Bad Dragon Breeder: Why I Love This Unusual Dildo

Breeder featuring Lelo Gigi, Sliquid Organics Gel, and The Best Water Bottle Ever.

Bad Dragon products are not for everyone: they serve a very specific niche market with their fantasy dildos and masturbation sleeves. Amongst their products you'll find dragons, cockatrices, stallions, dragonesses, anthro huskies, and more. Though I don't fit into their specific niche market (I don't fantasize about dragons, stallions, or any of the other fantasy characters they have amongst their ranks) my Bad Dragon Breeder is by far my favorite dildo. This isn't too much of a feat, since I only have two- but I'm not sure that I'll find another silicone dildo that's anything like this, at least not from another company.

I'd like to say before I get into this that I find nothing wrong with the specific fantasy Bad Dragon is catering to; I've known people that would love Bad Dragon products for what they are and I personally believe that everyone should be able to safely practice whatever their fantasy is (so long as their fantasy involves informed consent) without stigma. Human sexuality is a multi-faceted and complicated thing that we should celebrate. For those of you who may be interested in Bad Dragon for the fantasy they provide, please look past my calls to mainstream folks to try these products; there is still information for you here, I'm just trying to speak from my own experience and encourage others like myself to be interested in these fantastic products. If any of this ends up being accidentally offensive, I apologize, and please email me to let me know so I can change my wording.

The thing that makes Bad Dragon products so unique is the customization available to you: you get to choose from 3 densities, generally 3 or even 4 size options, whether or not it has a suction cup, and you get to choose the color. They have Toy Exclusive Colors, Standard Colors, and Custom Colorations available. Mine has a custom pink/orange/yellow fade and it is gorgeous, if I do say so myself. I've seen pictures of some that are rainbow, which are beautiful. I eventually plan on ordering a product with rainbow coloration from them.

Mini next to it's full-size counterpart. 

My Breeder is medium density, medium size, and as mentioned, a pink-orange-yellow coloration. I also got three sample disks of the different densities (a normal order would just have a disk of your products' density so you can test lubricants on it, unless you order a Sample Pack), an awesome pen, and a mini version of my product.

The reason I love this product is the squishiness of it; there's nothing quite like it on the market that's silicone. The closest products I know of are the Tantus O2 dual density toys or Vixen Vixskin dual densities- but they have an outer layer of squishy (in the case of tantus, dimethicone) silicone and a core of firmer silicone which gives a more "realistic" feel. In the case of my bad dragon toy, its one density through and through- though you can get them so they have a base that's the higher density and the rest of the toy is soft or other variations depending on the product. Looking at the sample disks, I'd say the soft density is about on par with many jelly rubber toys in terms of squishiness.

Why is this fantastic? Not everyone wants a stiff silicone dildo. I get people in the store all the time saying they want a non-porous option that is comparable to jelly rubber because they find stiffer silicones to be uncomfortable.

A pussy and some dildos. Here you can see the Breeder, the Magnum Stubbs, Gigi, Laid P.3 cockring, and
Sliquid Organics Gel in the background. 

The two dildos I have right now could not be more different. The Breeder is squishy, highly textured, and curvy. My Fun Factory Magnum Stubbs is dense, smooth silicone which I find to be very uncomfortable vaginally. The reason the Magnum Stubbs is uncomfortable is because it doesn't actually squeak, but it feels like it's squeaking, if that makes sense. The smooth surface doesn't do anything for me besides feel weird, and because it's so hard my PC muscles stretch too much and push it out when I get too close to my vaginal opening with it.

The Breeder, on the other hand- though it is girthier than the Magnum Stubbs, is very comfortable and pleasant to use, mainly because it's squishier but also because of the texture. The texture is not readily apparent on the whole of the dildo; the curve is felt against my g-spot but only the fourth ridge is very apparent to me.

My partner is a cheese monger and I try lots of fantastic cheeses, so I'm thinking of it almost in those terms: a good cheese will have a succession of flavors, textures, and smells. Some will be very apparent, others will be background notes. This dildo is complex like a good cheese: Upon first penetration, it bumps against my g-spot and I squeeze it. The first three ridges aren't apparent, but I'm positive I feel them in the background, and the fourth ridge is very apparent, like a second kick of flavor. The dildo is, unfortunately, too long for my vagina- I can only fit up to the fourth ridge. However, this has not been an issue; the thin part below the bulge is very comfortable to hold on to while thrusting, and putting the bulge in the palm of my hand and curling my fingers around the thinner base makes it very ergonomic.

