Sex Toys - Care and Cleaning
Our sex toys bring us so much joy. The better we care for them, the longer they'll give us pleasure. The following are some techniques to keep your toys in tip top condition.
Sanitary Use
Putting a condom on your sex toy will keep it the cleanest and most sanitary. Using a condom allows you to share your sex toy with others. Just apply a new condom before a new person uses it. Especially, jelly or porous toys, even when using by yourself, a condom will ensure that you won't introduce dangerous bacteria into your vagina and will also keep you from reinfecting yourself with any vaginal infection you might have experienced. I can't say this enough, never use the same toy from anus to vagina without applying a new condom. There is bacteria in the anus that can cause some major infections once they get into the vagina, which is why you wipe from front to back when you urinate or defecate. If you can't afford to have separate toys, then make sure you use condoms with your porous ones.
How Can I Tell if my Sex Toy is Made of a Porous Material
Most websites should tell you, if that info is not available, either shop someplace else or contact customer service. That information should be easily provided for you. Okay, here's the low down on toy materials.
- Glass toys are non-porous and can be easily disinfected. You can put them in the diswasher (top rack only), boil them in water for 5 minutes or wash with soap and warm water (if you're the only one using the toy).
- Metal Toys are also non-porous. I don't recommend boiling them, but you can wash them thoroughly with soap and water. I've even used those sanitary wipes, although do be careful if you have sensitive skin.
- Pure Silicone toys are non-porous, meaning they can be put in the dishwasher (top rack only), boiled in water for 5 minutes or washed with soap and water to clean. These toys can be completely disinfected. However, toys with batteries do not apply to this, you can destroy the battery compartment, hence destroying your toy.
- VixSkin Silicone is used mostly on toys from Vixen Creations. This is also 100% silicone so they can be totally disinfected in the same way the pure silicone toys can be above.
- Elastomer is a popular new material being used for toys. Even though it's hypoallergenic and phthalate-free, it's still a porous material so it can be not be totally disinfected. The best way to wash is with warm water and soap. Even better, use a condom.
- Some toys have silicone as one of MANY ingredients. Don't be fooled, if this is the case, it's not pure silicone and it can not be completely disinfected. The best way to clean these toys is with warm water and soap or use a condom.
- Jelly Rubber tends to be the cheapest material available, hence there are a ton of toys made of it. This material is porous. It's impossible to disinfect, so it's best to apply a non-lubricated condom on it before using and clean with soap and warm water. If you don't use a condom with this material, it's best to replace this toy every few months.
- Vinyl is another smooth material, but is somewhat porous, not as much as the Jelly Rubber, but it can not be boiled so it can't be completely disinfected. So it's important to use a condom and wash with soap and warm water.
- Cyberskin toys have always been popular because of their real skin feel. However, they are a very porous material, so you can't boil them or put them in the diswasher. You're best bet to wash with warm water and soap and to use a condom.
- Hard plastic toys are not very porous, but you can not boil them to disinfect them thoroughly. They can be washed with warm water and soap, don't get any battery compartments wet though. I have also used the sanitary wipes on these toys, which has worked out well too. Just be careful with those if you have sensitive skin.
After Cleaning
After cleaning your toy, whatever way you do it, always leave the toy out to air dry. Don't immediately put it away. Bacteria and viruses can not live on dry surfaces.
Storage
When you store your sex toy, make sure you keep it someplace where it won't collect a lot of dust, lint or animal hair. Every little particle in the air will stick to a some materials, especially jelly rubber, vinyl, cyberskin and silicone. My secret that's worked for many years is to wrap each toy in a clean, lint free handkerchief and store in a draw, toy bag, secret toy pillow or toy box. Also keep all vaginal and anal toys separated when you store them as well. Even though everything is clean, you can never be too careful.
Safety Check
Check all plastic toys for rough, sharp edges. If you find any, first try to exchange, return the toy. If that doesn't work, try gently filing the edge with a nail file to smooth it out. If that doesn't help, don't use the toy. Although I'm attempting to recommend quality toys that won't break or crack if dropped, make sure you check for cracks. If you find cracks, contact the retailer or manufacturer...bottom line, do not use toy. Basically, if any toy made of hard material has any cracks or rough edges on them, don't use.
The Moral of the Story
As long as you clean your sex toys properly, store them safely and apply common sense when using them, you will get the most out of them and get the maximum amount of time from them.
