Unfortunately, rubber - an elastic material from which various sealing parts are made - loses its properties over time. It becomes rigid, deformed and begins to crack and crumble. If there is no replacement part at hand, the question arises of how to restore the elasticity of the rubber until it becomes possible to replace it.

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Small rubber parts that have lost elasticity over time can be “reanimated” using ammonia or kerosene. Roll long and narrow rubber parts into a spiral. Prepare a weak solution of ammonia and immerse the products in it for 25-30 minutes. If you use kerosene, you need to keep the rubber parts in it for at least 1-2 hours. During this time, the rubber will not only become softer, but may also increase in size. After ammonia and kerosene, rinse the products in warm water with soap, then rinse running water and wipe dry.

How to soften rubber?

Rubber is used in many household structures: various hoses, seals, adapters, car parts. Over time, products made from this material fail, dry out, lose elasticity, and become inconvenient to use. There is no need to buy new elements right away; you can try to soften the rubber at home.

Rubber elements under influence external factors lose their original properties, become less elastic, and harden. Their continued use will not bring the desired effect; seals, for example, will not be able to make the system completely sealed. Purchasing new rubber elements is sometimes difficult due to the lack of products of the required sizes or their inflated cost.

The following substances can soften rubber:

Kerosene. Allows you to make rubber parts soft, affecting the structure of the material. After processing, the rubber element becomes completely elastic. The recovery technology is as follows:

fill a small container with kerosene (select the container size depending on the size of the product to be restored);
place the part in a container with kerosene for 3 hours;
after the specified time, check the product for softness, if the result is satisfactory: remove the material and rinse with warm running water;
dry the material in a natural way, without the use of a hair dryer or battery.

Ammonia alcohol. The process for restoring old material is as follows:

dilute the specified alcohol with water in a ratio of 1:7;
place the rubber material in the resulting solution for half an hour;
after the specified time, remove the part and rinse with warm running water;
Allow the part to dry completely before using it.

Please note: you cannot keep rubber in a solution of ammonia and water. more than an hour. If the material is not elastic after 30 minutes, use another recovery method.

Rubbing alcohol followed by glycerin. Technology for “reanimation” of rubber parts:

fill the container with medical alcohol;
place the part that requires restoration in alcohol for several hours;
after the specified time, check the condition of the product, if it is soft enough, remove the element from the solution and rinse with warm soap solution;
rub glycerin into the surface of the part using a sponge (cloth);
remove any remaining glycerin from the surface of the product.

Instead of glycerin, it is allowed to use automobile oil; it is rubbed into the surface of the product, then the part is left for half an hour before use. During this period, the rubber becomes quite elastic.

Castor oil and silicone. Let’s make a reservation right away - this method allows you to quickly “reanimate” old rubber, but the restoration effect will not last long; after a few days the product will become hard. For this method, follow the sequence:

coat the part with silicone;
wait 10 minutes;
After the specified time has passed, the part can be used.

Please note: a similar effect is achieved by using castor oil. It is rubbed into the surface of the part, after which it becomes soft and elastic.

There are situations when the rubber element, due to its hardening, is difficult to remove from structural parts. You can achieve the desired result by heating the rubber with a stream of hot air using a hair dryer. When exposed high temperature the material will become softer and it will be possible to pull it out of the part.

An element that is too “stiff” is softened by boiling in salted water. The technology is as follows:

fill the container with salted water;
let the liquid boil;
place the rubber element in boiling water for 10 minutes;
remove the rubber and quickly use it for its intended purpose.

This method is quite effective, but has a short-term effect. Once cooled, the rubber will become hard again.

You can soften the rubber using the methods described above. It is necessary to take into account: the long-lasting effect after restoration has a method with kerosene. Rubber, after its use, remains soft and elastic for a long time, because the structure of the material changes. Other methods do not allow achieving this result.