Don't let the sink fool you. This perspective makes the toy look a lot smaller than it actually is, but the
color just looked so fabulous in this lighting that I couldn't help myself. 

I generally use it with the 'pereneal raphe'- a series of bumps up the middle of one side of the product, similar to the line running up the underside of a human penis- facing upwards because I like how it feels better that way (it has a slight s curve to it, and with the line facing upwards, the end is curving upwards and hitting my g spot) and my partner reports the same for his his use- using it with the curve towards the front of his body means that it hits his prostate better.

Most 'main stream' people are really disinterested in things like the Bad Dragon products as soon as they see the renderings of the characters associated with each product- but as far as I'm concerned, they're fantastic quality, highly customizable, and there is nothing quite like them on the market. I'd recommend them to anyone who has had issues with firmer density silicone or has been looking for something that's soft and non-porous. I feel that the mainstream proclivity to stigmatize that which they don't understand gets in the way of more people enjoying these fantastic toys.

As far as I'm concerned, my Breeder is just a very interesting and very comfortable textured dildo, and anyone who would see it (I show my sex toys to pretty much everyone, and only get away with it because most of my friends are co-workers or at least open minded) who does not know the origin of the toy would just see a non-realistic textured toy with some realistic elements. I don't really think of my dildo as a dragon (though I will admit that when I tried it in my new Spare Parts Joque Harness, I strutted around proclaiming something along the lines of "all hail my dragon cock") and I think that's just fine.

Bottom line: if you're having issues with firmer silicone dildos but want to have a non-porous toy, one of these may be right for you. Consider getting their $6 Sample Set, which comes with the disks of their different densities, so you can see just how squishy these are. The Breeder is a fantastic place to start- The medium isn't really that intimidating at 10 inches in length, and the small is around average penis size with an overall length of 7 inches. If you're interested in the fantasy aspect, awesome- if not, I'd ask you to try and think about these products differently.

Words of Caution: Bad Dragon products are safe to store with other bad dragon products, but may not be safe to store with other kinds of silicone. I haven't tried. As far as I'm aware, Sliquid Silver silicone lubricant is not compatible with this product. I've tried putting it on the medium density disk and it coagulated. I am not sure if other silicone lubricants are compatible because I don't currently have others to test with it.

Bad Dragon supplied me with this product for an honest review, and this is my honest opinion. 

Thanks, Bad Dragon, for being awesome! 

Currently in Testing:

I'm thinking I'll make this a staple of the blog: those who follow me on twitter see pictures and thoughts on items I've received, but the blog doesn't hear much until the actual review is out. Depending on how often I get new items for review, you'll get a sneak preview with pictures and thoughts.

What I have in testing right now is the Tantus Little Flirt in Copper (currently in their Closeout section for only $15!), a Crystal Delights Plug, and White Hemp Rope from the Bedroom Bondage collection at Lovehoney. 

First up is the Tantus Little Flirt. I was lucky enough to score this 100% Pure Silicone plug for under $20. Seriously, I say it all the time: check out Tantus' closeout section. It will improve the quality of your life.

In the various pictures of the Little Flirt to be seen above, you can see it in it's packaging, by itself, and with some other toys (Lelo Gigi, and the Fun Factory Booty and Laid P.3 Cockring which haven't been reviewed yet because they belong to my partner- he got toys before I did, because I'm nice and like giving him presents. There will be reviews eventually). There's also a picture of it with the Crystal Delights Plug below.

Thus far, I've only used the Little Flirt once. I'm new to anal toys, and as excited as I am about these new additions, they're still intimidating to me. Insertion was ridiculously easy with a little Sliquid Organics Gel, and the sensation was different but not unpleasant. I used the Gigi in tandem and my butt spit it out when I reached climax. I'm assuming this is normal, especially considering how smooth this toy is.

The Little flirt came in a completely discreet box- no one would have known what was going on if I hadn't told everyone and showed it off, because that's how I roll. It doesn't even say Tantus anywhere on the address, so unless other people have memorized their address like I have (creepy, I know- but in my defense, I have sent them something via mail and I tend to memorize things like phone numbers and addresses without really trying) no one will have any idea.

Next up is the Crystal Delights Plug. This beautiful borosilicate glass plug can be described as eye candy, shiny, ooooooh, ahhhh, and pretty. Words are not enough for the in-life beauty of the thing. I can't stop taking pictures of it- it is definitely the most photogenic of my collection.

