Protective Barriers
These include items to protect mattresses and pillows, articles that shield furniture and flooring, and smaller pads that reduce contamination on gear or specific play spaces.
Bedding
Synthetic fitted play sheets, plastic mattress pads, and designated cloth sheets help protect mattresses and regular bedding from coming into contact with fisting lube.
Figure 2.1: Neoprene Play Sheets
Fitted sheets, like these from KinkTek, are good barricades for alphabet and silicone lubes.
Fitted Play Sheets
Description: Synthetic vinyl, PVC, or neoprene fitted sheets protect mattresses and pillows from stains and lube absorption. Vendors offer standard US and European sizes. Custom sizes can be purchased from specialty artisans.
Alternatives: Waterproof mattress pads (for bedwetting).
Considerations: Playing with oil-based lubes (lipids and petroleum distillates) may affect the lifespan of these sheets. Consider cloth throws instead.
Figure 2.2: Mattress Pads
Waterproof mattress pads are typically sold to prevent damage from bedwetting or incontinence.
Mattress Pads
Description: Fitted waterproof mattress pads and pillowcases (made from vinyl, plastic, or latex) block lube and moisture from seeping into cloth fabrics.
Alternatives: Fitted play sheets or various overlays.
Considerations: Playing with oil-based lubes (lipids and petroleum distillates) may affect the lifespan of the pad—consider cloth throws instead for oil-based lubes. By themselves, mattress pads may deter from the mood of a play session because they are very institutional. Many fisters will place pads underneath traditional sheets or blankets to counteract the hospital-like feel of a rubber mattress pad.
Figure 2.3: Linens
Old sheets and linens can be repurposed into sex sheets that can be stained (by silicone or oil-based lubes) without concern.
Old Linens / Designated Cloth Sheets
Description: Designated cloth sheets are used exclusively for play, so staining caused by oils and silicone is irrelevant.
Alternatives: Fitted play sheets, mattress pads, and various overlays.
Considerations: Cloth sheets are usually permeable and should be used in conjunction with mattress pads or other barriers. Oil and silicone stains may still remain even after washing. Some fisters intentionally rub oils and lubes into these sheets so that stains appear to be part of the fabric pattern of the sheet.
Overlays
Overlays prevent lube from coming into contact with flooring and furniture. Rather than spend a significant amount of money on highly specialized sheets made specifically for the fisting community, most fisters repurpose everyday items to obtain desired results.
Figure 2.4: Flat Sheets
Fort Troff's vinyl flat sheet is just larger than the footprint of a sling. Although very durable and waterproof, lube can pool and create a slip hazard.
Flat Sheets
Description: Vinyl, plastic, or neoprene flat sheets protect floors, couches, and mattresses from stains and lube absorption. Vendors offer standard sizes, usually just larger than the footprint of a sling frame. Custom sizes can be purchased from specialty artisans.
Alternatives: Heavy-duty disposable plastic (including construction-grade trash bags), shower curtains, moving blankets.
Considerations: Be cautious with slips and falls for floor sheets. Some plastics may degrade with oil-based lubes (lipids and petroleum distillates). Consider cloth throws and pads instead.
Figure 2.5: Moving Blankets
Moving blankets are super absorbent and very cost effective. Various sizes and colors are available to accessorize with your playroom needs.
Moving Blankets
Description: Moving blankets are thick, fluid-resistant, polyester furniture pads. Large volume spills that are not immediately addressed can soak through and may result in stains or extended cleanup efforts.
Alternatives: Layers of old towels coupled with any form of plastic (trash bags, shower curtains, paint drop cloths).
Considerations: Like fitted cloth sheets, blankets can be washed and reused. High heat from the clothes dryer may disintegrate the polyester and fabric. Allowing moving blankets to air dry increases the lifespan of the blanket.
Figure 2.6: Shower Curtains
Shower curtains can provide a waterproof barrier and are very travel friendly (if still in original packaging) and economical.
Shower Curtains
Description: Shower curtains are economical solution that are the perfect size for mattresses, couches, and sling underlayment. They can be discarded or even washed for those who are environmentally conscious.
Alternatives: There are no price conscious alternatives to shower curtains.
Considerations: Shower curtains make good play sheets for travel. They are relatively inexpensive, and their initial packaging is compact. After use on the road, it may be easiest to discard instead of refolding. Any plastic sheeting is prone make to rustling sounds when in use.
Figure 2.7: Plastic Sheeting
Plastic sheeting can be purchased at local hardware stores and can cover very large areas, which is useful at residential play parties.
Plastic Sheeting / Drop Cloths
Description: Various grades and thicknesses of plastic sheeting/drop cloths create an impermeable barrier between lube, furniture, and flooring.
Alternatives: Construction-grade plastic bags.
Considerations: Rolls of plastic sheeting are good for protecting carpets and furniture at large parties. In one-on-one sessions, they may be overkill.
Figure 2.8: Splash Mats
Splash mats have a footprint ideal for slings and fuck benches with non-slip texture on both top and bottom to prevent falls.
