I remove the rubber seal every several months and brush it off under warm water. Originally we made the AeroPress rubber seals out of thermoplastic elastomer which lasted about five years if properly cared for. For two years now we have been making the rubber seals out of silicone. We expect our silicone seals to last longer than the old ones made of TPE but we really don’t know how long they will last. I have never personally had a seal wear out.