A condom is a precision latex product with an expiry date, and most people store them in the two worst places available: a wallet and a car. Heat, friction and time degrade latex, and a degraded condom fails at exactly the moment it matters. This is a two minute fix.
The three enemies
Heat. Latex degrades faster at elevated temperatures. A car in summer regularly exceeds 60C inside, which ages a condom by months in a single afternoon.
Friction. A wallet compresses and rubs the wrapper constantly. Wrappers are foil, and foil abrades. A pinhole in the wrapper means the condom inside has been exposed to air.
Time. Latex has a shelf life of around five years from manufacture, less with spermicide. The date is printed on the individual wrapper, not just the box.
Where to actually store them
- A bedside drawer. Cool, dark, no pressure. Ideal.
- A bag, in a small tin or hard case. Solves the friction problem if you need to carry them.
- Not the bathroom cabinet. Humidity and heat from showers is worse than people assume.
- Not a wallet, ever. If you must carry one, replace it monthly and treat it as disposable.
- Not a glovebox. Temperature swings are extreme.
The pre-use check
- Date on the wrapper. Not the box, the individual wrapper.
- The air cushion. A sealed wrapper is slightly plump. A flat one has lost its seal and the condom has been exposed.
- Wrapper condition. Any crease, tear or worn spot means bin it.
- Feel through the wrapper. It should slide freely inside. Stiff or sticky means degraded.
- Open with fingers, across the serrated edge. Never teeth, never scissors.
Buying in bulk sensibly
Bulk packs are considerably cheaper per unit and make sense if you store them properly. All Spicerack Selects, our in house shop, free discreet shipping.
Bulk and Multipacks: Free Shipping
SpicerackSelects
SKYN 12 and 24 packs bring polyisoprene down to a sensible price per unit. SKYN Extra Lubricated and Trojan Studded BareSkin come in larger counts too. SKYN Selection is the variety pack if you have not settled on a favourite. Buy a size you will use within a couple of years rather than the biggest available.
FAQ
How long do condoms last? About five years from manufacture in good conditions, three with spermicide. Considerably less in a wallet.
Can I use an expired condom? Not if there is any alternative. Latex stiffens and cracks as it ages.
Does the freezer help? No. Cold damages latex too. Room temperature and dark is what you want.
What if the wrapper is damaged but the condom looks fine? Bin it. The wrapper is the barrier that keeps it usable.
Browse the full condom collection, or read how to put one on properly.
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