How to Care for your Latex Clothing
Latex clothing should be treated like any other fine clothing. The manufacturing process to produce latex sheeting run in the same approximate price range as fine silks used for evening wear. Although less subject to damage than silks, the same care and should be given to your latex as you would an expensive dress or suit. Though accidents do occasionally happen and what do you do if your fine latex fetish wear develops a rip?
Repairing your Latex
Small breaking in latex can be repaired using a rubber cement solution slightly thinned with rubber cement thinner. Lay your latex fetish wear flat on a glass or plastic surface, and ensure both the inner and outer surfaces are clean. Apply a thin film of glue to both inner surfaces. The surfaces should curl slightly – then wait a few minutes until the curl relaxes. Then join the surfaces carefully together making sure to clean excess glue on the joined inner surface. When dry and flat, back the glue surface with a thin Lycra spandex or panty hose with glue applied to one side. If you have a spare damaged latex garment use a small section of that instead. Use talc or latex polish to remove glue tackiness at the joint prior to folding or wearing. As well here are some general tips for caring for your latex to help avoid other mishaps to your latex garments.
- Avoid contact with brass, bronze, and copper materials. They can stain and degrade latex.
- Avoid contact with sharp or abrasive surfaces. Do not put on or take off while wearing sharp jewelry and watches, and beware those long nails, especially with the thinner stuff. Garter tabs can damage thinner latex as well.
- The glossy surface of latex garments is soft and is easily abraded and damaged by dry polishing (make sure your using a liquid latex shiner). Moreover, wearing exterior garments with lacings, snaps, or other hard edges can wear off the glossy surface of latex clothing, making polishing the area difficult in future. Corsets appear to be the worst offender here. Leather as exterior garments (high boots, etc.) can sometimes be a problem as oils and glues from the leather can become attached to the latex staining it permanently. It is best to avoid wearing garments on the outsides of your latex wear.
- Avoid contact with greases or oils (including make-up). These degrade the latex. If contact is made, wipe off and wash the garment as soon as possible. Certain hair products may also damage latex.
- Latex does have porosity to some chemicals. Inks and dyes can irreversibly stain light colored latex.
- Latex has about the same reaction to heat or flame as polyester, so watch those cigarettes.
- Latex will slowly degrade in the presence of ultraviolet light. Fluorescent light presents little hazard to latex, but sunlight will do significant damage over time. Wearing your latex outdoors for short periods of time will not readily affect the material, but constant exposure, such as storing or displaying latex fashions in the presence of sunlight will.
- Avoid extreme heat or cold. Although not as sensitive as sheet vinyl to temperature, latex, nonetheless, has limits. Heat (like in a closed car on a hot summer day) may damage latex. Extreme cold below -20 degrees Celsius or below O degrees Fahrenheit will begin to stiffen latex. In this condition, latex is easily damaged by flexing, creasing, or putting under any weight. Allow latex to come up to temperature before attempting to reshape stiffened garments.
- Latex is damaged by chlorine and is not like neoprene (the material used in wetsuits and other water sports clothing). Do not use for swimming.
If you find that your latex fetish gear has developed a rip who better than the experts at Chez Noir to repair it for you? Email us at info@cheznoir.ca for quote on your needed repair and we would be happy to have you back in your favorite latex clothing ASAP.