I haven't used this one yet, but my partner has used all three of the anal toys we have and it seems his bum greatly prefers glass to either silicone toy. He'll be co-reviewing this one with me (and probably the other anal toys) so look forward to that.

I don't know what shipping is like; Shelly herself stopped by my store to drop this off to me. I really appreciate the gesture, and loved meeting her- it was great to show her around our little store and talk about adult products and glass and all sorts of other things. I look forward to be able to meeting her again in the future.

The toy comes with a storage pouch which is certainly beautiful, as well- you can see part of the quilted interior in the second solo picture of it. The black silky material has a pocket for the toy and you then roll it up and secure with elastic loops- the layers of fabric protecting the toy inside. It also included a product card certifying that it's authentic, includes a product ID# and the month in which it was inspected. Shelly explained to me that it's so people know it's a genuine product, and because apparently in Asia genuine US Handcrafted products are greatly sought after- including the product card helps assure buyers that they're getting the real deal.

Last but not least (though this is the newest addition to my collection, so there aren't really pictures of this yet) is the White Hemp Bondage Rope from Lovehoney's Bedroom Bondage line. 

Packaging was discreet and it arrived soon after I was told it was being sent to me. Upon opening it, I was transported back to my childhood; this rope smells strongly of earthiness and well, barns- it reminds me strongly of the various barns I explored as a child- our neighbor's, that of family friends. A slight kerosene smell is below the earthiness and the smell of the actual fiber, not sure if that's a coincidence or has something to do with a treatment applied to the rope. 

We unraveled it yesterday and it's really quite long- stretches almost from our kitchen in the back of the house to the front of the house (not that that's a particular feat- out house is a Philly row house and not very large)! According to the product info, it's 10 Meters long. 

I haven't used this one yet (been under the weather), but I really like the scent memory it holds for me and the material seems soft yet sturdy. Looking forward to playing with this! It's the first 'bondage' addition to my collection, so exploring it's possibilities will be interesting. I feel like we should get a book on Shibari... 

(Believe it or Not) My first Vibrator: My Review of the Lelo Gigi

Isn't it lovely? My fuzzy red blanket
will forever be the perfect
backdrop when taking product
photographs. 

You heard right. The Lelo Gigi is the first vibrator I've ever owned or used.

Part of this is because I had never even set foot inside of an adult store before I got my job in one. I hadn't applied for my job- I put my resume up on Craigslist and my manager contacted me via email. I decided to go for it.

This was one of the best decisions of my life, as far as I'm concerned: I've become a part of a really supportive and fantastic work-family, I've learned a lot about myself and my body, learned a lot about sex toys and sex accessories, and I got my first vibrator- the last part thanks to my fantastic partner, who ended up buying it for me as a gift.

It took me about six months after getting my job to decide what toy I wanted to be my first, and then I started so save up for it before my partner stepped in and bought it for me. I knew that I wanted a higher-end, non-porous toy and that I wanted one that was rechargeable. This narrowed my selection down considerably at my store (which is where I knew I'd get my first toy since I get a discount): The best non-porous rechargeable toys we have are made by Lelo, Fun Factory, Je Joue, and Jimmy Jane. I eventually came to the conclusion that I wanted a Lelo (easily my favorite company to talk about and show off to customers) and I eventually settled on the Gigi because of its multi-functionality.

What I mean when I say multifunctionality is that the shape of the Gigi makes it perfect for both g-spot stimulation and clitoral stimulation: the flat head feels fantastic on my clit, and the curve in the toy means that it's fantastic for g-spot stimulation.

Or at least, it should be good for gspot stimulation. The first time I used it, I tried exploring the depths of my vagina with it- and though I found it cool to be able to feel the internal shape of my vagina through the toy, I didn't get any pleasurable sensation from it and ended up using it clitorally, resulting in the fastest climax I think I've ever had (I hear this is pretty common for your first time using a vibrator?).

Everything that comes inside the box:
Toy, User Manual, Warranty Book,
Lubricant Sachet, Satin
Storage Pouch, and Charger.

My first experience with it made the toy intimidating: maybe I couldn't find my gspot. Maybe I didn't have one. Doubt swirled around in my head.

I didn't use it for a little while, but steadily began using it more and more.... externally only. It got to a point where one week, I wouldn't leave the house without orgasming at least once. Using the Gigi was faster and more efficient than manual masturbation, and I'm almost positive that the release helps with my anxiety and chronic pain. It definitely helps me relax before the commute to work and the barrage of images, information, and people that the commute and work come with- which is really stressful for me.

