How to Care for Latex: The Complete Guide

Here's the thing: latex isn't fragile — it's specific. Treat it right and a Coutrellé piece will look showroom-new for years. Treat it like regular laundry and you can ruin it in one afternoon. The good news? The whole routine takes about ten minutes and zero special skills.

After every wear: the 5-minute rinse

1. Rinse in lukewarm water. A sink or tub works. No hot water — heat is latex's enemy.
2. Add a drop of mild, unscented soap if the piece needs it. Swish gently. No scrubbing, no brushes, no machine. Ever.
3. Rinse the soap out completely. Residue left in the material dulls the finish over time.
4. Pat — don't wring. Press the piece between two clean towels. Twisting stresses the seams.
5. Hang to dry away from sunlight and heat. A padded hanger in a room-temperature space. Flip it once so both sides dry.

That's it. Five minutes, and the piece is reset for its next wear.

Bringing back the shine

Fresh latex has that liquid gloss. It fades with wear — completely normal. To restore it, use a silicone-based latex polish: a small amount on a soft, lint-free cloth, worked in with light circular motions. A little goes a long way; you're conditioning the surface, not soaking it.

Do this before you wear the piece out, not after you wash it, and you'll get the maximum effect for the night.

The absolute don'ts

• No oils, lotions, or oil-based products touching the latex — they break down the material at a chemical level. That includes most massage oils, body butters, and some perfumes.
• No metal contact during storage. Prolonged contact with metal (including some hangers and jewelry left on the piece) can cause permanent brown staining.
• No direct sunlight. UV degrades and discolors latex faster than almost anything else.
• No heat. No radiators, no hair dryers, no hot cars, no tumble dryers. Room temperature always.
• No sharp edges. Rings, nails, and rough surfaces can nick the material. Take rings off before dressing.

Storage: where latex lives between wears

Store your pieces in a cool, dark place — a garment bag or a drawer lined with a soft cloth is ideal. Lightly dust the inside with unscented talc or a latex-safe powder before storing so the material doesn't stick to itself. Keep black and colored pieces separated; dye transfer is rare but real, and an ivory set is not the place to find out.

Long-term, latex prefers hanging flat or lying loosely folded. Avoid sharp creases under pressure — a heavy box on top of a folded piece can set a line into the material.

How long does latex actually last?

With this routine? Years. The pieces that die young die from neglect — sun on a windowsill, oil from an unwashed wear, a summer in a hot car. The material itself is remarkably durable; hand-finished seams like ours are built to outlast the trend cycle several times over.

Ten minutes of care per wear is the entire price of admission.

Want the quick-reference version? Read our care guide page, or if you're still working up to your first piece, start with what to expect on first wear — then shop the collection.