Although there are few risks associated with using sex toys, it never hurts to be careful. This article outlines a few basic procedures you should follow in order to enjoy the best and healthiest of sex play.
Before Using Your Sex Toy:
• If the toy needs them, insert fresh batteries into it. Alternately, if the device is a chargeable, ensure that it is fully charged, especially prior to a first use.
• With toys made of rigid materials, such as glass, acrylic or plastic, inspect them closely to make sure that there are no cracks or rough seams in the surface. (In the event of the latter, if it small enough, you may be able to file it smooth using a nail file – but be very, very careful in doing so.)
• Check for discolourations. These do occasionally occur naturally – things fade over time, and some discolourations are artifacts of the toy's manufacture – but sometimes they will indicate that something is growing fragile
When Using Your Sex Toy:
• If the sex toy has any components that are flexible or stretchable, take care never to pull them too far. They may become over-stretched and loose their shape (and a floppy imitation sexual organ is even sadder looking than a floppy real sex organ – at least those can be revived), or in extreme cases, snap off entirely. It should go without saying that you should stop using the toy at once if this happens.
• Choose any lubricants carefully. While water based lubricants are fine with nearly any sex toy, silicone based lubricants are not good with any silicone sex toys (or sex toys with imitation skin coverings), and oil based lubricants (including that old favourite, petroleum jelly) should never be used with any sex toy that will be used vaginally, or that will come into contact with anything made of rubber or latex (including condoms).
• If you plan to use a toy both vaginally and anally, or with multiple partners, it is a good idea to put a condom on it, and to change to a new condom any time the toy moves to a new person or place. Condoms are cheap, quick to apply and safe – and using them will also reduce wear and tear on your sex toys, increasing their working life.
After Using Your Sex Toy:
• Be sure to clean your toys as soon as possible after sex play, and to do so thoroughly – see this article for more details on how to do this.
• Remove batteries when not in use, and store separately from the sex toy. This will ensure that, should the batteries begin to corrode, they will not damage the toy in doing so.s
• Store your sex toys separately from each other, ideally placing each in a separate sealable plastic bag. This will keep them and you safe.
Before Using Your Sex Toy:
• If the toy needs them, insert fresh batteries into it. Alternately, if the device is a chargeable, ensure that it is fully charged, especially prior to a first use.
• With toys made of rigid materials, such as glass, acrylic or plastic, inspect them closely to make sure that there are no cracks or rough seams in the surface. (In the event of the latter, if it small enough, you may be able to file it smooth using a nail file – but be very, very careful in doing so.)
• Check for discolourations. These do occasionally occur naturally – things fade over time, and some discolourations are artifacts of the toy's manufacture – but sometimes they will indicate that something is growing fragile
When Using Your Sex Toy:
• If the sex toy has any components that are flexible or stretchable, take care never to pull them too far. They may become over-stretched and loose their shape (and a floppy imitation sexual organ is even sadder looking than a floppy real sex organ – at least those can be revived), or in extreme cases, snap off entirely. It should go without saying that you should stop using the toy at once if this happens.
• Choose any lubricants carefully. While water based lubricants are fine with nearly any sex toy, silicone based lubricants are not good with any silicone sex toys (or sex toys with imitation skin coverings), and oil based lubricants (including that old favourite, petroleum jelly) should never be used with any sex toy that will be used vaginally, or that will come into contact with anything made of rubber or latex (including condoms).
• If you plan to use a toy both vaginally and anally, or with multiple partners, it is a good idea to put a condom on it, and to change to a new condom any time the toy moves to a new person or place. Condoms are cheap, quick to apply and safe – and using them will also reduce wear and tear on your sex toys, increasing their working life.
After Using Your Sex Toy:
• Be sure to clean your toys as soon as possible after sex play, and to do so thoroughly – see this article for more details on how to do this.
• Remove batteries when not in use, and store separately from the sex toy. This will ensure that, should the batteries begin to corrode, they will not damage the toy in doing so.s
• Store your sex toys separately from each other, ideally placing each in a separate sealable plastic bag. This will keep them and you safe.