How to soften rubber?: 1 comment

It was necessary to soften the rubber. No matter what I tried, it was all useless. But about ammonia I didn’t know, now I’ll take note in case I need it again.

How to Restore Elasticity of Rubber Gasket

Do-it-yourself tire restoration

I think I won't open it big secret having said that everything in the world deteriorates over time. Everything loses its original properties.

For example, rubber, over time it becomes stiff and loses its elasticity. But this is not a reason to thoughtlessly throw it away.

Everything can be fixed; restoring the elasticity of the rubber will not be difficult.

First of all, what is this for? For example, a rubber gasket has become stiff, so you can buy it in a store.

Or have lost their softness rubber seals or cuffs, you can also buy them. The era of general shortages is long gone.

But it turns out that this is not entirely true. IN small towns Not everything can be purchased, and I’m not even talking about villages.

And besides this, it can be difficult to buy tires of the desired shape due to the fact that there are many rare, almost unclaimed products that are sometimes difficult to buy in a store.

So how does rubber restoration work? And kerosene will help us in this matter.

For small products, for example, let's take rubber cuffs (sealing), rubber gaskets, various rubber seals, etc. and prepare them a kerosene bath.

Pour kerosene into a small container and place the objects to be restored there for a couple of hours.

If the tires big size, then first you need to carefully roll it up and place it in kerosene.

It would not be amiss to say that reclaimed rubber will regain its former softness and can be reused.

But still, the new is better than the old.

If sooner or later you come across a new rubber cuff or rubber gasket, then it would be correct to buy new products and replace the old ones.

Rubber is a fairly elastic material from which various sealing products are made, however, unfortunately, over time this material gradually begins to lose its properties. In this case, the rubber becomes very hard, loses its original properties and gradually begins to crack. And if there are no replacement parts at hand, then a person has to face the question of how to restore old elasticity rubber. By the way, the sale of rti is carried out on the website www.rti-project.ru.

Small rubber parts that have lost their original elasticity can be easily restored using kerosene or ammonia. In this case, long and too narrow parts should be rolled into a spiral. After this, prepare a weak solution of ammonia and put the product in it for half an hour. However, if you do not have ammonia and you use kerosene, then the rubber product should be in this solution for at least two hours. It just follows that during this time the rubber will not only become much softer, but will also significantly increase in size. After this, you should treat the product in warm water and soap, and then you need to wipe the rubber dry.

If the door rubber seals old refrigerator have lost their original elasticity, then many experts advise pouring boiling water over them. This method will help restore the former properties of this rubber. In order to consolidate this effect, wipe the rubber with a cloth soaked in silicone. However, this is only a temporary measure, so replace the door seal as soon as possible.

In order for the rubber seals on double-glazed windows to last as long as possible, it is necessary to periodically apply a layer of glycerin or silicone to them. By the way, glycerin can be purchased without much difficulty at any pharmacy.

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Donetsk city. Between Ukraine and Russia.
Name: Vitaly

Gasoline and oil resistant rubber, for a long time being dry, it becomes hard. Wetting with oil helped restore elasticity (in particular, the O-rings on the bumblebee primus stove).

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City: Kyiv, Minsk
Auto: Hyundai Elantra

With the onset of the autumn-winter season, I began to understand that in order to maintain visibility at a normal level (especially in the dark, of which there is a lot in winter), it is necessary to change the wipers.

Old windshield wiper blades practically ceased to perform their function - they jumped on the glass, squeaked, and left streaks.

After previous replacements, I was left with 5 pairs of old wipers with the same symptoms. Each of them had already served its purpose and was sent into retirement with the above symptoms (creaking, jumping on glass, etc.). Moreover, among them there are SWF, Champion, and noname.

Before purchasing new windshield wiper blades, I decided to experiment with old wipers. After reading on the Internet what car owners advise, I conducted an experiment.

