Retainer Cone Aging

[OneSkin]

When I first get retainer cones in the mail, they are crystal clear and (actually painfully) sticky. They have a strong grip.
My older cone is foggy and seemingly terminally more slippery. It still holds fine for 2-5 hours, but it's slicker. Is my soap leaving residue on the equipment? Is it just inevitable wear-and-tear?
Maybe it's actually a good thing; it's more comfortable to adjust skin beneath the cone after application since it's slicker. But maybe it's less effective
What are people's experiences? Can you keep your cone crystal clear?

[Huskyjerk]

No my first cone lasted 2 years 6 months. It probably would have lasted longer yet but I lost it. It was cloudy in color and had a small tear on the narrow end. I would wash this with non lotion soap. Sometime a would use dish soap and a soft tooth brush.

[admin]

When I first get retainer cones in the mail, they are crystal clear and (actually painfully) sticky. They have a strong grip.
My older cone is foggy and seemingly terminally more slippery. It still holds fine for 2-5 hours, but it's slicker. Is my soap leaving residue on the equipment? Is it just inevitable wear-and-tear?
Maybe it's actually a good thing; it's more comfortable to adjust skin beneath the cone after application since it's slicker. But maybe it's less effective
What are people's experiences? Can you keep your cone crystal clear?

Thanks for that feedback. Silicone does get worn from washing. In some cases I've seen it even gets a hazy surface if cleaned and left in a drawer, maybe depending on humidity.

I wash mine with every shower with soap and a soft toothbrush.

[Nomad]

I wash mine with every shower with soap and a soft toothbrush.

I wash my tlc x silicone parts with just water and anti bacteria diswasher. Do you think that's enough for hygine? Isn't using a soft toothbrush gonna scratch the silicone...........

It's also good to hear that the YSC are durable.

[admin]

I wash my tlc x silicone parts with just water and anti bacteria diswasher. Do you think that's enough for hygine? Isn't using a soft toothbrush gonna scratch the silicone...........

It's also good to hear that the YSC are durable.

I wouldn't let anything antibacterial in the house. The inevitable result is the house will be inhabited by dangerous germs resistant to the antibiotic.

A soft toothbrush should be soft enough. The silicone gets a bit hazy with time no matter what you do.

[Mikeb83]

I have had 2 skin cones and treated them both differently. I would wash one with irish spring soap and within a month it got foggy, oily (possible breakdown of the silicone) and not grip past 4 hours. My other one i only use warm water to rinse and/or i use an alcohol wipe and let air dry. The second method seems to be quite better as the silicone has stayed clear and not began to look like the first one.

[Nomad]

The second method seems to be quite better as the silicone has stayed clear and not began to look like the first one.

That is a very interesting observation! I'll start using alchohol too! But really wonder on how could it get cloudy that fast with soap. I've heard that silicone dont get that cloudy that fast....I still even had a baby nipple use on the bany bottle and it's not very cloudy.

How about the tugger and the white silicone parts what kind of washing method would uou recommend? Can I use soap?

Thx

[Mikeb83]

I avoid soap altogether. Buy a box of alcohol wipes and use those. I use one at break time when i relieve myself and it does a great job cleaning up the skin oil and makes the device not slippery. Then again at night when i take it off for bed. Never use on your skin directly and let the device dry completely before putting it back on. I think the soaps have fat in them when they are made and that might contribute. Not completely sure on that statistic though.