How quickly does coconut oil break down latex? (2023)

Does coconut oil dissolve latex?

"Coconut oil cannot be used with latex condoms because it can break down the latex and cause the condom to break," explained Dr. Landry. Only water- and silicone-based lubricants can be used with latex condoms without risking breakage, said Dr. Landry.

The tests demonstrated that mineral oil damaged the latex condoms within 60 seconds.

However, if you're using condoms to protect yourself from STDs or pregnancy, you shouldn't use an oil-based lube like coconut oil. Oil-based lubes can damage the material condoms are made from and lead to breakage.

It's important to use only water-based lubricants, such as K-Y jelly or Astroglide, with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly, cold cream, butter, or mineral and vegetable oils damage latex.

Risks of using coconut oil as lube

First off, you should steer clear of latex condoms, says Lawson: “The oil can cause the latex rubber in condoms to disintegrate and break during intercourse, which can put you at risk for pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.”

Water-based or silicone lube are always safe to use with any kind of condom. Don't use anything that has oil in it, like lotion, vaseline, or oil-based lubes with latex condoms. Oil can damage latex condoms and make them break. You can generally use oil-based lubes with non-latex plastic condoms.

Mineral oil and non-polar solvents are able to interact with the latex polymer really well, diminishing the interactions between the individual polymer chains to each other, hence causing a weakening in the material and the break down of latex condoms.

People planning to use latex condoms should not use Vaseline as a lubricant. Oil based substances, such as petroleum jelly, can weaken latex products. A weakened condom is more likely to break or tear during sex, which may increase the risk of infection or unintended pregnancy.

If you're planning to use latex or polyurethane condoms, you can't use Vaseline. Petroleum jelly is incompatible with latex products and it will weaken these types of condoms.

The shelf life, or time a male latex condom is useful and effective from manufacturing to use, varies considerably depending on storage conditions, temperature, humidity, moisture, and even ultraviolet light. Each of these factors can considerably reduce condoms' typical shelf life of three to five years.

What dissolves latex?

You can use soap or body wash paired with warm water to loosen the latex. Massage the area with your hands or a scrubber to help the latex lift from your skin. If you bought a latex kit, it may have come with a bottle of body wash designed to wash away the latex. Regular body wash works just as well.

The addition of coconut oil acts as plasticizer and had remarkably improved tensile strength. This is because coconut oil is high in saturated fatty acid that decreases the bound rubber, therefore leads to strong interaction with filler surface (Nasruddin and Susanto 2018).

Natural but significantly altered materials, like leather and rubber can take a lot longer, leather shoes for instance take 25-40 years to decompose, while rubber shoe soles 50 to 80 years. Synthetic fibers take a lot longer since they are predominantly made from plastics.

"The essential oil and the rubber are both nonpolar hydrocarbons, so when they come together, some of the rubber dissolves into the oil, causing it to weaken." She even tested the oils on a few skinny rubber bands, herself.

If the condom is made of latex then no, you cannot use Vaseline as a lubricant. You should only use water-based lubricants, such as K-Y Jelly, with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants, like Vaseline, can damage the condom and cause it to break.

Baby oil can weaken male and female condoms. Contact with mineral oil for as little as 60 seconds lowers condom strength by 90%. The mineral oil breaks down latex and can cause the condom to break.

Aloe vera is water-based, so unlike the oils, it's safe to use with condoms.

Oil-based lubricants (e.g., petroleum jelly, shortening, mineral oil, massage oils, body lotions, and cooking oil) should not be used because they can weaken latex, causing breakage. For more information on how to use a condom correctly, visit CDC's Condom Effectiveness web site.

The main issue with using olive oil as a lubricant is that oil causes latex to break down. So, if you are using a latex condom (which is what most condoms are made of) or another latex barrier like a dental dam, the oil may cause the latex to break. And the breakage can occur in as little as a minute .

Coconut Oil is Harmful

Be sure to store your baseball gloves properly so they don't get wet and then damaged by coconut oil.

Does moisturizer break down latex?

Mineral oil and petroleum, common components of hand lotions and other lubricants, cause rapid deterioration of latex^[1,3] and should be avoided.

Lubricants made with oil can damage latex, so do not use the following with latex condoms: any oils (cooking, baby, coconut, mineral) or products made with oil. petroleum jelly. lotions.

Oil-based preparations should be avoided as they may cause latex gloves to deteriorate.

The safest way to dispose of a condom is to tie it up like you tie up a balloon to avoid spilling the fluids inside. You must then wrap it up in a paper or tissue and then in a plastic bag. Remember do not just wrap it in paper as it can soak the paper if it leaks and cause a mess.

Condoms do expire and using one that's past its expiry date can greatly reduce its effectiveness. Expired condoms are often drier and weaker, so they're more likely to break during intercourse. This puts you and your partner at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unwanted pregnancy.

You don't need more than five seconds to do this. Take out the used condom carefully (to avoid the risk of pregnancy and infections) and wrap it in a tissue paper/paper bag/newspaper and finally throw it in the trash.

In contrast, KMnO₄ destroys the latex. Subsequent dehydration of the latex in acetone or ethanol fuses the latex particles and usually completely extracts the latex.

Removing Liquid Latex

Fortunately, this product is straightforward to remove. You can use a combination of soap and water to rinse it off. If you have liquid latex all over your body, hop into the shower to get it all off.

Krud Kutter® Latex Paint Remover is a proprietary solution that removes fresh or dried latex paint from a variety of surfaces. Perfect for cleaning paint spills or roller splatter. The biodegradable, low VOC formula will remove even old, fully cured latex paint.

What dissolves latex condoms?

Mineral oil and non-polar solvents are able to interact with the latex polymer really well, diminishing the interactions between the individual polymer chains to each other, hence causing a weakening in the material and the break down of latex condoms.

However, numerous studies have proven that as little as 60 seconds of exposure to oil can degrade latex condoms. (*Insert scream emoji!*) While oil-based lube can be great for foreplay or massage, most doctors recommend water- or silicon-based lube for vaginal sex and when using sex toys.

Olive oil has the potential to dissolve latex condoms, which can increase the risk of infection and unintended pregnancy. Due to this, it is not advisable to use olive oil as a sexual lubricant.

Rubber and Latex

However latex and many robust rubbers need to be primed or dissolve with N- heptane is a good solvent for latex and most rubbers.

Nitrile gloves are resistant to fixed oils often used in food service, cosmetic, and healthcare settings. Think of the many kinds of oils in your kitchen and your bathroom cabinets: olive oil, coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil…. These are all known as fixed oils because they don't evaporate.

Albolene and Aquaphor dissolve latex and increase the chance of rupture. I do not recommend their use when a woman is using a condom for birth control or prevention of sexually transmitted disease.

Unlike latex condoms which can't be used with oil-based lubes (the oil degrades the latex), polyurethane condoms can. That means coconut oil and products like Foria's Awaken Arousal CBD Oil and Quim's Smooth Operator CBD Intimate Serum are all fair game.

People planning to use latex condoms should not use Vaseline as a lubricant. Oil based substances, such as petroleum jelly, can weaken latex products. A weakened condom is more likely to break or tear during sex, which may increase the risk of infection or unintended pregnancy.

Well, oil-based products (Vaseline, coconut oil, etc.) are not safe to use with latex condoms, as the oil molecules break down latex – and actually increase the likelihood of damage to the condom and condom failure.