We refine your latex clothing and toys – our new items as well as your used items - as a service provider in an environmentally friendly process. The latex is being planed on the surface through a unique treatment and thus looses its stickiness.
The comfort of wearing is unrivalled through this treatment
putting it on is very easy, hair will not be pinched anymore
several layers of latex effortlessly slide over each other
care of the clothing is minimal
drying time is down to minutes
no need to use talc or silicone oil
no mess using talc or silicone oil, the stuff will not get into your eyes anymore and your parquet will not transform into a slippery deathtrap
it feels so good that you want to fondle your latex continuously
we still have demonstration pieces in our shop that have been treated 3 years ago
Watch out! SilkyLatex is addictive! At least that is what our delighted customers say. Makers of latex clothing are also so convinced by our service that they offer it for their new items. Through our collaboration with Demask, Fantastic-Rubber, Rosengarn, Favor-Kicks and LatexLine it is possible to order their products as SilkyLatex. Blackstyle carries some treated items as floor items in their shop in Berlin. I have collated the answers to the questions that have been asked the most over the last years.
But for the time being, a little movie that allows you to form your own opinion about SilkyLatex (and me...):
1. How does your service work? 2. Why washed? 3. How should I wash my items before te treatment? 4. Important tips concerning the handling of SilkyLatex 5. What about latex allergies and SilkyLatex? 6. Is it possible to treat light and transparent colours? 7. Does it also work with moulded (cheap) latex? 8. Will it still shine? 9. What about sown pieces or latex/cloth combinations? 10. Can SilkyLatex be repaired, should something rip or tear? 11. What happens to the latexsmell? 12. How do I take care of my SilkyLatex? 13. Do metal parts suffer under the treatment? 14. Is SilkyLatex immune against stains or do stains disappear during the treatment? 15. Sticky spots: can the treatment cure "Latex cancer"? 16. Does the lifetime expectancy change or does SilkyLatex rip more easily? 17. I want to know everything! What is the chemical background of the "SilkyLatex" treatment?
1. How does your service work? Send your items thoroughly washed and talced to us: Demask Dortmund, Hamburgerstr. 120, 44135 Dortmund, Germany Make sure to include a note containing your email address, telephone number and any other notes. The price is dependent on the size of the surface to be treated. We will weigh the items, measure the thickness and send you an email with a quote. As a rule: a catsuit costs about 25 to 35 Euro, a leggings 12-17 Euro. We accept Paypal / Credit cards / Bank transfer or Cash on Delivery (surcharge of 7 Euro). Allow approximately one week for processing, then your time of pleasant anticipation is over and UPS will deliver your items safe and sound - naturally discreetly packaged and using a neutral shipping address.
2. Why washed? Unchlorinated latex is sticky and oxidizes with the air, that is the reason why all care products contain silicone oil which produces a protective film. This protective layer prohibits the treatment. New items also have to be thoroughly washed and powdered, because there will be remains of separating agents. Otherwise the surface will not come out nicely. There is a surcharge of 50% for the washing and talcing of oiled items.
