There are many complex procedures for taking care of latex on the Internet. But which is the right one ? Here, we offer you a comprehensive and straightforward guide on How to Clean Latex Clothing, including a description of common mistakes and answers to questions frequently asked by professionals in the production of latex clothes, but also by long-time users. If you want to enjoy your latex garments and accessories for as long as possible, they need to be properly cared for.
For complementary advices, you can watch this full video by Cheryl London :
How to wash your latex clothes ?
Cleaning your latex outfits will keep them clean and shiny for years to come. In the vast majority of cases, your latex clothing should be cleaned by hand, in lukewarm water at 30 degrees (86 Fahrenheit for US people). Immerse your latex clothes in the water for several minutes, stirring gently. If you’ve used talcum powder to put on your garment, or if you’ve perspired, we strongly recommend that you clean your latex clothes with products designed for this purpose, to remove any perspiration or talcum powder that may be on it. Talcum powder and perspiration residues can lead to allergies and unpleasant smells. We remind you to take care to remove your jewelry before proceeding with this step, so as not to risk finding your clothes.
What products should I use to wash latex?
To care latex, we recommend that you only use products designed to wash this material. You will find several brands on the internet that will help you keep your material clean by removing all dust residue. So, you will find certain cleaning gel and special latex oil on the web. Please, however, be careful to rinse these products well after use, to avoid possible residues which may prove allergenic on contact with your skin. If you don’t want to worry, check out our latex boots on our online store
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How to dry your latex clothing ?
Is it important to know how to dry your latex clothing after you washed them. That’s why you should always dry your latex clothes in the room temperature and never directly outside. After washing your latex clothes, dry them on a hanger hung on a drying rack.
Do not dry latex near a heat source, in the sun, or in a draft. Heat deforms latex, and drafts dry it out. Always wash before wearing latex and be sure that your latex garments are fully dried. There may be impurities on your body that create stains on clear latex.
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Does sweat or talcum damage latex ?
Have you been wearing your latex garments for long hours and are wondering whether the perspiration or talcum inside can damage them ? Don’t worry! It’s perfectly natural and normal to sweat in this type of clothing, especially when it’s hot outside. Latex actually helps contain your body heat, and so can increase perspiration, especially if you’ve been partying in a nightclub, for example.
Sweat or talcum won’t cause any damage to your latex habits such as loss of color or reduced stickiness, even if you’ve been wearing them for long hours and are probably sweating. Nevertheless, remember to wash the parts of your body that sweat the most after wearing your latex garments, such as your crotch or armpits.
What product should you avoid for latex?
You should absolutely avoid using food products to care your latex clothes. Many people wrongly think that using food-grade fats like sunflower or olive oil will help keep your latex shiny. However, this is absolutely false and can be dangerous for your skin. You will damage latex clothes if you bring them into contact with :
- Organic grease : Latex reacts at the point of contact, becomes very brittle quickly and tears. These are mainly non-silicone oils, petroleum jelly, coconut oil, butter and so on.
- Metallic objects : Mainly colored metals, which create indelible stains on clear latex. This does not apply to black latex. These include coins, metal buttons and other metallic items.
- Keep latex clothing out of the sun : For extended periods of time, since the colors may smudge or darken. In addition to deteriorating the natural color of your latex, the sun will stretch the fibers of your garments and cause them to lose their ability to stick properly to your body.
- Beware of edges, broken nails and jewelry when wearing latex : We’d like to remind you that latex is a fragile, natural material that can easily break. If you have unfortunately broken your latex garments and would like to know how to repair your latex clothes, we have dedicated an exclusive guide for you.
Can you clean latex with vinegar ?
Avoid cheap substitutes for latex care, such as vinegar or whatsoever. Vinegar seems to be a good solution to clean your latex, but in reality, it’s not.
Other tips to care your latex :
- You should never clean your latex clothing in a washing machine. Even at room temperature, the washing machine spins clothes too abruptly and there is a high chance of tearing the latex
- Never use traditional soap or shampoo. These products are much too aggressive and can damage the material. Ultimately, for areas where there are folds on your clothing such as a collar, you can use ultra-gentle baby shampoo and rub very gently to remove the impurities.
- You should never use water that is too hot. Water above 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) can greatly affect the flexibility of your clothing.
Conclusion on how to wash and care latex ?
To clean your latex clothing, you absolutely must do it by hand and gently without sudden movements. Please only use products designed to clean your latex clothing, and especially do not use food products for this. After cleaning your latex clothes, you are probably wondering how to store your latex clothes. We invite you to consult our detailed guide for this, in order to avoid making a mistake that could damage your latex forever.