Hi John Schicker
I used to wash them in soap and warm water, dry them, and then put baby powder on them. I purchased the bands at the local hobby store and they were very expensive. Then I saw the bands at a paper supply store, such as Staples here in the USA, and they were very inexpensive, so I discard them after a day of flying. I just remembered that in the old days we used to store the used bands in a can with kitty litter ( what indoor cats pee on). This would absorb the oil and extend the life of the bands.