1. Take an old windshield wiper blade. We check the rubber for mechanical wear - the presence of breaks and other obvious defects in the wiper rubber. If everything is OK, go to step 2.

2. We check the frame (all hinge joints, the place of attachment to the lever) for the presence of play. If nothing hangs above the permissible limits, go to step 3. If the wiper itself has already become loose, then most likely it will go into the firebox.

3. Thoroughly degrease the gum.

I had white spirit and a clean rag on hand, with the help of which the rubber band was carefully wiped off everything that had accumulated on it during the period of use, and there was a lot of dirt on it.

4. Spray/smear the rubber band with silicone grease.

This should restore elasticity to the elastic.

5. After rubbing the rubber band with silicone grease, leave it in this state for a while. (several hours, days, etc., whoever cares). I waited 2 hours because... I had to go.

6. Before starting use, wipe the rubber band again with white spirit (carefully, and not as in step 2), thereby removing any remaining silicone grease from it, so as not to smear it on the windshield, because This clearly will not improve visibility.

If the silicone grease remains on the rubber band, then the wiper will also glide well, but not only on the glass, but also on the water that is on the windshield, on the dirt stuck to it, and on frozen ice - it’s generally excellent. There won't be anything to wipe off.

7. Let's try. My wipers wiped the glass without squeaks or streaks. After the experiment, 3 days passed - the effect of the new wipers did not disappear.

Time will tell how long these brushes will really last after the procedures performed.

I liked the result. The purchase of new windshield wiper blades has been postponed indefinitely, given my stock of used wipers (good thing I didn’t throw them away)

They also recommend turning the rubber band on the old wiper the other way around, but to do this you first need to pull it out, which requires a little effort. The above procedures were enough for me, without turning the gum over.

P.S. The ability of silicone grease to restore the properties of rubber is confirmed.

In many cases, rubber products are completely irreplaceable. Various seals, belts, hoses and other parts are found in the design of household items and automotive equipment. But with prolonged use or overcooling, they can become hard and unsuitable for further use. How to soften rubber at home? There are substances and methods of influence that help achieve the desired result.

This substance is capable of changing the structure of rubber and restoring the elasticity of products made from it. The procedure consists of soaking objects until the desired effect is obtained. Large rubber can be carefully rolled before placing in a container of kerosene. After a couple of hours, the softened part should be removed and washed thoroughly.

There is another option - to bathe the product in a water-ammonia solution. The rubber should be placed in the prepared composition and left for about half an hour. Then the washed and dried part can be used for its intended purpose.

How can you soften the rubber, at least for a little while? Silicone will have a temporary effect on it. Having lubricated the surface of the object with it, you need to give it time to absorb, after which the product will be ready for use. A similar treatment can be carried out using castor oil.

In a situation where it is not possible to put a hose on a round part or pipe, immersing the desired part of the product in boiling water will help. After waiting a little, you need to remove the hose from the water and, without wasting time, install it in its proper place. This will be quite easy to do, since the high temperature will steam the material.

Sometimes a problem arises with removing rubber elements from some structural parts. In this case, air heating will be effective. A hairdryer is used. Under the influence of a hot jet, the material will expand, as a result of which it will be possible to twist and tighten the element that has become pliable.

Such simple methods You can soften hardened rubber, thereby increasing the service life of popular products.

In the section on the question Water leaks from cistern into the toilet. The rubber gasket has become too hard. What can you do to soften it? given by the author Suckers the best answer is two weeks... kicked the cat for puddles in the toilet...
Turns out the tank was leaking

Answer from 22 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: Water is leaking from the cistern into the toilet. The rubber gasket has become too hard. What can you do to soften it?

Answer from Yoehmet[guru]
Why soften it, buy a new one.

Answer from A prostitute[guru]
keep it in kerosene, but it’s better to buy a new one

Answer from V...Spb[guru]
softening will not work, and all gasoline and kerosene only dissolve rubber.
You can wrap a little solder (or lead) on top for weight, most often this helps.