Splash Mats
Description: Textured, vinyl splash mats used in child care create a lube-proof barrier that prevents exposure to floors and furniture. The typical size is just larger than 1.5 square meters (4 - 5 square feet).
Alternatives: Disposable alternatives include puppy pads, bed chucks, and plastic sheeting (including construction-grade trash bags). Reusable options include drop cloths and moving blankets.
Considerations: Excessive lube spills can temporarily pool, so caution may be required. Consider cloth throws, newspaper, sawdust or high volume puppy pads instead.
Pads
Underpads also prevent lube from coming into contact with flooring and furniture; however, they are typically much smaller. Most fisters use puppy pads, but there are several options that are more environmentally friendly.
Figure 2.9: Puppy Pads
Disposable puppy pads absorb lube and lube spills easily. Black pads from vendors such as Fetish Pads may detract less from the scene.
Puppy Pads
Description: Disposable pads or reusable pads for toilet training dogs can protect mattresses, bedding, and flooring from spills and stains. Pads can be purchased in various colors and sizes. Larger pads are ideal for flooring and beds. Smaller pads fit well in slings.
Alternatives: Washable chucks, bedding, towels, and waterproof mattress pads (for bedwetting).
Considerations: Disposable pads are not environmentally friendly; however, they are the most efficient protection for potential accidents. Stained pads can be discarded while a bottom touches up. Disposable pads keep liquid plastics (PEO) from entering the water system.
Figure 2.10: Bed Chucks
Commonly found at hospital supply stores, reusable or disposable bed chucks work very similar to puppy pads.
Bed Chucks
Description: Bed chucks are frequently used with hospital patients and can be reusable or disposable. Reusable pads typically have a vinyl or waterproof backing that prevent leakage onto bedding, floors, and furniture. Disposable pads are sometimes indistinguishable from puppy pads; several brands have a wax like backing instead of plastic.
Alternatives: Puppy pads, old towels/linens, waterproof play throws, newspaper.
Considerations: After use, simply wash reusable pads with grease cutting detergent or Oxyclean then allow to air dry.
Figure 2.11: Towels
Old towels are readily available in any household and clean up easily. Avoid using fancy guest towels that may stain with silicone and lipid-based lubes such as Crisco.
Towels
Description: Towels are ubiquitous and very versatile for play in slings, beds, and outdoor areas. Multiple layers are typically used beneath the bottom, especially when playing on beds or furniture. Sling play and outdoor play only require a single, strategically placed towel.
Alternatives: Reusable chucks and pads, old linens, moving blankets.
Considerations: Most of the alphabet lubes will easily soak through a single towel, so additional preventative options must be coupled with towels. Oils such as Crisco can permanently stain towels and may retain a scent if not washed appropriately. Waterproof options are often better choices.
Figure 2.12: Play Throws
The Love Blanket is a waterproof throw that repels lube and insulates a bottom.
Play Throws
Description: Waterproof fabric on a bed or sling creates an impenetrable barrier between the lube and your bed or gear.
Alternatives: Towels, small throws, chucks, and puppy pads.
Considerations: Alphabet lubes absorbed by these throws can still remain sticky and not be fully absorbed, depending on their viscosity. Having another towel on hand allows you to clean up the spill before it is completely absorbed.
Figure 2.13: Newspaper
Layering newspaper beneath the sling is the original method for limited the mess and spread of lube, especially lipid-based lubes.
Newspaper
Description: Layers of newspaper beneath the sling or play area can catch lube drips from a hole. Prior to the ubiquity of puppy pads, newspaper was the preferred preventative barrier of fisters.
Alternatives: Old linens/towels, chucks, and puppy pads.
Considerations: Aside from old towels and linens, newspapers are the most environmentally friendly option. At large group events, newspaper is a viable single use option that allows fisters to begin in a fresh play space. Several layers of newspaper are necessary and there may still be some seepage onto the floor beneath. Newspapers are unadvisablefor carpets and upholstered furniture.
Gloves
Gloves are an ideal method for keeping lube inside the play space. When a session is complete, the top removes the gloves and discards them with other disposable items from the session.
Figure 2.14 [ A - B ]: Disposable and Reusable Gloves
Certain lubes should be avoided with both disposable and reusable gloves, which may be made from silicone, PVC, or latex. Most fisters suggest avoiding silicone lubes with silicone gloves and oil-based lubes with latex and nitrile gloves.
Gloves are also useful for key points in play sessions. For example, a top my use gloves to apply or reapply base coats. A top may also use gloves while inserting toys into the bottom's hole in order to improve grip.
Finally, a bottom may use gloves during private toy play sessions to insert large, unruly dildos. After insertion, gloves are removed to leave dry hands that can open popper bottles.
Reusable gloves may be made of silicon or other materials such as PVC or latex. Silicone gloves may be sensitive to silicone lubes. PVC and latex will degrade with oil-based lubes such as lipids (Crisco) and petroleum distillates (mineral oil or Vaseline).
