A Guide to Sex Toys: Part 1
Published July 8th, 2008
Sex toys come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from all kinds of different things! Different materials are used for different reasons – do you want a toy that is cheap so you can just try it out, or do you want an expensive one that will last? Do you want a vibrator that is flexible or one that transmits the strongest vibrations? Also as a swinger you have to take into careful account how to clean and maintain your toys and what kinds of toys are safe to share. Of course, it’s always safe to share toys if you use condoms, but some materials can be sterilized – and some can’t! Read on for more.
Glass - glass is used to make different sizes and shapes of dildos, butt plugs, and basically any toy that doesn’t have moving parts. It’s more expensive than other materials, but it lasts much longer, and it holds temperature – you can heat it up or cool it down before you play with it for added sensation. It is non-porous and won’t absorb bacteria; you can clean a glass toy with soap, rubbing alcohol, or even in the dishwasher! Just be sure you rinse your cleaning agent off with warm water before using it again. Don’t clean with anything abrasive as it will scratch the glass! Glass toys can be sterilized by boiling them in water. Start with room temperature water and bring to a boil slowly so as not to crack the glass! A couple minutes will sterilize the toy. Remember, it holds temperature, so be careful when you take it out – it’s very hot! Let it cool down slowly. If your glass toy is sterilized (not just cleaned, but boiled) between each and every use it is safe to share.
Silicone - Silicone is used to make pretty much any kind of toy you can think of. It’s almost the most realistic material you can buy. Like glass, it is hypo-allergenic and non-porous. It’s more expensive than most other materials, but it lasts much longer and is easier to clean. You can use soap, rubbing alcohol or bleach to clean your toy, or (if it has no moving parts) you can boil it or run it through your dishwasher. Boiling (usually for about 5 minutes, check the instructions that came with your toy) is the best way to sterilize a silicone toy. If it is sterilized between every use it is safe to share. Note that this is only true for toys that are 100% silicone! Many cheap toys are silicone/rubber mixes that say silicone on the packaging, so be absolutely sure of what you are buying before you assume it can be sterilized! Rubber mix toys are porous and cannot be sterilized; they must be used with a condom.
Jelly Rubber - Jelly rubber is a versatile material that comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and densities – from soft and floppy to hard and firm. It’s used to make all different kinds of toys. Currently there’s a controversy surrounding jelly rubber because it’s made from PVC with softeners called phthalates added. Basically speaking, scientific studies have been done linking phthalates to serious health problems at high levels of exposure. No studies have been done concerning exposure to phthalates from sex toys, however! So we know these chemicals are toxic (although just as with anything you will find those who argue the studies are faulty; feel free to do research and make up your own mind) but we don’t know if using them in sex toys is really enough exposure to cause health problems. In any case, jelly rubber toys are not something you want to share with someone else because they can’t be sterilized; you can wash them with mild hand soap or an adult sex toy cleaner, but anything stronger (bleach, rubbing alcohol, or even a strong soap like dish detergent) will break down the rubber. Boiling will also cause the toy to break down and is out of the question. Also they are porous and hold bacteria if not properly cleaned after each use! These are great, cheap toys for yourself but if you must share them you should use a condom!
Latex/Rubber - Latex toys are even cheaper to purchase than jelly ones; however they don’t last as long. They are very porous and can only be cleaned with mild soap or adult toy cleaner, so you cannot share these toys without a condom. They are not made with phthalates, but some people are allergic to latex. The real improvement over the jelly toys is that rubber doesn’t have that chemical smell.
Elastomers - Rubber toys made with elastomers instead of PVC are a new alternative to jelly rubber that doesn’t contain phthalates. These toys are more durable than jelly rubber, last longer, and unlike latex are hypoallergenic. However they are still slightly porous and can’t be cleaned except with mild hand soap or sex toy cleaner – harsher chemicals will break the toy down. So no matter how well they have been cleaned you must use a condom with these kinds of toys.
Acrylic or hard plastic - Hard plastic is a popular material for vibrators because it really transmits those vibrations, and is also used to make other kinds of toys. If your hard plastic toy has moving parts, the best way to clean it is with rubbing alcohol (you can also use soap or adult toy cleaner on it). If it is all one piece you can put it in the dishwasher! Hard plastic toys are non-porous and they do not absorb bacteria.
A note on lubricant - Silicone lubricant will melt jelly and latex toys, it’s generally always best to use water-based or to protect your toy with a condom. However, you can use any kind of lube you want with glass toys! Silicone lube on a silicone toy will also melt the toy if it is not 100% medical grade silicone, so use water-based lube or a condom over your toy to protect it just to be sure.
Of course this does not cover absolutely every material out there, as people are always trying to invent new and exciting ways to create sex toys! Be sure you check the packaging and manufacturer information on any toy you buy for care and cleaning information.
Disclaimer: I’m not an advice columnist; I have no degrees in psychology or human relationships. I’m just your average swinger who thinks about things a lot, and I thought it was a good idea to write down some of my own thoughts and opinions about the lifestyle. If this can help you in any way to navigate your own way through the lifestyle, that’s fantastic. But I may be wrong sometimes, and you should always remember to use your own best judgment.