It took some time, possibly decades before condom carrying guys realised that popping a condom in your wallet might not actually be as smart as you think. Condoms used to break much more than they do now but that wasn’t just because manufacturing methods were not as advanced or quality control so thorough. If you have to blow the cobwebs off your condom when it comes out of your wallet then chances are, there could be something amiss other than the vintage expiry date.
The trouble with the wallet placement is that the wallet is invariably in the inside jacket pocket and both wallet and correspondingly condom are constantly exposed to body heat. This is no good for condoms which should be stored in a cool, dry place. The molecular structure begins to break down and over time, the integrity of the condom may be lessened, something not visible to the naked eye when you open the packet or anything else naked for that matter. If the condom has been in there for some time then it really could become very compromised. Extreme cold can also have the same effect so leaving a condom in the glovebox of your car for a couple of months during a snowy winter is not a good idea either. Room temperature is the perfect temperature for your condom but preferably a little on the cool side. Here are some tips for good condom behaviour:-
- If you do need to leave your condom in your wallet then remember to take your wallet out of your jacket every night and place it somewhere cool
- Rotate the condom. If it isn’t used after a reasonable period of time then throw it away and replace it with a new one
- Any condoms including a box in the house that are exposed to excessive heat over a period of time left sitting on top of a cupboard or chest in the sun, for example, should be thrown away even if they have not gone past their expiry date
- If you have a box within date and you don’t want to throw them away then you can test one of the condoms. Take one condom out of the packet and have a close look at the lube, does it still look the right texture and consistency? Then take the condom, stretch it out and fill it with water to see if there are any leaks. If this condom passes the test then the rest of the box may be okay but who wants to take the risk? Obviously, if you do keep the box then discard the test condom, just saying
So where is a good place to carry a condom?
Mobile phone cases are a new popular but these can get just as hot as wallets. They are often carried next to the body as well in a pocket and the batteries can become super warm. Here are some of our best suggestions as to where you can secrete that solo condom without worry.
The Mint Tin – who doesn’t have a Mint Tin, well then treat yourself to one, it can do more than just carry those little breath fresheners. Just be careful if you offer them to someone, they may get quite a surprise when you open it unless that is intentional of course. Small tins are perfect, go vintage, even antique. A silver cigarette case is another great option, people will never guess what is in there although they may be a little mystified if you don’t smoke
The Laptop Carry Bag – who doesn’t have a backpack or zip-up case for their laptop or tablet these days. They always have numerous handy zipped pockets which are secure and discrete. Remember though, laptops do get very hot so make sure the battery is quite cool before you put it away, a good practice to follow anyway
Old CD cases – a genius device to carry two or three condoms
Business card carrier – business cards are right back in vogue so why not treat yourself to a snazzy, designer card case. If you just put a few cards in then there is plenty of room for a condom. Just remember its there though when you whip out that case at a conference or event or you could be handing something over that the recipient did not bargain on!
Women have of course always been super adept at hiding sanitary products in their car or handbag so have stolen a bit of a march on the guys in this regard. If you are looking for a special gift for your Valentine, a smart silver or engraved case to hide away those condoms is a lovely gesture. Whatever you use, just make sure you rotate the condoms, if you don’t use them then discard and replace on a regular basis.
