How to wash a prosthesis and make it last

Draft outline. Check against each manufacturer's care instructions before publishing.

The two-minute routine

Step by step: mild soap, lukewarm water, no rubbing, pat dry, air dry away from direct sun.

Washable covers

Hand wash cold, dry flat in shade, and how often to rotate between two covers.

What shortens a form's life

Heat, hot water, harsh detergent, storing it compressed, fingernails.

Storage between wears

Use the moulded box it arrived in.

When to replace

Signs of wear, and a note that weight changes mean a refit rather than a repair.