3. How should I wash my items before the treatment?
Please, wash your latex with lots of dish washing detergent and little water, for example in the bath tub. Silicone oil is very persistent and one often needs more than one repetition... Please wash your items with dish washing detergent and rinse it until no oil is visible anymore and the latex becomes sticky. Afterwards, let the latex dry and talc it. Tip: to talc, use a garbage bag or go outside as to not powder your whole apartment. Make sure that talc has gotten into all pockets and in the zipper flap, otherwise those areas might not get treated. After talcing, check your wardrobe in regard to defects, especially in the armpits and the groin area. Should somewhere be a tear or a seam is coming undone we will gladly repair or reinforce the defect before the treatment. Treated latex can still be repaired, but since it has to be sanded before it is a much bigger effort. Should you like to wash in the washing machine: we always pick the easy care programme at a temperature between 30 and 40° Celsius and select no spin or just 400 RPMs. Take care about open metal zippers, these can scratch the latex badly and should therefore always be closed. Should there be a lot of metal stuff on the items, please select the wool programme, this will keep the movement of the washing drum down to the minimum. As a washing detergent use about to 2 table spoons of dish washing detergent (no skincare detergent, because these contain oil)
4. A few tips concerning the handling of SilkyLatex
The surface is protected by our treatment, but the oxygen in the air can stillpentrate the surface and create a white oxydation: this means it will become greyand matt. This is why it needs inner protection from silicone oil like every other latex! After you have used it a few times, spread some silicone oil milk on your things in a bucket or garbage bag and let it soak in. Afterwards, rinse it with clear water and let it dry thoroughly. If you want a shine, apply a thin layer of silicone oil. Eros and Mr.B were very satisfactory in our experience. Wash your things in a washing machine at 40 or 50 degrees or in the shower, using dishwasher detergent or a special latex detergent. Just put it in a tumble dryer for 5 minutes to dry. Towels or microfibre cloths will polish it during the drying. Using the delicates cycle will prevent light colours from yellowing. If you don't want to use a dryer, you can prevent water stains by rubbing the SilkyLatex down with a dry towel before you hang it to dry. Your things are stored best by turning them inside out and using breathable clothes bags (especially during summer). SilkyLatex will also be damaged by light, oils and deodorant. You have to be completely dry when putting it on, otherwise it will not glide over your skin. 5. What about latex allergies and SilkyLatex?
Latex is made from the milk of the rubbertree. It is a natural product which contains proteins that can trigger allergies. We have treated a lot of items for allergic persons which enabled these persons to wear their beloved latex clothing again. Latex allergies have, due to the long wearing time of latex gloves in the medical sector, become a big problem and a true occupational hazard. By now, talc free latex gloves are used nearly exclusively. These gloves are chlorinated from the inside and enable a comfortable donning. The “Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel and Medizinprodukte” (Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Products [of Germany]) has published a study in 1998. This states: “Through chlorinating of the latex surface the natural stickiness is reduced and the use of talc becomes unnecessary. Another benefit of this method is the significantly reduced content of allergens in the end product.”
6. Is it possible to treat light and transparent colours?
From our experience, the treatment works very well also with older items and all colours. Especially metallic tones come out of the treatment looking great! Very light colours will develop a tint towards creme. This is not very noticeable and can only be realized when compared to an untreated piece out of the same batch. White and light blue pose a problem. We are not (yet) able to explain why, but especially in older items it is possible for the outer face of the garment to turn yellowish. This happens to 5-10% of older items. Should a light item discolour, we will not charge you for the treatment of this item, but we will not be able to replace it for you. This is why we are not able to take responsibility for these colours and you have to send us those on your own risk.
7. Does it also work with moulded (cheap) latex?
We have made great experiences with molded latex. Every moulded item we have treated up until now feels great. The shine is great in the majority (approximately 80%) of the items. Dull items can be shined using silicone oil should one prefer this.
8. Will it still shine?
This is not a question answered easily or in a few words. Latex rubber is being stored in big bales, sometimes for years, and is traded on the global market. This makes it vary a lot in quality. Even latex from a single maker (Demask solely uses 4D latex) varies a lot in surface quality. The SilkyLatex treatment dulls the latex a little, but it is possible to produce a high gloss using silicone oil. Some items have a great shine without silicone oil, in rare cases it will become much duller. After a few month though, the surface becomes shinier and seems to recover from the stress of the treatment - without ever regaining its stickiness. SilkyLatex gets prettier in time! We have items that have been treated more than 3 years ago. The treatment is still working and the items gained a great silky lustre.
9. What about sewn pieces or latex/cloth combinations?
The treatment isn’t destructive, but it will bleach cloth and thread made from natural fibres. Most manufacturers use synthetic fibres which is not a problem. The composition of the cloths/threads is different for every manufacturer, that is why we will not guarantee for the colour fastness of the seams. Discolourations can be recoloured. Should you have any doubts, contact us.
10. Can SilkyLatex be repaired, should something rip or tear?
One has to differentiate between two kinds of damages: It is no problem should bonded seams dissolve or zippers need changing. These areas are on the “inside” and did not receive any treatment. Tears or holes need to be prepared. Unfortunately, the common adhesives do not adhere to chlorinated latex. That is why the surface has to be sanded before the gluing. This is more complicated for thin than for thick latex. Here a few tips to make some small repairs yourself: It is best to use TESA-Gaffertape to duct tape the tear from the outside. Do not use noname tape, this will leave adhesive stains on the rubber! Afterwards, sand down the inside around the tear to remove the chlorination. After this, you can glue the rubber as usual.
