Sex toy safety matters. Some chemicals used in them can be harmful, and keeping them clean can be difficult. There’s an easy solution: Use a condom with your toys.
Photo by Orin Zebest
This isn’t a new idea by any means, especially to people who share toys or use them together, but it’s a good safety reminder since concerns have arisen over phthalates, a compound added to plastics to make them flexible and bendabl. Similarly, porous toys, even if they’re phthalate-free, can lead to cleaning problems. Even if you wash them after every use (which you should!) bacteria and moisture can check in to those pores and never check out.
The solution to both of these problems is to wrap those toys up before you use them. Says US News:
But don’t worry: Assuming you go for a phthalate-free toy, there’s no need to skip on porous pleasures. There’s a workaround to ensure good, clean fun with these types of toys: “If you cover the toy with a condom, you know you will have a nice, clean surface every time you use it,” Glickman says.
Glickman points out that soft, jelly-like toys are often less expensive than those made of silicone — the nonporous, sanitizable favourite. So if you’re new to The World of Vibrators and Dildos and feel uneasy investing in a silicone toy, save money by trying a plastic toy with a condom first. “If you decide it really isn’t for you, then you’ve only spent $US30 instead of $US80,” he says. “If you decide you really like it, you have the option of purchasing a body-safe silicone product later.”
The US News piece also covers some other sex toy safety tips, like making sure you buy from trusted manufacturers, share with care, and of course, keep your toys clean and dry after every use. Hit the link below to read more.
A Guide to Sex Toy Safety [US News]
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