A quick guide to when to clean: leaving them unwashed overnight after use is generally acceptable, but it is recommended that you clean them within 24 hours. You can adjust this timeframe based on local temperature and humidity.
However, if left untreated for too long, mould can easily grow inside. Once mould has developed and produced an unpleasant odour, it is difficult to remedy even with thorough cleaning and disinfection; for the sake of hygiene and safety, the item will need to be replaced.
Cleaning is the first step – be sure to rinse out any residue from the interior promptly.
If you’ve simply given it a quick rinse but haven’t dried it thoroughly, leaving it for a while may result in water stains or a sour smell at most, but it won’t necessarily mean the item is completely ruined.
If there is a significant amount of residue after a single use, it is advisable to rinse it briefly under a tap as soon as possible.
If you are genuinely unable to clean it straight away, you can stuff it with toilet paper to absorb the liquid; removing the toilet paper afterwards will reduce the likelihood of damage to the gel.
Key maintenance point: Thorough drying takes priority over applying maintenance powder.
Forgetting to apply maintenance powder will, at most, shorten the product’s lifespan and impair its texture; however, failure to clean and dry it thoroughly can easily lead to damage to the gel material, rendering it unusable.
Introduction to auxiliary drying tools
1. New-style absorbent drying sticks
The new absorbent sticks are made from a lightweight foam-like material, offering better water absorption, greater resistance to breakage and ease of use.
2. Drying Stand
By utilising gravity to allow moisture to drain naturally downwards, this is particularly helpful for drying deep cavities (such as those in ‘cervix-shaped’ designs), which are the areas most prone to water accumulation and mould growth.
Note: The stand is intended solely as an aid; you must first use a towel or drying stick to absorb the majority of the moisture—do not rely solely on the stand for natural air-drying. Some designs are not suitable for prolonged hanging, so this is not an essential tool.
Precautions for Applying Care Powder and Storage
Storage environments that can damage silicone: hard cardboard, fabrics prone to colour transfer, items containing organic dyes
Safe storage: thick plastic bags, plastic storage boxes, waterproof storage bags, metal tins
For temporary storage, do not wrap in scrap paper; the simplest method is to place the item in a plastic bag.
If you have a large collection, you can use a large plastic box; sprinkle on the care powder and roll the items around to distribute it evenly – this is a similar process to that used in factory production.
One key point when stacking: do not place soft rubber or jelly-like materials at the bottom where they will be subjected to heavy pressure, as prolonged compression can cause permanent deformation; many people have experienced soft rubber items being squashed into cubes.