11. What happens to the latex smell?
After the treatment, everything will be neutralised and rinsed five times by us. Latex adopts smells very easily, which can be verified by anyone who has attended a party with smoking allowed in a latex outfit... Directly after the treatment the latex will not have the familiar latex smell - although nasty smells will be expelled form the latex. You should air out the items after the treatment. A slighlty acidic smell will dissipate on it’s own. After this, the latex smell will leak from the deeper, untreated layers of latex.
12. How do I take care of my SilkyLatex?
Everyone knows that you should not store latex exposed to air without talc or silicone oil. It will oxidize, turns white, dull and brittles. SilkyLatex is much less delicate, but not totally immune against ageing. We recommend to perform a “deep care” treatment from time to time. Cover your items in silicone oil or care liquid and let it settle over night. Afterwards wash it off again. By this, the surface of the latex will be protected as well as the deeper, untreated layers. Tip: This also helps to get rid of greying which may occur when SilkyLatex has been stored for a long time.
13. Do metal parts suffer from the treatment?
This can, unfortunately, happen. We are supported by notable chemists and have optimized our method several times over the last years. By now, we are not using the very aggressive chemicals that are being talked about in a lot of Internet platforms. The corrosion occurring during the treatment in our installation can be compared to the effects of salt water. We are taking great care not to let corrosion happen and most metal parts do not stain - should something have stained, it is possible to polish out slight traces by using a damp silver cleaning cloth or using a chrome polish such as “AUTOSOL”.
14. Is SilkyLatex immune against stains or do stains disappear during the treatment?
The sore subject of stains in light coloured latex. This often is a reaction of the sulphur ions in the latex with metal ions. I debated with several chemists and have tried lots of things in my chemistry kitchen, but, alas, there is no cure for this problem. (But I am still working on this!) SilkyLatex still stains, but it is less prone to staining. The reason may be that it is possible to wear it “dry”.
15. Sticky spots: can the treatment cure “latex cancer”?
Sadly no. Should you notice sticky spots on your latex clothing after washing, that mostly occur together with a lessened elasticity, then your item has serious problem. The latex will inevitably dissolve! Small spots might still be repaired by us. Talc the item and send it to us so we can make you an offer.
16. Does the lifetime expectancy change or does SilkyLatex rip more easily?
No, it does not rip more easily and the life expectancy increases, since oxidation is much less an issue. The change in the latex only happens on the surface. This is proven by the condoms that are treated successfully by us for allergists - even 4 times, so that they become especially silky to the touch. The condoms are only 0,05mm thick and still have the same elastic properties as before the treatment. It is possible to let them lie openly much longer without them becoming brittle. Some items might feel a little stiff after the treatment, but this goes away as soon as the latex is worn. We still have no explanation for this. Because of the natural fluctuations latex always has surprises in store for us. Did you hear about the 2003 lethal bungee accident at the Dortmund television tower? Even in January 2011 the final verdict hadn’t been decided yet: the organiser couldn’t be sentenced, because in 7 years several experts couldn’t figure out why the latex rope ripped. The other jumping facilities of the organiser were not shut down - and the same latex ropes are in use at those.
17. I want to know everything! What is the chemical background of the “SilkyLatex” treatment?
Rubber made from latex consists out of long molecular chains that have “free” molecular ends on the sides. This is where, inside the material, the neighboring molecular chains connect to, thus creating the cohesion of the material. These molecular endings are free on the surface, creating the stickiness of the material. Another important factor is the ability to react with the air’s oxygen to create “rubberoxid” (white and pulvery). This is the cause of the white discolouring and destruction of latex clothing due to improper storage. Our facility bathes the latex in a solution that lets the latex come into contact with free chlorine molecules. These connect permanently to the molecules on the surface of the latex, thus eliminating their abiliy to react with the air and getting rid of the sticky quality of the latex.
I am looking forward to your feedback! Did I forget something? Just ask me, and I will give you an answer to the best of my abilities.
