What are silicone sex toys made from?:
- Toys that are 100% silicone are soft, chemically inert and hypoallergenic.
- This material does not contain phthalates.
- Be careful of toys that are silicone/rubber mixes. These are not the same as toys that are made of 100% (or near 100%) silicone. Manufacturers may call their products silicone even if they contain only a small percentage of silicone. These products do not have the same benefits. If you aren’t sure ask before you buy.
Benefits of silicone sex toys:
- Silicone is an ideal material for sex toys for penetration.
- It warms up to body temperature, transmits vibrations well, is non-porous, easy to clean, and much more durable.
- Silicone is recommended for people concerned about having allergic reactions to sex toys materials.
- It is available in a wide variety of densities, and an unbelievable range of shapes and colors.
Taking care of silicone sex toys:
- You can use soap, rubbing alcohol, or bleach to clean silicone sex toys (if you are using alcohol or bleach, be careful to rinse thoroughly).
- Providing there are no moving parts (vibrators), you can boil silicone sex toys in water, or put them on the top shelf of your dishwasher to clean. Different manufacturers suggest different lengths of time, usually between 3-5 minutes for boiling.
- You can use a water based or oil based personal lubricant but do not use silicone based lubricants (e.g. Eros, Wet Platinum, ID Millennium) with silicone sex toys.
- Silicone is very durable, but can tear easily. Keep sharp edges away from your silicone toys.
Safer sex with silicone sex toys:
- It is possible to transmit infections on sex toys that have not been sterilized even if they have been washed.
- Silicone sex toys may be boiled in water for between 3-5 minutes. To prevent transmission of bodily fluids or bacteria it is recommended that you boil your toy following the instructions provided by the manufacturer
- If you are going to share a sex toy with a partner use a condom on the toy to prevent transmission of bodily fluids, or boil your toy before a new person uses it.
- While it is not recommended, if you are going to use a toy both vaginally and anally use a condom to prevent transmission of bacteria, or boil your toy between uses.
