Care
Material care
Cleaning
Rinse with warm water and mild unscented soap, or use a dedicated toy cleaner. Pat it dry rather than rubbing, and keep anything abrasive away from the surface. Let it dry completely before it goes back into storage — trapped moisture is what causes problems later. Skip anything alcohol- or solvent-based; those strip the material faster than anything you are trying to wash off.
Powdering
Once fully dry, dust lightly with renewal powder or cornstarch. TPE grows tacky as it ages, and a thin coat restores the dry, velvety finish. Reapply after each wash, or roughly every four to six weeks if the piece is in storage. Use a soft brush rather than your hands, and tap off the excess — a heavy coat clumps in creases and looks worse than none at all.
TPE vs silicone
TPE is softer and warms faster, but it stains more easily and needs powdering. Platinum silicone holds finer detail and resists staining, at the cost of being firmer. Neither should share storage with the other — silicone products can react against TPE surfaces.
Storage
Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat. Store flat or in the position it was shipped in; long-term compression in one spot will leave a mark. Avoid dark clothing against light material for extended periods.
Lubricant
Water-based works with everything and is the safe default. Silicone-based lubricant is fine on TPE but will break down a silicone surface, so avoid it there. Oil-based products — baby oil, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, coconut oil — degrade both materials and should be kept away entirely.