Care & Cleaning by Material

Gender gear is made of many different materials, and while almost anything can be cleaned with mild soap and water, some materials have special instructions. Some materials should be stored separately from other products - especially rubber, elastomer and cyberskin which may react to other materials. If your gear came with instructions from the manufacturer, we recommend following those instructions. If your gear didn’t come with instructions or you’re looking for more information, read on.

Silicone

Silicone is durable, retains body heat, and is easy to clean. Silicone is largely hypo-allergenic, phthalate-free, and latex-free. While durable, silicone products can tear, so keep sharp edges away from your silicone. Silicone can be boiled or washed with soap and water. Never use silicone based lubricants with solid silicone, and keep away from other silicone-containing products during storage.

Elastomer/Cyberskin/Rubber

Our elastomer, cyberskin, and rubber products are phthalate-free for people who want soft, less expensive gear but are concerned about exposure to phthalates or latex. These materials are porous and cannot be boiled. For this reason we recommend not sharing these products. You may wish to lightly dust your cyberskin and elastomer products with corn starch to restore the velvety finish. All porous materials should be stored separately from all other materials (and away from each other too!)

Leather

Leather is a durable material for gear. Leather that comes into contact with bodily fluids should be cleaned after each use. In most cases leather can be cleaned by wiping it down with a damp cloth and soap or disinfected with rubbing alcohol. Leather conditioner can help keep your leather soft and will help prevent cracking.

Hard plastic

Hard plastic can be less expensive, and because hard plastics are non-porous they tend to be easy to clean. If a hard plastic is dropped, check it for scratches or breaks before using. Clean with mild soap and water and allow to dry thoroughly between uses.

Fabric & Elastic

If you’ve purchased a harness or packing strap made of cotton with elastic or spandex features, be sure to hand wash or cold water wash in the washing machine. If your strap stretches out over time, you might consider washing and drying in the dryer, but otherwise avoid the dryer. Instead, to preserve the elastic or spandex, hang or lay flat to dry. Be sure to avoid rubbing alcohol, bleach, and solvents on elastic material to preserve the stretchiness.

General Care & Cleaning Tips

• Clean your gear before first use and after every use.
• When using an STP or packer in a harness, take care to make sure it doesn’t get cut by being forced through roughly.
• If you use alcohol to clean your gear, rinse thoroughly.
• Let your gear air dry before storing it.
  

Tips for Pumps & Pumping

• Using a thick water-based gel lubricant around the opening of the cylinder can help create a better seal.
• If you feel pain or discomfort, use less suction or take a break.
• Never pump for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time.
• Always use a cylinder that fits properly or that is the size your physician recommends.
  

Tips for Packers & STPs

• Most silicone and elastomer packers tend to get a bit  tacky after washing. Lightly dust with cornstarch to restore the soft, velvety finish.
• Softer packers will adjust over time to being worn. If you’d like to pack to the left or right, place the packer to the side and it will usually stay put after you’ve been packing with it for a while.
• Some packers and STPs have a specialty strap, but most can be used with any packing strap or harness. You may wish to pack with brief style underwear.
  

Warranties & Guarantees

We review all of the products we carry to ensure that you get the best of the gender gear - and all of our products come with an in-house warranty. 
If you have any issues with your purchase, please do get in touch with us at info@gendergear.ca . We are always happy to help!