Answer from Neurologist[guru]
Try the thing that locks drainer put a couple of heavy bearings... They will rust, of course, but for a while the problem will be solved... Otherwise you'll have to remove the tank and replace the entire system.

Answer from Valery Myakishev[guru]
Completely replace the fittings, and your neighbors can be flooded.

Answer from a lion[guru]
buy a new one, it costs pennies and adjust the valve

Answer from Alex Mishin[guru]
There is absolutely no need to replace all the fittings - just replace the trigger stop valve, often colloquially referred to as a "pear".
Depending on the design of the tank, it is either screwed onto a wire hook-bow, or (in newer tanks) stretched onto a plastic tube, which serves as a release handle - you need to buy a different “pear” for one and for another case, which one you need - look necessary.
The pear not only becomes hard, but also begins to crumble and sometimes falls in on one side - soaking it in gasoline or kerosene will not help. Although it would get wet normally - the rubber is vulcanized and therefore will not completely dissolve, but will only swell.
If you send me a photo of the inside of your tank, I’ll try to tell you which release valve you need.
Valve price - from 5 rubles.

Answer from Truculentus[guru]
Nothing can soften it to the required state. Needs replacement. It's cheap nonsense, and it only takes five minutes of work.

Answer from Polina Roslikova[newbie]
You need to rub the rubber band with sandpaper at the point of contact with the barrel reinforcement (to remove the top coarsened layer of the rubber band).

Answer from Nikolay Khilko[newbie]
Elementary - in boiling water! But it’s better to replace it with a new one!

Don't rush to throw it away important detail or a rubber component if it has weakened and ceased to perform its main functions, because this is not always an irreversible process. In addition, it is not always necessary to seek help from specialists with this issue, spending extra money, because there are several simple and quite effective ways how to restore the elasticity of rubber without special equipment at home. And the first stage of restoring the elasticity of rubber involves preparing all the necessary means and tools, as well as treating the surface of the deformed material, which must be degreased and freed from dust, debris and any other contaminants. You shouldn’t be surprised, but these will help give the rubber a second wind: simple remedies, like kerosene and ammonia.

To do this, you need to prepare a low-concentrated solution from the above-mentioned products and place in them rubber parts rolled up in a tight spiral that have lost their elasticity. It should be remembered that if ammonia is used, then thirty minutes is enough for the rubber to be thoroughly saturated with it. At the same time, the kerosene solution requires infusion for at least two hours, since the effect of this substance slightly different from ammonia. And if everything was done correctly, then the soaked rubber parts will become much softer and more pliable, and after that you can proceed to the second stage of processing - thoroughly washing the part with soapy water and drying it. This approach allows you to quickly put in order a stretched or hardened rubber part, however, it is not suitable for all products.

This means that not all rubber elements are removable, and as an example we can cite the seals built into the doors of refrigeration units, because if you want to put them in a kerosene or ammonia solution impossible. However, their failure is not at all a reason to replace the unit with a new one, since there is one simple way to restore the qualities of rubber without dismantling it. It involves the use of boiling water, which is poured over the rubber gasket over the entire area, after which the lost elasticity of the seal is restored, and therefore its other functions (fitting, sealing, etc.), although this effect is rather temporary. Ordinary silicone will help to strengthen it, which must be applied to a clean cotton cloth or napkin and walked over the treated surface of the rubber part.

The same method is also great for caring for the rubber gaskets that are equipped on all metal-plastic windows and doors. If for some reason they have lost their former properties, then there are several more ways to restore the elasticity of rubber without kerosene and boiling water. The simplest of them is to treat rubber glazing beads with glycerin, which must be done at least once a quarter (four times a year). To do this, simply rub the rubber elements with a cloth or napkin thickly moistened with glycerin and let it absorb properly.

