Care & storage
What should I know about staining and storage?
Dye transfer from dark fabrics is the most common avoidable damage in both materials — here are the staining and storage precautions that matter, especially for TPE.
Published Aug 22, 2026Updated Aug 22, 2026Evidence wording reviewed Aug 22, 2026
Staining happens when dye from fabric transfers into the material's surface — most often from dark or strongly dyed clothing left in contact. It is the most common avoidable damage in this category, it can affect both silicone and TPE, and it is more likely and more stubborn on TPE's more porous surface.
How staining actually happens
- Prolonged contact with dyed fabric. Dark stockings, lingerie, or any dyed garment worn on the item for hours is the classic case.
- Contact during storage. Being stored touching dark bedding, dark clothing, or a dyed cover.
- Heat and pressure speeding transfer. Warm environments and tight contact both make dye migration more likely.
New garments that have not been washed are the most common culprit — excess dye transfers easily before the first few washes.
The precautions that matter
- Wash new garments before they touch the item. Preferably several times for dark colors.
- Prefer light or white clothing where dye transfer is a concern.
- Limit wear time for dyed garments, especially early on.
- Check for transfer early. A faint stain addressed quickly is far easier than one discovered weeks later.
- Follow the seller's guidance for stain removal for that specific material — home remedies can make things worse.
Storage basics
- Dry completely before storage. This matters for both materials, and skipping it is the second most common cause of damage. See which material is easier to maintain.
- Use a stable, supported position as the seller recommends, so the item isn't creased under its own weight.
- Keep it away from dyed fabrics — including the surface it rests on and anything covering it.
- Mind the environment. Humidity and heat both raise risks; a stable, dry indoor space is the goal.
- Store accessories and garments separately, in light colors if they will ever touch the surface.
Why storage belongs in the material decision
Your storage situation is one of the five inputs in the material check, and for good reason: a staining-prone or humid environment changes which trade-offs you should accept, and an unplanned storage setup is a sign the purchase needs one more pass before the material question is settled.
One habit that beats every precaution
Build the routine before the item arrives: where it will live, what it will touch, and what the drying step looks like. Buyers who decide this in advance rarely deal with serious staining. Buyers who improvise after delivery often do.
