I figure some people on this site have latex garments of some sort and I had a few questions about it. First off, is it ok to fold latex and store it in a closed space such as a box or a drawer? Also, how long can latex go completely untouched and unused (say you were to store it in a box or something at a friend's house over the course of a few months)? Lastly, for double layered latex suits that leave the feet exposed, is it ok to have people wear it whose heights differ from the size it was intended for? Please let me know if you have the answers!
Latex question
Wed, 04/22/2015 - 21:38
#1
Latex question
Thu, 04/23/2015 - 12:16
#3
Thanks for your help. I already emailed him these questions but I guess he hasn't gotten a chance yet to respond which is fine.
Thu, 04/23/2015 - 17:33
#4
blowup_boy
Hey there,
I have some latex garments that are a decade old and still fine.
What will hurt latex the most is moisture sitting on it and sunlight.
It is ok to store latex folded, but full suits are always left better hanging. If you can do this, i'd recomend storing it in a strong plastic bag or if you can pick up a cheap plastic tub, this would be ideal. Make sure the latex is dry before storing. If you have sweated in it a great deal, wash it down with just soap and water, however, don't stress to much if you can't wash it every single time. Just so long as it's dry before putting it away. Wet rubber folding in on itself is what will cause the rot.
Big tip and this is the most important one. Keep it powdered! Pick up some baby powder from the supermarket, non scented are the best ones to use. Get the powders going through the inside of the suit, in your case the outside will be needed also as you're folding it stored. To shine your rubber back up, simply wipe it down with a wet cloth or use a polish. However if it's a short time between uses, you can get away with not putting any powder on the outside, just keep in mind you run the risk of it sticking to itself. The powder will also make it much easier to get in and out.
If your item is inflatable and you do get water between the layers (or you just want to be safe) Use a small funnel to get some powder in between the layers, should help keep it dry.
Lastly, this also depends on the quality of the latex. I've had a hood from Coccoon that has been going for over a decade, but then I've had a catfish item that's lasted only two years. My own stuff has been going for around 5 years so far with no issues and heavy use.
Hope that helps!
Well, I first want to say that I am not a latex professional. I own a suit, and did my research on them, but I have only gathered this knowledge from around the net; I havent taken any professional courses on it. That being said, I will answer this as best as I can.
Blowup_Boy on the forums owns SqueakLatex, so hopefully he can come around and give his two cents on this. Hopefully what I said helps you out.
(Not on here too often, replies might be slow.)