When searching for new sex toys to add to your collection, you’ll have a lot to choose from. When choosing a new toy, it’s important to pick premium-quality toys that will be both safe and hygienic. Safe means that the material won’t interact with your skin. And hygienic means that it will be easy to keep clean so you don’t run the risk of creating a breeding ground for bacteria.
In this guide, we’re looking at some of the most common sex toy materials and asking important questions about which ones are truly body safe and how you can use this information to make better decisions.
This all depends on the toy, but there are a few common materials you might find when browsing the aisles.
Body safe simply means that the materials aren’t known to cause adverse reactions when they come into contact with the body. Some people are more sensitive than others, but if you want to be confident that your sex toy isn’t going to cause you any issues, then you should look for those made from body safe materials.
Body safe will typically mean that the material is non-toxic, non-porous and free from harmful chemicals like phthalates.
The most common body safe materials will include medical-grade silicone and stainless steel. These materials are non-porous and won’t leak any chemicals when they come into contact with the body. Glass could also be considered body safe, but there is an increased risk of chips which could harbour bacteria.
There’s little sense in choosing body-safe toys if you’re just going to pair them with any old lubricant. It’s also important to be aware of potential interactions which could remove the body safe status of your sex toys.
The most important thing to remember is that you cannot use a silicone-based lubricant with a medical-grade silicone toy. This is due to the risk of an interaction between the lube and the toy that can cause the material to break down. This will create microtears in the silicone that will provide bacteria with a place to hide.
The best option will always be to use a water-based lubricant, as there is a lower risk of an adverse reaction. It’s also much easier to wash this out of your sheets, so there’s no risk of damage to expensive linens.
Just because a toy is body safe, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t require maintenance to keep it that way. It’s essential to regularly check your toys for signs of wear and tear, as this could mean that the body safe qualities of the toy are diminishing.
You should also clean your toys before and after every use and store them in individual bags to prevent damage from coming into contact with other toys. A special toy cleaner will help you to extend the life of the toy while also minimising the risk of introducing bacteria into a place you really don’t want bacteria.
While toys are designed to last for a while, they aren’t indestructible. And the more often you use the toy, the more quickly the material will start to break down.
Anything made from rubber will start to break down much more quickly. It might become discoloured, which is a sign that it is becoming more porous and therefore absorbing bacteria.
Silicone toys are usually opaque, so they can be more difficult to spot the signs of damage. Look for signs that the top layer of the toy is peeling away, as this can be a sign that something is amiss.
Stainless steel toys are usually not one that you need to worry about, but it is essential that you still establish a good cleaning routine.
