Basic Leather and Latex Care

Leather

This is the basic info on basic care for leather. The best thing to do is treat your leather well, as you can make it last years and years with simple care. The list is basically what you'll want to have around and generally when to use it.

• Stiff Brush (not wire).
  This one's just for the mud. When your leather gets muddy take the cakes of mud off, then let the rest of the mud dry as the leather dries. Using a stiff brush, such as the kind used to clean vegetables or (of course) from a tack store, brush the leather item, concentrating on where the most mud was. This will clean the pores of the leather. Following a brushing, it's best to clean and condition your leather, as the abuse it had from the mud should be countered before too long.
• Soft Cloths. Damp sponges can work instead, but a couple of soft cloths are recommended. Wipe your leather down with a soft cloth after wearing it, before you hang it in a closet or otherwise store it. If it touched bodyfluids it's recommended that you clean it (see below), but unless you really love your leather we understand that this amount of care is unlikely. Make sure to clean and condition it often if your leather touches bodyfluids (sweat, saliva, genitals).
• Cleanser. Saddle soap is the standard of these, but a range of them can be bought. The price of the leather cleanser is not as important as its use. On a regular basis use your cleanser as directed on the bottle. Most say to use a soft cloth to apply the cleanser, in cirucular motion over all of the leather, and then to wipe a new, clean cloth over it before the cleanser dries to remove excess chemical.
• Conditioner. Leather conditioner is easily bought at a tack store or a boot store, and the most commonly known of these is Lexol. Most say to use a soft cloth to apply the conditioner, in cirucular motion over all of the leather, and then to wipe a new, clean cloth over it to remove excess conditioner.

Latex

Please note that we are talking about latex garments and not latex as barrier methods.

Be somewhat careful with wearing latex, particularly in large gatherings of women, as women are more likely to be or become allergic to latex. Women are also more likely to be chemically sensitive, and the plasticizers in latex can trigger such sensitivities.

When putting on your latex, most folks find it easier and more comfortable to either dust the inside of the latex garment with powder (we recommend cornstarch because talcum powder has been linked to cervical cancer) or a water or silicone based lubricant. Especially considering latex garments tend to reduce sensitivity to external stimuli, the lubricant trick has become popular in a lot of circles. Be especially careful if you are prone to yeast infections. Cornstarch is believed to worsen yeast infections, and lubricant is not a good idea in the genital-area for a long night of walking around in your latex, particularly if you will be hot, beacause it may encourage yeast growth.

That being said, caring for latex is not as complicated as many fear. After wear, fill a tub with warm water (or a sink for small garments) and add some mild liquid dishsoap (do not use grease-cutting dishsoap, as it will shorten the life of your latex). Gently rub down all surfaces of the garment with a clean cloth . Rinse it well and then hang it to dry, making sure that all portions of the item are dry before storing.

To store latex, roll (don't fold) it and put it in a plastic bag in a drawer or hang it in a closet. Putting a plastic bag over a hanging latex garment is a good idea, also. If your latex accidentally brushes leather or chemicals (think mothballs and other random things you may throw in the closet) it can ruin the piece.

If you want your latex to shine when you wear it you can put a small amount of lubricant (silicone works really well for this) on the outside of your garment after putting it on. Rub it evenly over the entire garment with a clean cloth, and make sure you then don't rub against anything silicone while wearing your lubed clothing. the friction can damage the silicone (presumably a toy) and the latex.

Resources

Leather and Latex Care by Kelly J. Thibault, Stormy Leather