Q&A for How to Soften Rubber

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  • Question
    How do I soften the rubber coating in my raincoat? It's gotten very stiff over time.
    Bess Ruff, MA
    Environmental Scientist
    Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.
    Environmental Scientist
    Expert Answer
    A good option for this would be using your hair dryer to heat the rubber coating for a few minutes.
  • Question
    How can I soften an elastic waisbband on boxer shorts?
    Bess Ruff, MA
    Environmental Scientist
    Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.
    Environmental Scientist
    Expert Answer
    You can put them in your clothes dryer and put it on the highest heat setting.
  • Question
    How to soften rubber gaskets?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Use boiling water or a hair dryer.
  • Question
    How do I soften the rubber seals located on the edges of a refrigerator and freezer door?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Use a hand-held hair dryer.
  • Question
    I have some erasers that dried out and could not be used. Could I use this method? If not, what am I going to do?
    Community Answer
    It would depend on the type of eraser. A lot of erasers are a rubber compound, and without knowing how to soften the other ingredients it's difficult to say. I would start with hot water - place them in a shallow dish of water and microwave them for 20-30 seconds at a time. I wouldn't use anything stronger than water, as it would likely change the constitution of the eraser and compromise its functionality.
  • Question
    How can I soften rubber kitchen cleaning gloves?
    Community Answer
    Keep them stored with a light dusting of talc or corn starch. This will keep the product soft and moisture free.
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