Sex Toy Materials Safety Guide

Long article, but please take the time to read it all -- being informed can help keep you safe. Our favorite materials: Silicone Silicone comes in many colors and textures, and is hypoallergenic as well as easy to clean and hygenic. It is a porous material and can be thoroughly disinfected. To clean a silicone toy, you can boil it for 5-10 minutes, run it through your dishwasher, or bleach it with a 10% bleach solution. When purchasing a toy, make sure it says it is 100% silicone and is not a silicone blend, as the FDA only requires that a product be 10% silicone in order to be labeled "silicone". Pros: Non-Porous. Disinfectable. Hygienic. Hypoallergenic. Comfortable. Colorful. Cons: Expensive. Can sometimes disintegrate when used with some silicone lubricants. Cheap silicone may not be 100% silicone and may contain miscellaneous and harmful stuff. Aliases: Vixskin! Glass (Borosilicate) Not all glass dildos are made alike. Ordinary glass can shatter, break, and chip... but a sex toy made from clear, medical grade borosilicate glass is completely non-toxic and is said to withstand up to 3,000lbs of pressure. It is possible to chip, scratch, or scuff up a glass dildo, though, so it is recommended that you inspect it and rub your fingers over the material before every use "just in case." They must also be stored in a soft padded case to prevent them from sudden shocks that could chip or break them. You can heat or chill your toy by placing it in ice water or in warm water. You can disinfect your glass dildo by boiling it for 10 minutes or cleaning it with a bleach solution. They are expensive items, but they will last forever if treated properly and are extremely attractive as well. Many people consider them to be true erotic artwork, and you can even find designer glass toys that have jewels embedded in them. Pros: Non-Porous. Disinfectable. Hygienic. Hypoallergenic. Smooth texture. Beautiful, works of art. Cons: Expensive. May be too firm, so it is possible to injure yourself. Must be a reputable brand or may not be real borosilicate! Aliases: Pyrex. Metal Metal dildoes should be purchased from a reputable company and made out of surgical stainless steel or from anodized aluminum. Any other materials may be more likely to rust, corrode, may contain toxic substances, or cause allergic reactions. They look metallic (yeah?) and very shiny and thus can be perceived as intimidating or sadistic -- perfect for BDSM lifestylers! They can be boiled, put in your dishwasher, or bleached. Pros: Non-Porous. Disinfectable. Hygienic. Hypoallergenic. Smooth texture. Intimidating. Cons: Expensive. May be too firm, so it is possible to injure yourself. Must be quality metal. Intimidating. Aliases: Aluminum, stainless steel, surgical steel. Acrylic Very durable material. Some say that it is non-porous, however, it is impossible to boil it. Can be washed with anti-bacterial soap and water, or rinsed with a 10% bleach solution to disinfect. Pros: Non-porous. Disinfectable. Hygienic. Hypoallergenic. Smooth texture. Cons: Can be difficult to find. Scratches/scuffs up easily. Alias: Lucite. The Worst of the Worst: Rubber The number one danger of a rubber toy, is that unless it says "latex free rubber," people who are allergic to latex will have a nasty reaction to it. On top of that, it is a porous material and thus impossible to disinfect. It is recommended that a rubber toy never be shared. If you want to keep it from degrading (wearing out/breaking down) as fast, cover it with a condom any time you plan to use it and then clean it carefully when you are done. Cons: Wears out fast. Must NOT be used with oil-based lubricants. Less "slick," catches on the skin more. Porous. Difficult to clean, impossible to disinfect. Should not be shared with others. Pros: Common. Inexpensive. Alias: Latex, jelly rubber, jelly, "silicone/latex blend." Thermo Plastic Elastomer This material is enjoyed by many customers because it has a soft, pliable feeling, and warms up to body temperature quickly. It feels a lot like human skin. However, it is porous and thus cannot be disinfected and should not be shared with others. A good substitute for this material is Vixskin, a pliable silicone created by Vixen silicone toy company. Cons: Porous. Difficult to clean, impossible to disinfect. Should not be shared with others. Expensive! Pros: Feels good, doesn't break down as fast as rubber. Cannot be used with oil-based lubricants or silicone-based lubricants. Alias: Cyberskin, Ultraskin, Softskin, Ultra Realistic 3.0, TrueSkin, Loveclone Plastic Plastic is used by cheaper sex toys, and it has the benefit of not breaking down like rubber or jelly dildos do. The danger is that softer plastics have "placistizers" added, chemicals to soften the material, which leach out over time. Some of these chemicals are toxic to humans. Furthermore, plastic is porous and impossible to disinfect. Plastic should be a one-person toy, never shared with others! It is suggested that you cover your plastic toys with a condom whenever you use them, even if you never share them. Some plastics are of a higher quality than others, such as ABS plastic and food grade vinyl, as they off gas less than other plastics. Cons: Porous. Difficult to clean, impossible to disinfect. Should not be shared with others. May contain toxic additives. Pros: Doesn't break down as fast as rubber. Cheap. Common. Alias: ABS plastic, food grade vinyl, PVC, vinyl, polypropylene, polyeurethane Further reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberskin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dildo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borosilicate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymethyl_methacrylate http://www.babeland.com/shoppingadvice/sextoymaterials http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_toy http://www.holisticwisdom.com/sex-toy-material-guide.htm http://www.holisticwisdom.com/sex-toy-materials-glossary.htm http://www.freddyandeddy.com/howto/howshopforsextoy3.htm