaning, storage, and maintenance techniques is essential. Here’s how to keep your rubber garments looking their best.

How To Clean your rubber

  • 1. Rinse or soak

    Begin by rinsing or soaking your garments in lukewarm water. This helps to remove sweat, oils, and any other residues. Avoid hot water as it can deform the rubber or weaken the seams. Avoid soaking for longer than 2hrs.

  • 2. use mild soap

    After rinsing, apply a mild soap or a specialized latex cleaner. Gently wipe the surface with a soft cloth or your hands to clean the rubber thoroughly. Avoid harsh chemicals that can degrade the rubber.

  • 3. Rinse

    Rinse the garment again thoroughly to ensure all soap residue is removed. Avoid wringing the garment which can cause damage.

  • 4. Dry

    The next step in cleaning your rubber clothing is to hang your rubber clothing to airdry in a cool, dark place. Avoid direct sunlight as this can cause fading and deterioration.

  • 5. Shine

    If you like to maintain a glossy finish on your rubber garments, consider using a good latex polish before applying a layer of silicone lube on the outside. If you are using talcum-powder to get into your rubber garment and you like a high-shine finish, avoid getting any on the outside of your garment as this can reduce the shine.

How To Store your rubber

  • 1. Apply Talcum Powder

    Before storing your rubber clothing, make sure your rubber is clean and dry before applying some perfume-free talcum-powder. This will prevent the rubber from sticking to itself (or other rubber garments) which will happen naturally over time to clean rubber. You can also use silicone lube, however we recommend talcum powder for long-term storage.

  • 2. Avoid direct sunlight

    Hang or lay your rubber clothing in a dark space with no exposure to sunlight. Storing your rubber in a bag or container can help to further protect from sunlight as well as keeping your gear free from dust. Any clean plastic bag will work well.

  • 3. Storing

    Storing on hangers isn’t a necessity, however, try to avoid folding your rubber garments as this can introduce creases into the material. If you have no other option but to fold, use tissue paper or fabric (towels are fine) to help cushion the folds.

  • 4. Avoid Storing Items of Different Colors Together

    You can store multiple pieces next to each other but avoid storing items of different colors together as higher intensity colors (burgundy for example) can stain lighter colors.

General Care Tips

  • 1. Avoid Reactive Metals

    Metals such as brass or copper can interact with rubber to cause stains, particularly in lighter and transparent colors. If staining occurs, get in touch with us and we can provide some tips we have used in the past to help minimize the appearance of stains.

  • 2. Stay Away from Oil-Based Products

    Oil-based products can damage and weaken the rubber, leading to an increased likelihood of tears. If contact occurs, clean immediately following our cleaning instructions to minimize damage.

  • 3. Do Not Store with Silicone Lube for a Longer Period of Time

    Silicone lubricant is our best friend when it comes to wearing our gear, but not for storage! Over time, silicone lube can interact with latex glue to weaken it which can lead to seams coming undone. Avoid storing your gear for a period of more than a week or so in silicone lube to prevent this from happening.

  • 4. Handle with Care

    When putting on or taking off your rubber clothing, be gentle. Avoid using fingernails which can puncture the material. Instead use your whole hand to stretch the rubber over your body. Try to 'roll' and massage the rubber over your skin, rather than pulling on it with your fingertips.

  • 5. Regular Maintenance

    Clean your rubber after each wear to prevent build up of sweat and oils that can lead to deterioration over time. Storing rubber without cleaning it can cause fungus to grow which can damage or discolour the material.

  • 6. Creases can Happen

    If your rubber gets creased from folding, don’t worry too much. Hang the rubber up and over time the weight of the garment will help to reduce this. For tight-fitting rubber, the stretch of the material will mean that you generally won’t see any creases when wearing your rubber. For heavier gauge and/or looser-fitting rubber, we recommend being more careful to avoid creasing. When these still occur, give plenty of time to hang to de-crease.

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