from Recon News
18 December 2016
The wearing of rubber is a fetish many of our members enjoy, but if it's a scene you're just getting into, you may not be aware how important it is to look after your gear. Rubber garments may be designed to stretch over your skin, but they can be damaged easily if not cared for properly.
In this guide, we'll cover how to clean, store, shine, put on and remove your rubber outfits.
How to clean your rubber
Looking after rubber takes a certain level of commitment – you can't just leave it on your bedroom floor after a night out. Sweat, if left on your rubber, can damage the material over time and this means getting the cleaning process right is vital.
Luckily, cleaning your rubber is easy although it does need to be done as soon as you have finished wearing it. Simply fill a bowl full of lukewarm water and either use a mild soap, such as Fairy Liquid, or specialist cleaning product, like Viviclean, to gently clean the garment using your hands. It's a good idea to add a small amount of talcum powder to the water too, as this will stop the rubber from sticking to itself.
Once your outfit looks and feels clean, rinse it off in cold water with a few drops of Vivishine, ensuring all the soap is removed, otherwise your rubber will have soap stains or smears. Then shake it dry and hang it up – it should be ready to put on in no time.
Rubbercanuck tip: rubber and your shower are best friends. Friends with rubber in your shower is even better.
Some people dress in the shower; I'm not a big fan of that donning process however I do always take my rubber off in the shower. I probably don't use a mild soap as much as I should, but I do rub parts of the clothing or gear that have taken on a lot of 'biological fluid' and exposure to my skin well before hanging to dry. If you take your clothes off in the shower, they will come off you inside out, so make sure you wash the outside before you take it off, then the inside once you have it off. At this point you'll be able to easily dry the outfit inside first, then flip it inside out and then the outside will dry, and you will be ready to condition and store it! I will condition and clean my rubber clothing thoroughly 3-4 times a year depending on frequency of use/wear.
How to increase your rubber's shine
When you first purchase your rubber outfit, you will notice that it's matte rather than shiny, as this is its natural form. Shining it up is easy to achieve, though.
If you have time to prepare your rubber before you wear it, you may want to use a rubber polish, such as Vivishine. Simply add a few drops of the polish to some water and dip your garment in and out. Alternatively, you can use silicone lubricant, which can be applied with your hands. Once you're done - hang up the outfit and leave it to drip dry.
If you need a quicker fix, you could opt for shining spray, like Pjur Cult Ultra Shine. Put the outfit on first then get a friend to spray your outfit all over – that's it, you're good to go! However, be aware that polished surfaces, such as wooden floors and bathtubs, can become incredibly slippery when this spray is applied, so avoid putting your outfit on in these areas of the home. Pjur Cult Ultra Shine is great for improving the durability and soft feel of your rubber.
On a night out, you may want to take rubber wipes, such as Vivishine Fresh Up Wipes, with you to top up your shine when you feel your outfit needs it. They're also great for getting rid of lint and dust.
Rubbercanuck tip: What event you are going to totally dictates what type of shining you should do. If you are going to an event with mixed fetish materials, don't do anything with silicone lube, including Vivishine. You're going to get it all over other guys' leather, or furniture or whatever, and you're going to get called out on it. In these cases use a shining spray...it doesn't last near as long but will give you the shine you need in the short term, but it won't smear all over your sexy leather daddy and his furniture.
If you're at a rubber event or a hardcore sex event, silicone away! A lot of events, like Rubbout, will usually have a shine station so if you prep shine before the event at home, then find you're a bit dulled at the party, let the shining people take care of you. There will probably be enough silicone lube flying around you could get a shining just by rolling around on the floor.
Storing your rubber
When you're ready to store away your outfit, it's good to place it in an airtight bag. At Recon, our rubber products come in resealable bags designed just for this purpose. Rubber reacts badly to the air and can develop bloom if exposed for extended periods of time. When you place it in the bag, roll it up, sprinkling talcum powder as you go – this will stop the rubber from becoming stuck together.
Finally, place the bag in a wardrobe, drawer or anywhere which is out of the sunlight. Never store your rubber when it's still damp, as the water can cause it to rot.
Rubbercanuck tip: successful long-term storage is one of the biggest challenges a gummiphile will have. If storing in bags, first Vivishine your gear (more importantly for conditioning than storing!), then talc it, then bag it loosely and store somewhere dark and cool. Do not compress items with too much weight from other items on top.
For my bigger items, I tend to hang on wooden hangers after Vivishining for long periods of time. In my experience, since I rotate my wardrobe often enough, I don't have to worry about pieces deteriorating, bleeding into others, or sticking together as I inspect everything at least twice a year. You have to appreciate that no storage is perfect, rubber gets old and at some point you're just not going to be able to successfully store old rubber pieces for long periods anymore as they begin to rot and deteriorate.
How to get rubber outfits on and off
The tightness of rubber is what so many people love about it, but unfortunately this also means it isn't the easiest material to put on and take off. There are ways to make the process as painless as it can be, though. Just follow our tips below.
Before putting on your rubber garment, cover yourself in a water-based or silicone lubricant. Pay particularly close attention to contact points, such as your shoulders, elbows, knees and hips, as these will be the most difficult areas to get your rubber over. A dressing aid product, such as Pjur's, may also help.
With some outfits, you may find it easier to roll up sections like the legs and sleeves before you slip them on, much like you would with a pair of long socks. Rolling the rubber onto your body is often a simpler way of getting the tightest sections on successfully.
Try not to pull your rubber by any hem line, instead, grab as much surface area in different locations as possible. This will stop you from putting too much force on one area and causing a tear. Grasping around a leg with both hands is a good way to slide it up and down to get rid of any wrinkles, which is where the lube comes in handy!
When taking off your rubber, get some help if possible. Take a warm shower and allow the water to get underneath the rubber, which will help it slide off easier. Try to ensure it finishes up inside out, as this is the best way to clean the outfit.
When putting on or removing your rubber, remove all sharp-edged accessories first. It's all too easy to accidentally pierce your catsuit!
Rubbercanuck tip: by any means possible, try to end your play session or night out with a wash in the shower wearing your rubber. Get a layer of water between the rubber and your skin, the rubber will slip right off your skin once you have wet enough areas under the latex. This is by far the easiest way to doff your latex and also starts the cleanup and maintenance routine immediately!
Additional tips
Remember: never use oil-based lubricants with rubber, as they will destroy it.
You should also be aware that Latex is a natural product and can set off allergic reactions - make sure you don't have an allergy first!
You will sweat a lot whilst wearing rubber, which is all part of the appeal, but this does mean you should stay hydrated.
Want some more advice for how to get into and enjoy the rubber scene? There are lots of rubber fans on the Recon app and site who will be able to give advice.
Rubbercanuck tip: keep all the strenuous activities like putting on and tying boots, setting up slings, helping your buds get dressed to the start of your dressing routine BEFORE you even get your full suit on. I usually will get my rubber catsuits above my waist, THEN do my socks and boots, THEN put the rest of the suit on. You will be so much less sweaty. Also, take a break after getting your rubber on to cool down. Have some water and step outside (or into a cold shower) to cool yourself down before getting into your next activity!
Lubes like Crisco, vegetable oils, Vaseline, vitamin E oil, anything petrochemical, glycerin, or paraben-infused will utterly eat your latex. If you're into sex play that requires you using any of these types of lubes, I would eschew integrating rubber wear/play into the scene. Wait for a day you are using water-based or silicone-based lubes to don your latex and transform into a rubberpig.
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