How to care for latex so it lasts for years
Good latex is not cheap, so don't treat it like it is. The good news: looking after it takes five minutes, and the rules are always the same. This is exactly what I do with every piece I own.
Quick answer
- Wash after every wear in lukewarm water with a latex wash or mild soap.
- Dry both sides completely, away from heat and sun.
- Shine only clean, dry latex, and only with a silicone shine.
- Keep it away from oils, perfume, copper and brass, and sunlight.
- Store it dark, cool and dry, light and dark colours apart.
Five minutes after every wear. That's all it asks.
After every wear
Sweat, skin oils, make-up and perfume slowly break latex down, so I wash every piece the same day I take it off.
Lukewarm water, never hot
Fill a basin with lukewarm water and add a little latex wash. Hot water is not your friend here.
Move it gently
Let the piece soak for a few minutes and move it through the water with your hands. Don't twist or wring it.
Rinse well
Rinse with clean water until nothing slippery is left.
Dry both sides
Pat it with a towel, then let it air-dry, first one side, then turn it and dry the other. Never store latex damp: it turns sticky and the surfaces can glue together and tear.
Natallie's tip
Milky white marks after washing are just water. They disappear on their own once the latex is completely dry, so don't panic and don't rub them.
The things that destroy latex
Keep these away from your latex
- Oils of any kind: baby oil, Vaseline, body lotion, massage oil, oil-based lube.
- Perfume, fake tan, hairspray and body make-up.
- Copper and brass: coins, some jewellery, old zips. They leave brown stains that never come out.
- Sunlight and heat: they take the shine and the stretch.
- Long nails, rings and bracelets. Take them off before you dress.
If you use lotion, do it the day before, not an hour before you put latex on.
How to get that shine
Clean latex is naturally matte. The wet look you see on Me comes from a silicone shine, and it only works on freshly washed, completely dry latex.
A few drops are enough
Put a little shine on a soft cloth, not straight on the latex.
Small circles
Polish gently in small circles. Hard pressure or a rough cloth can scratch the surface.
Never oil
Anything oil-based gives a shine for an hour and damage for good.
Putting it on without a fight
Latex doesn't slide on dry skin. A silicone dressing aid inside the piece makes it glide on and protects the seams. Talc works too, but silicone is cleaner and you don't breathe in any powder.
Natallie's tip
Roll, don't pull. Gather gloves and socks like a stocking, place them, then unroll. Pulling at one point is how latex tears.
Storing it
Dark, cool and dry. Hang tops on a padded plastic hanger, keep small pieces flat in a bag, and never let strong colours touch transparent or light latex, because colour transfers. I wrote a whole guide on storing latex over winter, it's coming soon in K!nky info.
If you're allergic to latex
- Latex allergy is real and can be serious. If you know you react to latex, don't wear it.
- If you get hives, swelling or trouble breathing, take it off and get medical help.
Questions I get asked
Can I wash latex in the washing machine?
No. Hand wash only, in lukewarm water. No machine, no dryer, no iron.
Why does my latex feel sticky?
It was stored damp or dirty. Wash it, dry it completely and shine it, and it comes back.
Can I use any silicone lube as a shine?
A silicone product works, but a shine made for latex spreads thinner and evenly. Never use oil.
One new guide every week
Care tips, new pieces and early access before anyone else. Straight to your inbox, nothing more.
Join the Natallien list