Care for latex and rubber equipment

I started off with "the silicone generation" as far as personal equipment goes, but have recently gotten a red rubber bag and not-quite-as-recently a latex balloon catheter.

I remember seeing hints on care spread out but not all in one place, so, those who have lots of experience with latex and rubber stuff, how do you take care of it to ensure as long a life as possible? I know it is, as some of you have bags that date back to when you were kids in the 50s, but I have also heard of rotting and crumbling rubber if you don't take good care.

What I know so far - keep it dry, wash it after, keep it away from oils, and keep it out of the sun. Also for balloons don't pump it up too much (I do 4-6 pumps). What else?

I started off with "the silicone generation" as far as personal equipment goes, but have recently gotten a red rubber bag and not-quite-as-recently a latex balloon catheter.

I remember seeing hints on care spread out but not all in one place, so, those who have lots of experience with latex and rubber stuff, how do you take care of it to ensure as long a life as possible? I know it is, as some of you have bags that date back to when you were kids in the 50s, but I have also heard of rotting and crumbling rubber if you don't take good care.

What I know so far - keep it dry, wash it after, keep it away from oils, and keep it out of the sun. Also for balloons don't pump it up too much (I do 4-6 pumps). What else?

I have little advice for you but almost all my kink (latex and rubber suits and clothes and serious SCUBA gear) and enema gear has been rubber for years as I have had a rubber fetish since childhood. I think your advice on rubber care is good, and the only other one I've read is to keep it also powdered after it's nice and dry.

I've had many rubber clothes as well as enema gear both rot and crumble as well as last for many years and I don't think I know why one lasts and one doesn't. I wish I did. I've gone through several latex DBCs lasting only a few years but still have a Skin Two latex catsuit that is still intact and feels and smells wonderful after almost 20 years. If I get any more insight I'll be sure to let you know. I'd love to help you preserve your rubber and latex gear as I've enjoyed mine so very much.

Eric

One of the killers for rubber products, especially products made of natural rubber, is ozone. Ozone occurs naturally in the atmosphere. Atmospheric levels vary during the 24 hour day and peak at night. In general the levels will be low in a closed dwelling, but if you like to leave an open window, then you will want to protect your bags and tubing made of rubber. Products using synthetic rubber are more resistant to ozone damage than natural rubber items but are not immune.

I use large size Zip Lock plastic bags to store bags and tubing. If the item is being stored more than a few days I use a product called Bloxygen, inert argon gas in an aerosol can, to purge the room air from the plastic bag before sealing. Place one end of the plastic tube as far as practical into the zip lock bag, close the zip lock till you reach the plastic tube, release the argon gas, allow the plastic bag to deflate a bit, pull the tube from the plastic bag and finish closing the zip lock. (Keyboard dust spray compressed gas, aerosol cleaners etc should not be used.)

Ozone damage is a persistently progressive process and over the long term will produce fine cracks in the rubber product's surface where it is stretched the most. Drying bags/tubing and storing in an inert atmosphere will extend the rubber's useful life.

Victoria,

Thanks for ozone data. I'd bet a good deal it did much of my rubber collection in, including a thick JBL bag, several latex DBC balloons, and several pieces of thin and medium thickness latex clothing and accessories like hoods and gloves. But one SkinTwo latex catsuit is still going strong for 10-20 years now. Quite a mystery. I miss them. Thank you.

Eric

To avoid ozone also avoid areas with high voltage equipment - CRT televisions, laser printers, room ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, etc.

You can get ozone scavengers, but I have also heard that houseplants work well there.

To avoid ozone also avoid areas with high voltage equipment - CRT televisions, laser printers, room ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, etc.

You can get ozone scavengers, but I have also heard that houseplants work well there.

Thank you, Moliere, most useful. You're a good man. I wish I'd known a lot earlier. Story of my life.

Eric

I learned the hard way about ozone rotting rubber when I was running an Alpine air purifier. I liked the fresh smell of the ozone and had it cranked up pretty high and left it on all the time. Rubber bands rotted first, and then the two rubber bags that I had bought from Grant were next, as were a few rubber colon tubes. Long story short, I don't run the purifier anymore. Dan

As someone with a love of latex, I have had to learn (quite often the hard way) how to clean and protect my latex items. Wash by hand using tepid water and a very mild soap, hand dry with a clean towel, then when completely dry, apply a light coating of talcum powder. Storage, if for a long time should be in an air tight container, a zip-lock bag is perfect, and put in one of those little oxygen absorbent packets. When in use, avoid any possible situation where the latex could be caught on anything and punctured or torn. For latex clothing items, buy ones that fit with very little to no stretching needed. When removing the latex clothing, peel them off inside out rather than pull like you would with regular clothing. Remember that latex clothing will cause the skin to perspire making it sometimes difficult to get out of so be careful.

Many years ago, when married to the kinky second wife, quite often I would wear a crotch-less black latex catsuit while making love to her, and taking an enema at the same time - oh what a series of pleasurable sensations! I love the feel of the latex next to my skin, and the scent of the natural latex.

There are several specialized latex polish and cleaning products on the market, but I have never had the need to use any of them. Avoid the possibility of contact with any and all oil or petroleum based products as the latex will absorb and deteriorate very rapidly following contact. Use only water based products.

As someone with a love of latex, I have had to learn (quite often the hard way) how to clean and protect my latex items. Wash by hand using tepid water and a very mild soap, hand dry with a clean towel, then when completely dry, apply a light coating of talcum powder. Storage, if for a long time should be in an air tight container, a zip-lock bag is perfect, and put in one of those little oxygen absorbent packets.

Oohh, I have been storing my balloon nozzle wrong then. I kept it in a darker airy place thinking that that would help.

Rubber enema bags are vulcanized though, or otherwise treated to be more durable than latex, right?

Oohh, I have been storing my balloon nozzle wrong then. I kept it in a darker airy place thinking that that would help.

Most modern balloon nozzles are silicone-elastomer coated, in which case your method of storage is ok.

Rubber enema bags are vulcanized though, or otherwise treated to be more durable than latex, right?

Yes, vulcanized latex is the norm these days, and is very durable and forgiving - just do not store them with any of the soft silicone items (such as a male masturbation sleeve) as the silicone in contact with the rubber will cause damage.

Are vegetable oils safer for latex than petroleum oils? Is the damage the same?

Are vegetable oils safer for latex than petroleum oils? Is the damage the same?

Both vegetable oils and petroleum oils are bad for latex (with the odd exception of castor oil, which is well tolerated). See https://www.safety.duke.edu/sites/default/files/microflex_reference_chemical_resistance_nitrile_latex_neopro.pdf for chemical compatibility of latex.