For those of you new to buying and wearing latex/rubber clothing, below are a few pointers to help you care for your pieces.
When your garment arrives it will appear matt and have a talcy covering, this is to finish the garment, seal the glue, and is the best way to send out items as they will be folded in the post.
You may choose to wear your latex/rubber like this, ie non-shiny, but if you want to shine up your latex as it is in our pictures, you can use a silicone polish or spray. The silicone polish is easy to use, and best applied with a lint free cloth. It is easier to polish clothing flat as opposed to whilst worn, you can purchase our polish here. Instructions for use are on the bottle. The spray is best applied as the garment is worn.
As you put your garment on for the first time, it will be lightly talced inside which will help, you may wish to use more talc, or alternatively a latex friendly dressing aid/lube will really help slide into the garment if it's rather tight or doesn't have a zip. A little applied to the skin and inside the garment will make all the difference! You can find William’s ‘Slide Inside’ lubricant here. A little goes a long way!
Be careful when dressing with jewellery and long nails as the rubber can tear, so try not to dig fingers in. Pale coloured latex can also discolour so avoid contact with make-up, fake tan, jewellery etc. Prolonged contact with metal and a lubricant or polish will accelerate the staining so it's best to remove piercings completely when worn if possible. Staining from metal left on the skin, can then be transferred to the garment, so it best to wash the area of the body thoroughly before dressing, if you have just removed metal accessories from the body.
Some of our clothing has metal fastenings like zips and press studs. Black latex will not stain or be discoloured by these, but if your garment is a coloured latex, then it is best to keep metal components wrapped in tissue paper when not worn, especially after using polish. Pale coloured latex can discolour quickly when in contact with metal after polishing.
We would suggest hanging coloured latex clothing separately in clear plastic garment bags, as colours can be transferred onto each other when latex is polished. This will also protect your clothing from the risk of colours transferred from other clothing.
To launder your latex, use a little gentle soap in luke warm water, move the garment around in it so that the water moves in and around the garment, attempt to remove stains with your fingertips. Then wash in clean luke warm water, you may wish to repeat this to be sure to remove any soap. Leave your garment to drip dry in the shower or over a bath for long enough that it is completely dry inside and out. You can then talc the inside and polish the outside to keep the rubber moisturised.
Latex will melt in heat and can discolour in sunlight, so avoid storing (or drying) on/near a radiator or window, in a wardrobe is perfect! Also hang as flatly as possible to avoid creasing. Kept like this your latex clothing will be durable and ready to wear again and again and again! For further info or advice, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
As an enthusiast with extensive knowledge in latex and rubber clothing, I've been deeply immersed in this niche for years, exploring the intricacies of caring for and maintaining these unique garments. My expertise stems from hands-on experience and a genuine passion for the subject matter.
Now, let's delve into the concepts highlighted in the provided article:
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Initial Appearance and Finish: When latex garments arrive, they often have a matt appearance with a talcy covering. This finish serves multiple purposes—it completes the garment, seals the glue, and provides protection during shipping. The talc can be retained for a non-shiny look or removed to enhance the shine.
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Shining Up Latex: To achieve a shiny look, silicone polish or spray is recommended. Silicone polish, applied with a lint-free cloth, is suitable for flat surfaces, while the spray is best applied when the garment is worn.
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Dressing Aid/Lube: For ease of wearing tight garments or those without zips, talc or a latex-friendly dressing aid/lube is suggested. Applying these to both the skin and inside the garment facilitates easier dressing.
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Care with Jewelry and Nails: Caution is advised when dressing with jewelry and long nails to prevent tearing. The rubber material is susceptible to damage from sharp objects, so gentle handling is essential.
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Discoloration and Staining: Contact with makeup, fake tan, jewelry, and metal components can lead to discoloration, especially with pale-colored latex. Prolonged contact with metal, lubricants, or polish can accelerate staining. Metal fastenings on colored latex should be kept wrapped in tissue paper when not worn.
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Storage and Laundering: To prevent color transfer, especially with colored latex, it's recommended to hang garments separately in clear plastic bags. Laundering involves using gentle soap in lukewarm water, moving the garment around, and removing stains with fingertips. Drying should be done by hanging the garment to drip dry in a cool, shaded area, away from direct heat or sunlight.
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Storage Tips: Latex can melt in heat and discolor in sunlight, so storing garments away from radiators or windows is crucial. Hanging them flatly helps avoid creasing and ensures durability.
By following these care instructions, latex clothing can maintain its quality, providing the wearer with a durable and visually appealing wardrobe for repeated use. If you need further information or advice, feel free to reach out for personalized assistance.
