Sex Toy Safety

ambrosiaswisdom
Sep 11, 2014
8 min read

In talking with a friend I came to realize that there are too many people that do not know safety when it comes to sex toys. Everyone can figure out that you should make sure to change condoms when with multiple partners, or that you should clean your toys between use, or to use clean toys/new condom when going from anal to vaginal; but there is a number of bigger concerns out there that can pose serious health problems.

There are 3 main areas of concern that you should think about when buying toys: material, lube/condom compatibility, and cleaning/storage.

Materials affect many things about toys. There are things that most people think about like texture and hardness. There are also more serious things to think about when looking for a new toy.

Allergies: Most people do not realize that one of the most common problems sex toys can cause is an allergic reaction to the material which is not only uncomfortable but also can cause long term problems for women. While I say that it CAN cause long term problems, it is more likely to be a short term issue which will go away with time and rest. Itching, burning, prickly feelings, and even what can only be described as being fucked by the world's hottest pepper are only a few of the common reactions.
Porosity: Is a material porous or not? While you may not think about his as a concern, it majorly impacts cleaning methods as well as HOW you use the toy. A simple example is if you have a porous toy that you use for anal, you now have all that bacteria stuck in it. While you may think that you can just clean the toy and be done, there is no way to get rid of all of the bacteria and you now have a toy that is only usable by 1 person in 1 area with no ability to mix it up.
Chemicals: This is a scary point of concern. In some materials used to make toys, there are chemicals added into them with no governmental regulations to prevent it. These chemicals are actually able to seep out of the toys and be absorbed into our blood stream, some of which can cause cancer or other serious health risks. Due to the fact that toys are sold as “Adult Novelty Items” the companies that make them are allowed to regulate themselves. BPA mimics estrogen and can cause breast cancer, Parabens are a chemical bi-product of “crude oils”, while phthalates have been banned from kids toys due to health risks (cause skin irritation, rashes, burns, cancer and even fertility issues). Other toys that have been tested have actually been found to contain chemicals which can cause health risks to pregnant and breast feeding women or unborn children, lead, phenol and cadmium.

Lube and condom compatibility are also a major note for those who are looking at buying sex toys. “But it’s not able to get me pregnant, why do I need to use condoms with my toys?” While this might be a simple question which most people do not think about, there are a number of reasons why it should be considered.

Lubes: There are many different types of lubes on the market today: Water Based, Silicone based, hybrid (a mix of water and silicone), flavored (generally water based), “full body massage oils”… the list goes on.

Silicone: If you buy a silicone toy and use a silicone based lube with it, there will be a degradation of the surface of the toy thereby making it more likely to become uncomfortable as well as have small pitting which can become home to bacteria. Also some of the “lifelike” materials will melt if silicone lube is used.
Oil based: While silicone is technically an “oil” it has different properties then most oils do. Generally speaking, oils actually create a barrier between the skin and the oil allowing for a greatly increased chance of infection in a BAD place such as UTI’s or yeast infections. Oils also break down latex to the point it becomes weak and thin. While thin might sound good with condoms, it also makes it so that they leak and are wasted money. DO NOT EVER USE OIL LUBES!!!!
Oil based lube exception: The only exceptions to oil based lubes are silicone, which I spoke of abpve, and Coconut oil. Coconut oil is a highly body friendly oil which has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflamatory properties. This means it is great for yeast infections as well as anal. While it is not as harsh as other oils, use with latex is a bad idea as it will still cause a weakening. it should also be noted for those allergic to lattex, coconut oil will aslo break down polyisoprene condoms which are a synthetic latex alternative. If you decide to use coconut oil lube, you shoul stick to polyurathane or nitril. No research has been done yet into interactions with sheepskin or lambskin condoms.
Vaseline (petroleum jelly): JUST NO!!!!!!! Again it creates a barrier creating a breeding ground for infections.
Flavored: While some people think that the idea of flavored lube for oral sex will make things taste better, you also have to keep in mind that they have put things in it which have no business near a vagina or urethra. These things will take the identity of any of the following: sugar, sucralose, aspertaine, saccharin, maltose, dextrose, fructose, maltodextrin, sorbitol, malititol. And many more. So basically ANYTHING ending “ose”, “trin”, “tol” is a form of sugar…
Other Ingredients: Lubes quite frequently have additives in them to assist in the actual lubrication which may be allergens for some people. Glycerin and Parabens are the most commonly used while others might include essential oils (which are actually ok as they absorb into the skin) such as tea tree oil, or even menthol.