But I still wouldn't use it internally. I had never really been one for internal stimulation- I have difficulty feeling my vagina and get more out of clitoral stimulation- whether it's by a partner, by myself, or with a toy. That's just the way it is, and though I'm trying to explore new techniques and toys, it's something I have to live with until I find out what works for me.

The other day, after a few days of thinking about my lack of using the toy internally, I guilted myself into doing it. Thoughts like "You want to review this thing, but you haven't used it internally more than once?" swam around in my head, and I resolved to try it.

I determinedly thrust the toy inside of myself and moved it around. I tried pressing up against where I thought my gspot was. I tried thrusting. I tried something like the 'windshield wiper' move Elspeth Demina describes in her Pure Wand review. Nothing. I tried different levels of vibration, different pulsation patterns, varying levels of pressure. Still nothing. A few times I felt a really vague sensation, but it was so vague that I could hardly discern what it was. Eventually I gave up and used it the same way I have been.

I don't think my story is a failure; I just think that I haven't figured out the right way to stimulate my gspot. I'm going to keep trying, and I plan on getting other toys that are tailored to gspot stimulation. Hopefully, through trial and error, I'll eventually figure it out.

Product Details

The box. Which is a little worn already, because it's
always next to my bed.

Packaging
The Gigi comes in Lelo's signature black box with the logo on top. When you open up the box, you find the toy nestled in velvet-covered foam with another piece of the outer black material, again with the Lelo logo embossed on it, which you open to find a satin pouch, the charger, a warranty booklet, the user manual, and a packet of Lelo 'Personal Moisturizer' (aka Lubricant).

What you find when you open the box.

The Toy
The dimensions of the Gigi are approximately 6.5 inches long (16.5 cm), and about 3 inches (7.6 cm) around below the hook (don't let that fool you- it's very thin). The silicone insertable portion is 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) long.

It has a circular button on the white, hard plastic base which has - and + laterally (side to side) and ^ and v longitudinally (up and down) (can you tell I've been reading a book that has a lot to do with sea navigation in the 1600s?). The - and + control the intensity of the vibration and turn the toy on and off (+ for on, - for off). The ^ and v buttons control the pulsation patterns.

The settings on the toy are as follows:

It begins with a steady vibration. Press ^ to reach the next pattern, which is a simple, slow, and repetitive pulse. The next is a similar pulse that is faster, and the next is a similar pulse that's even faster. The last pulse is what I call a purr (because that's what it sounds like to me, and I like cats): rapidly increasing intensity that drops off and begins again. Part of the reason the Gigi is a good beginner toy is the simplicity, though I know that some are more interested in a variety of pulsation patterns.

One thing that needs to be mentioned here about the Gigi is that its really quiet. Like, no one's going to hear it unless they're in the same room, next to you, and even then- if it's not on the higher end of it's vibration strength range, no one's going to hear it. Even if you have it turned all the way up, if you use it under the blankets or with quiet music on (which might already be overkill) no one's going to hear it outside of your room or private space.

Charging the Gigi
Charging is pretty straight forward. When it's running low on power, a ring around the control panel glows red when you turn it on. When plugged in, the glow becomes white and 'pulses' to indicate that it's charging. When the light is solid white, it's done. In the manual, they say it takes 2 hours to charge, and you shouldn't charge for more than 24 hours. You also shouldn't use the toy while it's charging. I've only had to charge mine once in the month (or is it two now?) that I've had it. When not in use, it holds its charge pretty well, and I've gotten quite a few sessions out of it (though sometimes I don't use it for more than a couple minutes, when I'm doing a quick session before going to work) and I'm pretty pleased with that. I've heard reports from other reviewers that they find the charge for their Lelo products lasts very long as well.

The Lubricant 
I haven't used the lubricant sachet that came with the toy. I'm not sure that I will, if I do I'll definitely make note of it here. It is Glycerine and Paraben Free, but I'm not particularly keen on Ginseng in lubricants. I have one with Ginseng and it's supposed to be flavored and it makes my mouth tingly-numb, which I really dislike. My partner likes how it feels though, so I may give this a try. I'm also pretty sure I've read some research about Propylene Glycol being possibly harmful, but I can't seem to find it right now. I'll link if I do.

Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aloe Barbidenis Leaf Juice, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Panax Ginseng Extract, Paullinia Cupana Seed (Guarana) Extract, Avena Sativa Bran Extract, Polysorbate-20, Aspartame, Polyquaternum-5, PEG-45M, Citric Acid.

