1. WASHING YOUR LATEX CLOTHING
Wash latex clothes properly!
If you take off a catsuit or similar garment under the shower, it will be rinsed, however, it is best to wash your latex clothing in the hand basin or in the bathtub afterwards. For the right care, wash the garments briefly in lukewarm water with a special latex detergent or regular (mild and non-perfumed) dishwashing detergent (NO other household cleaners!).
RINSE thoroughly and hang the item inside out on a plastic hanger to dry (or towel dry), then turn the right way round and hang again on the plastic hanger until completely dry.
A good solution for cleaning your latex, is to fill a sink or bath with lukewarm water, with no soap, turn the garment inside out, and swish it around. Then hang it on a plastic hanger right side out and then turn it inside out until it is dry on the inside. It should be stored with unscented baby powder on the inside and polished on the outside with a good latex preservative.
We know sometimes our garments may contact liquids other than
water. Be aware some soaps are harsh to latex and will damage or
weaken it over time. Anything with chlorine or bleach should be avoided
and any such contact will weaken the materials even if quickly
rinsed. This includes swimming pool or hot-tub water.
Washing Machine and Tumble Drying
Although it is possible, we do not recommend washing and drying your latex clothing in machines.
Washing and Care of Chlorinated Latex Clothing
In terms of care, chlorinated latex articles are easier to handle and
it is washed just like untreated latex clothing. After washing, your
clothes will no longer stick together.
Application of silicone oil - either directly on the skin or on clothing
It is recommended that you apply silicone oil (or unscented talcum
powder) to your body before dressing to make it easier to slide into
your garment.
Apply the silicone oil directly to the skin like a
body lotion. Then put on your latex catsuit or leggings. In addition,
you can apply it as a dressing aid to the inside of your latex garment –
particularly in the narrow places such as arms, legs, armholes and
crotch - to ensure an easy sliding method.
Avoid fingernails and sharp objects
Avoid sharp objects, in particular long fingernails, which can cause
considerable damage when putting something on. It is advisable to wear
cotton gloves, but please make sure that your fingernails are not used
when tightening (grip with the flat in your hand and straight fingers)
and make sure that your fingernails do not penetrate the material.
Always use a light pressure and a flat hand.
CAUTION: Do not apply silicone oil to
the inside foot area of latex stockings or catsuits, otherwise they will
slip back and forth too much in the foot section. In addition, the
danger will force your toes to penetrate through the latex and cause
damage - because your feet slip further and further forward inside the
foot area.
Dressing the latex clothes with powder
You can use powder, or unscented talcum as a dressing as an
alternative to silicone oil. The previously silicone oil-free and
powdered latex clothing can then easily be put on with talcum. Apply the
powder or talc to your skin first. Your skin must be completely dry!
If you sweat too much when dressing, it will be difficult and without
silicone, almost nothing works anymore. Sprinkle the powder or talc
inside the garment and shake gently for an even distribution inside.
Putting on chlorinated latex clothes
Chlorination makes the surface of the latex clothing smooth and
silky. Latex then glides on the skin like silk and can be put on without
any aids such as silicone oil or talcum.
ATTENTION: The gliding effect is lost
if the skin is too moist (sweating) or has been previously creamed. In
this case you can still help with a little bit of silicone oil.
CAUTION: Clothes with worked on socks or latex stockings are very slippery when combined with water, so extra caution should be taken to avoid an accident in the shower cubicle.
3. CORRECT STORAGE OF YOUR LATEX CLOTHING
It is very important that latex clothing, and other latex articles,
are stored in a dark place such as a wardrobe or drawer. Never expose
latex clothing to sunlight for longer than necessary. The UV rays
contained in the sunlight damage the material. It is recommended that
you use garment bags, even for particularly large items of clothing such
as latex catsuits or latex dresses. Small items should be stored -
lightly talced - in a zip-loc or other sealing style of plastic bag in a
drawer.
Care should also be taken with some plastic clothes hangers as they can cause the shoulders to stretch, split and perish if hung on them for long periods.
To avoid your latex clothes from discolouring
Latex clothing discolours quickly. Be careful to ensure that your
latex clothing (particularly light coloured latex such as white, pink
and beige) does not come into contact with other darker coloured latex,
other textiles, metal objects, accessories, costume jewellery, jeans
buttons, money, belt buckles and shoes, as this can lead to an
unattractive discolouration and stains. These discolorations can no
longer be removed.
You should also be careful with body care products and perfume and
not associate it directly with latex clothing. Theatre make-up is also
harmful as it contains many extremely fatty substances that destroys and
discolours the latex.
IMPORTANT – avoid products such as VASELINE and other petroleum-based products as the ingredients will destroy the latex.
4. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
CAUTION: If you want to lightly buff your latex, do
not use conventional micro-fibre cloths. These rough up the latex.
AMOR ALL is also a shine and care product available in pump spray which
has been used for shining latex clothing for more than 20 years. (You
can also use AMOR ALL for machine washing in the fabric softener cycle.)
Can I wear latex under normal clothing?
Avoid, if possible, wearing latex under normal clothing, because the
material becomes matt at the places where it comes into contact with the
textile fabric (knee area or elbow) and can no longer be made to shine
permanently. The best care with silicone or Vivishine will not help.
Due to this wear and tear, the material becomes more susceptible to
stretching after frequent wear at the worn areas.
How do plastics behave with plasticizers and latex?
Some plastics contain plasticizers which can destroy the latex. Toys
made of silicone or other soft materials (dildos and the like) should
not come into contact with the material for too long. The material
starts to wave and then becomes brittle after a while.
How long does my clothing last with proper latex care?
With the right storage and good latex care you will enjoy your
clothes for many years. If you follow the simple rules such as not too
much sunlight, proper dark storage, no grease or oil and always wash
after wearing, your latex clothing can last many years. The lifespan
depends on the care you give your latex clothing. In addition to the
right latex care, the lifespan also depends on how often the clothing is
worn and how much it is stressed.
What Lubes & Powders I should use?
We recommend Vivishine Dress, as the best solution for slipping into
your tightest latex garments. You rub a little all over your body and
slide right in. Some people prefer to use any non-scented powder baby
powder. If you do this, you should liberally cover the inside of your
garment, and then shake out any excess before pulling it on. Be
careful of pulling too hard on the seams, if you're having trouble
getting a garment on then you're just not using enough powder or lube.
Any precautions?
1. Avoid or at least be careful of sharp objects like jewelry and long nails, cigarettes in clubs, and those that come up to you and stretch the latex just to hear it snap.
2. Copper will stain latex and once it does it will not go away.
3. Never use oils and latex together because the latex will gradually disintegrate. So if you plan on something slippery, make sure it is water based.
4. Do not store latex near sunlight or it will chalk or turn white. Try silicone to hide the white if this happens.
How to prevent tears and how to repairs?
Should a seam split, I suggest returning the garment to us for
repair. If you want to try it yourself, the simplest approach is to
think of it as an inner tube repair and buy a patch kit. It won't look
great but you will still have your garment. Tears are not the result of
manufacturer's defect, and are not covered under our warranty. However,
if a seam should split on any Kink Projects garment, you can return it
to us for repair under warranty.
And most important is leave the latex clothes far away from metals and moisture!