This technique is especially relevant if the air in the room is too dry, which is why the rubber tends to dry out, harden or crumble. At the same time, to date, more long-term methods for making rubber elastic have not yet been invented, and in order not to resort to frequent replacement, it is necessary not to forget about caring for it in the form of timely prevention.

There are many ways to give back to rubber products. previous state, in which they are most convenient to use. Therefore, to the question of how to soften rubber at home, there are several answers. And it will be up to the owner of the house to choose how to soften the rubber in each specific case. In the most well-known and widespread method of processing the products under discussion, ammonia is used. Its main advantage lies in maximum efficiency, accessibility and low cost, because such alcohol can be purchased at the lowest cost at any nearest pharmacy. First, rinse the rubber part with water and immerse it in a water-alcohol solution. It is prepared in proportions of 1/1. For such a bath, about 30-40 minutes will be enough. After the specified time has passed, the rubber will need to be washed again. clean water and dry thoroughly.

The second most popular method of softening rubber among ordinary people involves the use of castor oil. It is important to note here that the result will be quick, but short-lived. Therefore, you should pay attention to this method if you need to soften the rubber short term. To begin with, the rubber product is washed with water and dried, and then thoroughly lubricated with castor oil applied to a soft cloth or cotton wool. All that remains is to give the object time to soak and you can use it. The period depends on the size of the product and the thickness of the rubber. For miniature parts, just a couple of minutes of “rest” will be enough. By the way, if you have liquid silicone on hand, then you can use it. This product gives exactly the same result of quick but short-lived softening for rubber products.

The next method, which tells you how to soften rubber at home yourself, will take longer, but the effect will last for a long time. long time. This will require large saucepan or another container accessible for heating, into which the entire rubber product can be placed. If the material has become very hard, it is best to boil it in salted water. The rubber is immersed in a saucepan with liquid, and then placed in this container over medium heat. You can also use a boiler for such heating. It is difficult to indicate the exact time of the procedure; it will also depend on the size of the product and the degree of its “hardness”. To determine the completion date, you will simply need to periodically check the rubber with a wooden stick for softness.

But not only boiling will be effective in softening the products under discussion. You can influence objects with high temperature in other ways. If, for example, a hardened hose cannot be pushed onto the right pipe, then its end should simply be immersed in boiling water for a couple of minutes. The main thing is that immediately after this you have time to quickly install the part before it returns to its original state. High temperature very quickly affects the rubber, effectively steaming and softening it. If it turns out to be difficult to remove the part being used, you can heat it in other ways, for example, by applying a cloth soaked in boiling water or by applying a stream of hot air from a hairdryer. After such procedures required element will quickly tighten soft and pliable. The main thing is to protect your hands from exposure to high temperatures or boiling water. It is better to first protect them with thick gloves or some other method.

But there are other ways to quickly and easily soften rubber using improvised means. For example, the most ordinary kerosene can help with this. It is known that it is capable of not just softening rubber, but completely changing its structure, returning the material to its former elasticity and pliability. That is why this method recommended by experts for those who would like to achieve results that last long term. You will need to fill the container with kerosene the right size, and then immerse the rubber product in it. You should not immerse the object in cold kerosene; it is better to leave it at first room temperature for a while. Usually a couple of hours in the substance under discussion is enough to soften various rubber products. As soon as required deadline will expire and the kerosene will have the desired effect on the object, it will be possible to remove the structure from the liquid, rinse thoroughly under water and dry.

Rubber is considered one of the most common materials today. Over time, the basic characteristics may decrease significantly. A fairly common question is how to soften rubber. This procedure can be performed independently at home; it is important to follow all recommendations.

Do-it-yourself tire restoration

All materials lose their performance properties over time. You can often encounter a situation where the rubber becomes too hard and loses its elasticity. If desired, you can restore the basic properties of the material; it does not have to be thrown away. You can soften the rubber by the most different methods. Among the features of this issue, we note the following points:

Rubber cuffs and seals of some devices lose their basic properties over time. In this case, you can buy new ones Consumables, since their cost is relatively low.
Some elements are difficult to find on sale due to their unusual shape and properties. In this case, softening can be carried out using various common technologies.