I won't go into explaining every ingredient, but most of these that aren't 'typical' lube ingredients are moisturizing (the Aloe), and Stimulating (Ginseng and Guarana).The Aspartame is a sweetener, the Citric Acid is a preservative. It's not terrible overall, but as mentioned, I generally don't like Ginseng and I'm nervous about the Propylene Glycol.

Care and Safety
As a silicone toy, you'll want to spot-test any silicone lubricants before using them as intended with this toy. Up to this point, I haven't spot-tested any silicone lubricants (I'm out) with the toy, though I did accidentally put some JO Premium Cooling on the toy and didn't notice anything amiss. The way you spot test is apply a drop to the base or somewhere unnoticeable on the toy (like when you spot-test hair dye, or try out a cosmetic product when you have sensitivities) and if the lubricant gums up almost immediately, it is incompatible with the toy. You can scrape it off with a finger nail and it shouldn't leave a mark or anything like that, or if it does it should be unnoticeable- but imagine if you had globbed a bunch of that on your toy and it wasn't compatible? That would just suck. I'll post results once I try out some silicone lubricants with this toy.
As far as cleaning and eventual disposal go (though Lelo products should last you a loooong time), look to my previous blog post on sex toy materials, which details care and disposal.
The warranty that comes with all Lelo vibrating products is fantastic: 1 year full warranty and a 10 year quality guarantee (which means that they'll give you half of the value of the toy to spend on a new toy or use in their online shop). You have to register your product, but it's relatively straightforward: Go to lelo.com, click 'Register/Log In' on the upper right-hand corner, and plug in your information. There's a registration card somewhere in the packaging of your product or on the back of the warranty booklet. It took me no more than a couple minutes to get my registration set up, it was really straightforward, and if my toy breaks or malfunctions, I can claim it right on the website after a quick log-in. I'll let you know what happens if I ever have to make a claim, but I don't think I will.

Conclusions
The Lelo Gigi is a toy that I'm fond of. Maybe it's because it's my first (likely) but it's also a toy that I frequently recommend to people who are looking for a high quality toy for the first time. I'm pleased with it as my first choice, even if I haven't gained knowledge of my gspot through it (yet), I know some people have a harder time finding theirs- I personally accept that as a challenge. I plan on continuing determinedly with the Gigi and with other gspot toys as I gain them to try and discover what works for mine. Maybe I need something girthier? Who knows. The Pure Wand is definitely on my list.

Knowing what I do about vibrators from my job, though, this is still a product I highly recommend: If you already know how to manipulate your gspot or even if you haven't, this is a fantastic product. Maybe it will help you find your gspot, maybe it won't. I'm constantly telling people that everyone's body is different- something might work for me, but not for you, and vice versa.

So, overall, the Gigi is a good toy for people who want a higher quality toy but are inexperienced with toys overall or just with high quality toys, or for people who don't need a strong vibration. I've read that some find it to be weaker than later Lelo products (I know the Mona 2 and Ina 2 are definitely stronger, and have a better vibration quality) but not everyone needs strength.

Other good toys to begin with from Lelo include the Liv, which is the same price as the Gigi and has the same quality of vibration and pulsation patterns, but doesn't have the gspot curve that the Gigi does- and the Mia 2, which is a smaller lipstick-style vibrator that is USB chargeable. I recommend the Mia 2 over the original Mia because though I can't notice a difference in the vibration strength (though if I hold them up to my nose, I can hear a higher frequency on the Mia 2), it has a new cap that's supposed to make it waterproof, and it has pulsation patterns. The Mia 2 is the cheapest vibrating toy from Lelo, and it's fantastic if you like clitoral stimulation. It's also fantastic if you travel or want to be able to have a vibrator 'on the go' that isn't too obvious if someone finds it in your purse. I don't know if you can tell, but the Mia 2 is on my wishlist as well.

Hope this review was useful to you; please consider supporting my blog and Lelo by checking them out through the banner on the right of my blog!

Sex Toy Materials: Choosing, Taking Care of, and Ultimately Disposing of Broken/Unwanted Sex Toys.