Condoms: OK so here we are at the question of why use condoms with toys. The answer is simple. Have you even used “your” toy on your partner then after breaking up used it on a new partner? If you answered yes, you may have just shared bacteria between partners. Have you ever used an anal toy, cleaned it, then used it vaginally? Yes, well you could have just spread your butt gems. Have you EVER had a yeast infection or UTI that you found out about only a matter of hours or the day after using a toy? Well you in luck, you can now get it from that toy even though you cleaned it. Need I continue with reasons to use condoms with some toys?

Not all toys need them though as you will see in the cleaning section.

Cleaning and Storage are the last thing that I am going to talk about with toy safety. I know that storage may not sound like storage would impact the safety of a toy, but it can do more damage then you know.

Cleaning: Basics of cleaning toys we all know consist of soap and water. That is kinda a no brainer really, but that really doesn’t kill much in the way of germs. Also if you use bar soap on a soft material such as silicone of rubber, it will dry your toy making it brittle and able to crack and get icky. You can get a toy cleaner which will aid in lowering the number of germs/bacteria on/in your toys, but there are also some things which make it easier.

Toy Cleaner sprays: Wash you toy and dry it, then spray and let air dry. These generally have either tea tree oil or some form of chemical which kills bacteria/germs/fungus so watch what is in them.
Toy cleaner/after sex wipes: Think baby wipes except for toys and/or your junk. These are generally great for a quick wipe down of the toy before you get a chance to wash it but they most likely will not be enough for you to actually “kill” anything. Also good for cleaning lubes, bodily fluids, and other things that you might find on you or your toys. Think surface only.
Toy cleaners (others): There are foaming, gel, ad other toy cleaners which you can use in place of soap to clean your toys with. Generally these are a bit better at killing the icky stuff you don’t want living in your toys so it is a wise investment even if you are gonna use other means as well.

Materials which have “special” cleaning

Metal: Clean the surface gunk and stick it in the top of you dishwasher. You can also put it into a pot of water and bring it to a boil for 10ish minutes.

Glass: Clean the surface gunk and stick it in the top of you dishwasher. You can also put it into a pot of water and bring it to a boil for 10ish minutes. I would suggest wrapping it in a dish towel or something though to prevent it from hitting the pot too much.

Wood: This may sound like a BAD idea for a material but it is actually one of the safest. Most wood toys use a Phthalate-free inert, odorless and colorless finish which forms an impermeable barrier to chemicals and bacteria. Generally this finish is applied in many layers to ensure the safety of the users. Wash with a non-abrasive soap or wipe down with an anti-bacterial/microbial cleaner.

Medical or food grade silicone: Clean the surface gunk and stick it in the top of you dishwasher. You can also put it into a pot of water and bring it to a boil for 10ish minutes.

Plastic can be cleaned but not sanitized/stralized

Materials which I recommend using a condom with

Sili-gel (It is actually an additave to PVC and has high concentrations of toxic chemicals)
Jelly
Rubber
Cyberskin
TPR (non-porous as well)
Skin like
PVC (a number of people are actually allergic to it)

Storage: And here we are at the final concern.General rule of thumb is do not let different materials touch each other.

Glass, metal, plastic, and wood: Keep in a place where they will not bang around. The main concern with these materials is breaks, chips, cracks, nicks, dings, etc.
Silicone: IF it is truly medical or food grade (anything from tantus as well as couple of others) you don’t really need to worry about them touching each other. A number of companies claim to be 100% silicone with only a few able to back it. If you put 100% touching something that isn’t 100% you will see some “melting” and changes to the toy.
Anything else: It is best to store any other materials in individual bags or containers. You can use zippy bags, the packaging, or whatever else. The key is to not let them touch each other. Should they touch, discoloration, melting, sticking, and other not so pleasant things will happen. For those materials which I listed as needing condoms with them, you might find over time an oily residue or liquid in the bottom of your means of storage. This oily buildup is the result of the toxic chemicals in them leaking out over time and exposure to "heat".
Things such as a hitachi can be treated like the glass, metal, plastic, and wood.

So here we are at the end of my rant about toy safety. I tried to keep things as simple and clear as possible, but if there is anything I need to clear up or go into more details about just say so. I am more than happy to accept private emails about this subject as it is something that is of importance to the future health of ALL of us.

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