There is quite a large number of in various ways softening rubber, the most common is to use kerosene.

What is needed to restore the elasticity of rubber?

Rubber is considered one of the most elastic materials. It is for this reason that it is used in the manufacture of various seals. After the load stops acting on the seal, it is able to return to its dimensions. This moment determines the spread of the question of how to restore the elasticity of rubber. Over time, this property is also lost. If the surface wears too much, cracks appear, due to which the insulating qualities are significantly reduced.

You can soften rubber at home using common substances. The most commonly used substances are:

Kerosene can easily restore the elasticity index. This substance is ideal for processing small products; it can be softened by soaking them.
Ammonia can be used to soften the structure. To do this, it is enough to create a small bath in which the product is lowered for several hours.

When soaking rubber in a restoration liquid, it is worth considering that the material can significantly increase in size. To remove the substance from the surface, the product is thoroughly washed with soap and water.

In some cases you can use hot water to soften rubber. This method is used to restore the insulation of the refrigerator doorway. Enhance achieved effect can be done by wetting the surface with silicone.

Seals made from the material in question are also used in the production of windows. To improve the insulating qualities of the rubber bands, they are wiped with silicone and glycerin from time to time. Such substances can be purchased without any problems.

How to make rubber elastic?

Hardness increases if the rubber is kept dry for a long time. Elasticity is restored by wetting the surface with oil. Softening is recommended to be carried out periodically to achieve the desired result.
Car wipers can be lubricated with silicone grease, which softens the surface. Of course, restore old design only possible if there are no mechanical defects.

In addition, you can find on sale special compounds, which can soften the structure after application.

How to soften rubber at home?

At home, you can soften the rubber by using various materials. The most widespread are:

Kerosene.
Castor oil and silicone.

High temperatures also cause the rubber to become softer, but wear resistance decreases.

Kerosene

When considering how to soften rubber, many people pay attention to the possibility of using kerosene. Such a substance can restore elasticity.

Features of the application are that the product is soaked in a special bath, after which the surface is thoroughly washed and dried. If the length of the product is large, then it can be rolled up. It is kept in kerosene to soften for several hours, since kerosene does not act immediately.

This substance has received wide use, it can also make the product softer. The procedure looks like this:

Select a container of suitable volume.
Ammonia is diluted in water to obtain the required solution.
The product is placed in the solution for an hour to soften.
After this, the softened element is removed and washed with clean water.

Drying is carried out at room temperature. It is worth considering that high and low temperature always have a negative impact on the condition of the tires.

Silicone and castor oil

A short-term effect can be achieved by using silicone and castor oil. Among the application features, we note the following points:

Silicone has only a temporary effect. It can be purchased in specialized stores.
After lubrication, you need to wait a while. The silicone can be absorbed into the structure, making it more flexible.

After half an hour the rubber will be ready for use. It is worth considering that the achieved effect will be temporary. When considering what can be used to soften such material, you can pay attention to castor oil.

Heating

In some cases, only temporary softening is required, for example, when putting a hose on a pipe. The problem in this case can be solved by temporarily lowering the product into a hot bath. After some time of exposure to high temperature, elasticity increases.

At long-term operation the rubber may become hard. Problems can only be solved if the product is boiled. The effectiveness of the procedure can be significantly increased by adding salt to the composition. Boiling is carried out until the surface becomes elastic.

If difficulties arise when removing tubes and hoses, then heating is carried out by applying a warm air flow. A construction or regular hair dryer can be used for this. At concentration air flow high temperature in one place, plasticity increases significantly.

In conclusion, we note that only in the absence of defects can the material be restored. Some recommended methods may worsen some performance characteristics. That is why you need to follow all recommendations.