Before you read this post, I'm going to point out that I make some of my biases very clear. These are my opinions based on things I've read, experiences I've had, and research I've gone over. Everyone has the right to choose whatever sex toy material they'd like, but as I mention in this post, I won't ever suggest porous toys to anyone. You also have the right to throw your used/unwanted sex toy in a landfill, but I don't agree with that practice and won't do that myself. The opinions below are mine and mine alone, and I do not speak for anyone except for myself. Now that that's aside, on to the post: 

Choosing the sex toy that's right for you can be difficult. Whether you're looking for something to help you achieve your first gspot orgasm, or you're looking for a harness to strap your favorite dildo into, finding the shape, size, and color, etcetera, that's right for you is no easy task. Adding the material to that list can make it even more difficult, andwith packages shouting things like "phthalate-free" "realistic feel" "Japanese millennium silicone" and more at you, it can all be very overwhelming.

Hopefully the information here can help make that a little easier.

Sex toys come in many shapes and forms, from jelly rubber to wood, but they all essentially fall onto two categories: porous and non-porous.

Porous sex toys are made of things like Jelly Rubber, Silagel, Cyberskin, Real Skin, etc. Often, cheaper toys that have the warning "This Toy is a Novelty Only" or "Sold As a Novelty Only" are made of porous materials, which are cheaper to produce. Sometimes, 'novelty only' toys claim to be silicone, but they are more likely than not a mixture that includes silicone and are still porous, though slightly less so. You should keep in mind that 'Novelty Only' toys do not need to disclose ingredients and can say whatever they'd like on the label.

Smell a cheap toy sometime. More often than not they have an incredibly unpleasant chemical smell or, worse, a fake fragrance to cover the chemical scent. This is because the toy is offgassing chemicals. I don't know about you, but that's a huge turn off for me.

Care of porous toys: you need to be careful with these kinds of toys. Since they are porous, they are going to trap dirt, bacteria, and bodily fluids inside of the material over time, effectively soaking them up like a sponge- no matter how frequently or well you clean them. It is commonly recommended that you use a condom over a porous toy during use and you should definitely do so if the toy is being used by more than one person or being used vaginally and anally.

Dangers of using porous toys: since they are a lesser-quality material, they degrade fast. There is a possibility of spreading, prolonging, or worsening STD/STIs, bacterial infections, or yeast infections if you do not use a condom with a porous toy every time, especially if it is a shared toy or it is being used both vaginally and anally. Since manufacturers do not need to disclose ingredient lists, the toy may contain phthalates, a softening agent, that are very harmful to the body, or other chemicals that can be harmful and/or irritating. [Here's some more information on Phthalates].

Non-porous toys are things like hard plastic, silicone, wood (that has a special coating that seals the toy, such as NobEssence toys or Penetralia toys), glass, or metal. Non-porous toys are easy to clean and generally much better made, but are also therefore often much more expensive than their cheaply-made counterparts. Non-electronic non-porous toys can even be boiled to be completely sterilized, which would be ideal if the toy is being shared between people. Since non-porous toy materials are very different from eachother in many cases, here's a breakdown:

Hard plastic toys can vary significantly in price. Whether its a cheap no-name bullet or the Lelo Nea egg vibe or their Mia, hard plastic toys are some of the easiest non-porous toys to access, though the electronics inside, and thereby the price, can vary significantly.

Silicone toys also vary, whether you're choosing from one of three densities of Bad Dragon toys, enjoying the dual density silicone of Vixen Creations' VixSkin dildos or Tantus' O2 line- the softness of silicone can be from highly pliant to very stiff, and some toys only use a coating of silicone over hard plastic, like many of the Lelo toys. Though expensive, silicone toys are an investment, generally lasting much longer than other man-made materials. Many of them are rechargeable, which saves batteries, and some even have warranties.

Caring for silicone is straightforward: clean with a plain (no scents, no dyes) antibacterial soap or a pH-balanced feminine wash. Be careful if you plan on storing silicone toys together or use silicone lubricant (all silicone or water/silicone hybrid) with your silicone toy, as 'silicone' can attract 'silicone'. This isn't always the case. In this interview with Metis Black of Tantus, she explains that true silicone toys should never 'melt' or 'fuse' with other toys. She links this myth with toys that are branded as silicone but are in fact a hybrid of materials, likely including things like TPR or TPE- according to Metis, "Thermoplastic materials melt because they are unstable (they have free electrons that try to bond with other materials. As these electrons leave the toy, the toy disintegrates."She goes on to explain that "No silicone toy should melt. at 600 degrees F it turns ashy. A silicone toy like the O2 [Tantus' dual-density silicone line, as mentioned above], with extra soft silicone, may burn off some of the dimethicone- flaming a little and becoming sooty- but still not melting."She goes on to explain that with silicone lubricants + silicone toys, it really depends on the quality of the silicone in the toy and the lubricant (she recommends Sliquid and Pjur silicone lubricants). The best way to tell whether or not they're compatible is to do a spot test- dab a little lubricant on the base or a small section of the toy. If it doesn't become gummy very shortly after application, they're fine together. If it does, you can scratch it off with a finger nail. Here is another post from Dangerous Lily where she does some investigation using flame tests on toys.

