Doin’ It Well

You’ve saved your money. You went to the shop. You may have even shopped around and compared. You’ve finally selected the toy that’s right for you. When you bring it home, it even has that new toy smell. But how can you make sure that your sex toy will last?

Whether it is a dildo, a vibrator, anal beads, a butt plug, or something else, your sex toy deserves to be well cared for. The better you care for it, the longer it lasts, and the more fun you can have with it.

Before You Drive
Before you jump right into bed, check for any cracks or manufacturer defects. If it is battery operated/electric, make sure that the mechanical parts are in working order. As you may imagine, you’re not likely to be able to return a used toy.

There are several different materials that sex toys are made from. Silicone, plastic, glass, acrylic, rubber/latex, jelly, or synthetic skin (which has a variety of brand names) are used to make a variety of your toys. When you buy your toy, note what material it is made out of.

Riding Safely
As you take your new toy for a spin, you might find that you’d like to share it with friends or even use it on different parts of your body. If you are going to use a toy with a partner, or use a toy both anally and vaginally (or orally), using a new condom (or a latex glove on larger toys) can both minimize clean-up and wear and tear on your toy, but it also helps you decrease the risk of transmitting STIs or other infections to yourself or your partners.

Wax On
When using your toy, knowing what kind of lube to use is important. Water-based lubricant, which is widely available, can be used on any toy. If your toy is made of rubber, latex, “jelly,” or any synthetic skin or you are using a condom, you should avoid using oil-based or petroleum jelly lubricants, as these will wear away the latex. Also, silicone based lubricants should not be used on silicone toys or with synthetic skin materials because using these together can cause wear to the toy over time.

Wash Me!
To know the best way to clean your toys, it helps to know the toy’s material and whether or not it is mechanical. If your toy has mechanical parts, don’t submerge it or get water inside.

Silicone, glass, and acrylic toys (without mechanical parts) can be placed in boiling water for a couple of minutes to sterilize, or use your dishwasher. Plastic, rubber/latex, and jelly materials can be cleaned with warm water and antibacterial soap, and rinsed thoroughly. Because rubber and jelly are more porous, be sure to wash thoroughly. Synthetic skin toys should also be washed in warm (not hot) water with soap. Avoid harsh detergents or bleach, as they will wear down the toy faster, not to mention that they’ll be touching some very sensitive body parts!

There are also products specifically for cleaning sex toys. ForPlay Adult Toy Cleaner is a mild detergent with Nonoxynol-9 (a sperm killing chemical). Also, Afterglow Toy Tissues are disposable moist cloths with rubbing alcohol and aloe, for cleaning off your toy or yourself. Soap and baby wipes may do the trick just as well.

Synthetic skin should be powdered with the “renewing powder” they come with, or cornstarch, to keep their silky feel. Don’t use talc or baby powder, because this may cause infection or other problems.

Ride Hard and Put Away …
After you’ve washed and dried (to avoid mildew) your toy, finding the right place to store it is important.

Storing your toys in special bags may work, but be sure that the bags won’t leech dye onto your toy. We were giving a presentation and the phallus for the condom demonstration had been stored in a small bag, which caused a bizarre tie-dye effect all over the phallus. Unless you’re looking to create a whole new look with your toys, T-shirts and underwear are great to wrap your toys in. They will keep them dry and dust-free, and they probably won’t stain your toys.

If your toy has batteries, be sure to remove the batteries before putting it away. This will help the batteries and the toy last longer, and it will reduce corrosion in your toy.

Know When to Say “New”
Sadly, there is always a time when you must say goodbye. If your toy has cracks, mildew, mechanical problems, or corrosion from batteries, it is probably time to find yourself a new toy, and begin the fun all over again.

Sex 411: Making Your Toys Last

•Use lube that is appropriate for your toy’s material
•Clean your toys thoroughly and gently.

Kim Rice and Ross Wantland are professionals in the fields of sex education and violence prevention. E-mail them at buzzdoinitwell@yahoo.com