How to Wash & Polish Latex Clothes

Latex clothing items can be super fun and stylish, but they do require some special maintenance to keep them looking their best. If you want to learn how to properly care for your latex clothes, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over how to wash, dry, store, and maintain your latex garments. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Best Way to Clean Latex Clothing

To wash your latex clothing, fill the sink or bathtub with lukewarm water and add a small squirt of gentle soap. Place the clothing item in the water and swirl it around gently with your hands. Rinse the item in clean lukewarm water to remove the soap, then hang it up over the tub or shower to drip dry.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Wash Latex Clothing

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Submerge the latex in lukewarm soapy water. Fill a deep sink or bathtub with lukewarm water, and add a small amount of a gentle soap, such as baby soap or mild shampoo. Swish your hands in the water until suds form, then place your latex clothes into it. Swirl the garments around until they're soaking wet.^{[1]
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- This helps remove talc, sweat, and any lubricant you might have used to slide the latex clothing on.
- Don’t put latex clothing in the washing machine or send it to the dry cleaner. Both of these cleaning processes can damage the material.^{[2]
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Drain the soapy water out of the sink or tub and rinse out any leftover residue. Next, fill the sink or tub with fresh lukewarm water and swish the clothes around again to rinse off all the soap.^{[3]
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Let your latex clothing air dry. First, lift the item out of the water and squeeze it gently to remove some of the excess water. Next, hang the item up and allow it to drip dry, or lay it out to dry on a clean towel.^{[4]
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- If you’re hanging the item to dry, place a bucket underneath it to catch the water that will drip, or hang it in the shower or tub.
- Wait until the latex is completely dry before storing it.
- Don’t tumble dry or iron latex clothing—the heat can damage and melt the latex, and it will weaken the material so it wears out faster.^{[5]
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What can I use to shine latex?

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Rub silicone-based lubricant or latex polish on the item to get a great shine. If you're using a squeeze gel, squirt a coin-sized amount onto your fingers and rub the product into the latex. If you're using a spray, spritz the latex and then rub it in until the garment is shiny.^{[6]
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- Wait to polish your latex clothes until you're ready to wear them. If you'll be storing them for a while, keep them coated with talcum powder.
- Don't use an oil-based lubricant to polish the silicone because it can break down the latex.^{[7]
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If you're not going for a super shiny look, rub a dry lint-free cloth over the polished latex to take off some of the shine. Keep rubbing in a circular motion until the latex is as matte as you like.^{[8]
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How do you keep latex from sticking to itself?

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Rub cornstarch or talcum powder over the entire latex garment. Once your latex clothing is completely dry, lay it flat and sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder evenly across the entire surface to prevent it from sticking.^{[9]
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- Baking soda or tapioca starch should work, as well.
- Don't forget to sprinkle powder inside the garment, too!
- When you’re ready to wear the latex item, simply remove the powder with a damp cloth, then polish your latex as normal.

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How should I store latex clothing?

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Put latex clothes into a garment bag and store them in a dry place. After letting your latex clothes dry completely and rubbing talcum powder or cornstarch onto them, place the clothing item into a clean plastic bag or a garment bag. Hang the garment bag in your closet, or store it in a drawer until you're ready to wear your latex.^{[10]
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- Keep latex clothing away from heaters and damp spaces to avoid damage.
- Don't store latex in direct sunlight. UV rays can discolor the latex and cause it to break down faster.^{[11]
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- Don't hang colorful latex next to other colorful latex on the same hanger, as the colors can bleed together if they're too close.

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How can I protect latex from damage?

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Although you can wear latex clothes out on a hot, sunny day, you don't want to expose the latex to these conditions for a long period of time. This is because the latex can fade and start to break down. Since latex burns and melts really easily, you should also keep it away from open flames or fire.^{[12]
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These substances can break down and damage latex, causing your clothing to wear out faster.^{[13]
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Research source} To keep your latex item looking as fresh and new as possible, take extra care not to get any oil from food, makeup, or cars onto it.^{[14]
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Copper, brass, and bronze can easily stain and discolor latex.^{[15]
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Research source} To avoid damage, keep your latex clothes far away from hangers, jewelry, and coins (such as pennies) that are made from these metals.^{[16]
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Latex can get punctured when it comes in context with sharp things like long fingernails, clasps, hooks, and zippers. To avoid poking a hole or ripping your latex clothing, try to avoid contact with sharp objects, and handle the garment with care while washing it or putting it on.^{[17]
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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Consider having your latex chlorinated! The process makes the latex a little easier to pull on, which can prevent rips, and it also makes it more resistant to sun damage.

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Warnings

Studies suggest that talcum powder that contains asbestos can cause cancer. More research is being done to determine if asbestos-free talcum powder has the same risks.^{[18]
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American Cancer Society
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