Hard natural materials such as glass, metal, and stone offer a very different, often frictionless sensation as well as weight, especially in the case of stone and metal toys. All three can be put in a bowl of warm or cold water which can add temperature play to your repertoire of tricks (its not recommended you go too extreme temperature-wise with glass, though, as this can cause microscopic fractures in the glass that could cause it to shatter, even if it is borosilicate or Pyrex glass, which is supposed to be able to handle more extreme temperatures, its better to be safe).

There are interesting and unique toys made out of these materials- whether the Crystal Delights Twist, Njoy's metal Pure Wand (which is endorsed by many users as the toy that helped them discover their gspot) or their Pure Plugs, or Laid's D.1 Stone Dildo. If you're looking to spend ridiculous amounts of money on luxury toys, Lelo produces some of their popular models in stainless steel and gold.

Wood toys- Nobessence and Penetralia being the frontrunners in wooden toy production- are a very interesting kind of toy indeed. Sealed specially so as to be smooth and nonporous, the main difference in these toys are the visual beauty of them and the weight, being much less than many other materials. I haven't tried one yet, but I certainly will in the future.

Another natural, nonporous material that isn't very common is ceramic. Similar to glass, metal, and stone in quality and applicaton, they can also be put in warm or cold water to facilitate temperature play. I would like to see more of these toys on the market. One example of toys made of this material is those made by Duncan Charles Designs; you can also find small-scale artisans making them, but be sure to make sure that they're using safe glazes (specifically non-lead, food safe glazes) with their toys.

Caring for your Toys:

With any kind of material, you should clean your toy after buying it and preferably before and definitely after each use with a plain (dye and fragrance free) antibacterial soap such as Seventh Generation's 'Free and Clear' which is what I use, or a feminine wash, which is good for people who are very sensitive. I generally rinse thoroughly, apply a dollop of soap, smoosh it around (that is the technical term), rinse it off, and let air dry. If your toy is textured or has a lot of crevices or seams on it, using a soft-bristled tooth brush or the like to really get in there is recommended. Fun fact: It is one of my life goals to have a drying rack set up in my bathroom for sex toys.

Just picture this thing loaded up with toys. 

And then I got bored and made this, so you don't need to use too much
imagination to figure out what that would look like.
Pictured here are some toys mentioned in this post as well as others from my wishlist.
Left to right: the Glass Crystal Delights Crystal Twist in Gold,
Silicone and Hard Plastic Lelo Luna Beads in Noir,
Silicone Jellyfish Dildo from Whipspider Rubberworks,
Silicone Jollies Jollet in Gold Flake, Stainless Steel Njoy Pure Plug,
Silicone Fun Factory Share XL Smooth in Purple, and the Aluminum Tantus Alumina Motion.
These are all pretty, and all things I want. A girl can dream.  For links, see my wishlist page, which can be seen at right. 

For non-electronic silicone, metal, and stone toys, you can boil them for maximum sterilization. A solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water is another effective cleaning solution for non-electronic toys of any kind; just soak them for an hour, rinse, and lay out to dry.

Store your toys in a cool, dry place, preferably out of the sunlight especially if they are made out of man made materials, as there can be discoloration or in the case of many porous toys, they can ooze a chemical cocktail of phthalates and other undesirables if left in a warm or enclosed space. Like the plastic containers they're sold in.

Here's a fantastic image of porous toys oozing chemicals from The Coalition Against Toxic Toys.
Lovely.  

(Note: don't know if you can tell yet, but I don't like porous toys. I won't use them, and I will never encourage anyone else to use them)

Rest in Peace: What to do with your toy when its broken or you don't want it anymore.

There are a few options of what you can do if you no longer want your toy, but first you should prepare it for its trip into the afterlife.

Does it have batteries? Remove them and recycle them (are you really still chucking them in the garbage? That stuff goes into our drinking water. Do you want to drink battery acid? I didn't think so)- there are a lot of places you can do so, poke around and you should be able to find somewhere convenient. All whole foods have battery recycling bins, just ask at the customer service desk.

Another resource for recycling batteries is batteryrecycling.com, which offers what it calls an iRecycling kit. You can learn more about it on their website, but I'll point out here that they take care of shipping and they give you a choice of what attractive receptacle you'd like to use. Though it does cost to get the kit, the smallest kit costing ~$25 to order, the smallest kit holds 5 lbs of batteries and electronics, and shipment is included. Obviously this isn't for everyone, but if you and/or your family or household are going through a lot of batteries and electronics, this may be a good choice for you. I'll definitely consider getting one if I end up having more than a few battery-operated toys (though I am generally uninterested in them). There are usually local search engines for finding places to recycle batteries; consider looking into it.

Next, sanitize. If its an electronic toy that no longer works or a non-electronic toy, feel free to boil the toy or put it in the 1:10 bleach/water solution mentioned earlier for an hour. Rinse and let dry. With still-working electronic toys, its better to use the soap and water method.

Is this a place where your toy
can find a peaceful afterlife? I think not. 

After this point, you have a few choices with how you can commence. You can chuck the toy in the garbage (from whence it will end up in a landfill, the ocean, or an incinerator, and possibly leach harmful chemicals into the environment depending on what material its made of), you can send the toy off to be recycled, or you can give the toy to a consenting individual.

If you're going to chuck your toy in the garbage, definitely sterilize it first. Again, make sure batteries are removed and properly recycled. It's probably a good idea to seal yor toy into a bag of some sort just to make sure it doesn't potentially pose a biohazard to garbage truck workers or people working at the landfill- porous toys, even sterilized, may still contain bacteria that can be harmful.

If you're going to recycle it, there are a few options. Sextoyrecycling.com, you can have them send you a bag to mail the used toy in, and they will then sterilize the toy (though it's a good idea to still sterilize it first yourself, so as not to harm postal workers or anyone else who comes in contact with it before it gets to it's destination), separate the materials, and break up jelly rubber, other porous materials, and silicone which will then be formed into a new toy and coated in new silicone so as to be guaranteed sterile (here's an overview of how their process works).

If you're in the UK, you can use Lovehoney's Rabbit Amnesty program: they'll recycle your toy for you and even give you points to use in their webstore and donate 50 p to the World Land Trust for each toy sent in. To my understanding, they may accept toys from out of country but don't encourage it as shipping can be expensive and it kind of brings down the effectiveness of their eco-conscious goals.

A similar US-based option comes from Scarlet Girl with their Sextainable program: send in your used sex toy for recycling, and they'll give you $10 to use in their webstore.

The last option, giving the toy to a consenting friend, can only be done if the toy is nonporous, and still working or non electronic. Moved up to a bigger size of Njoys Pure Plug and find yourself not using the old one? Find that you haven't been using one of your silicone dildos and want it to find it a better home, where it will be loved? Ask some friends if they would be interested in taking it. Explain to them that nonporous toys can be sterilized and the non-electronic toys can even be boiled for complete sterilization. Even knowing this, some people are uncomfortable taking a toy that has been previously used, even if you've washed it with soap + water, soaked it in a bleach solution, and boiled it. Some people just aren't into that, and that's their choice.

Hopefully you find the best toy for you, and give your old ones a good afterlife, maybe even as a new toy that will be loved by someone.

I need to thank some people for their help. First and foremost, Zaac (@TransSocWrkZaac on Twitter) who sparked this post by asking me about safe disposal of toys. Epiphora and Sarah for answering my questions on Twitter, and Ash for pointing me in the right direction. Searah of Early To Bed for pointing me in the direction of Scarlet Girl's Sextainable Program, and whomever is in charge of Lovehoney's Twitter account answering my questions about their Rabbit Amnesty Program.

Some resources that I would Highly Suggest you take a look at:

This blog post from acclaimed Sex Educator Violet Blue outlines materials and chemicals that are dangerous, where they can be found, and what they can do to you. She also has links to research on Phthalates, which is something I'm going to look further into when I have more time. This post is fantastic in that it gives forth information in an easily-understood way, making it more accessible to people who aren't scientists or chemists.

Dangerous Lilly has a post on telling whether or not a toy contains Phthalates, and this other post from her talks about how Jelly Rubber toys can be dangerous. Both are fantastic and well-informed write-ups, and her post on jelly rubber gives a list of good, reputable sex toy makers who don't use phthalates.

Here's Early to Bed's write up on many different materials: what their benefits and short comings are, and how to take care of them. They're fantastic and tell you straight up in product descriptions in their webstore what materials toys are made out of and how to care for them.

I plan on editing this post as more information and links come to me, so please feel free to point me in the direction of research and useful write-ups.