Silicone Part Two: Caring For Silicone

See Part One for my introduction to Silicone.

So, you've bought yourself a silicone product. Good on you, congrats. Now you need to know how to care for it, so you get all the benefits of silicone and it lasts you the lifetime it should.

I use Seventh Generation Free and Clear dishwashing soap to clean my toys, mainly because I have a lot of sensitivities and this is a natural option. I'm keeping my eye out for other good natural soaps to try out. Any antibacterial soap without fragrances or dyes (which can be harsh) are good for cleaning your toys. 

Since silicone is non-porous, it is very easy to sterilize. I would recommend cleaning a new product before first use and after that, at the very least after each use- if not before as well if there's any dust (even if you're just giving it a rinse). Not all silicone toys attract a lot of dust, but some do and they'll all attract at least a little bit of dust, it's just the nature of the material. If the toy is non-electronic, or you can remove the electronics*, you can boil the product or put it in the dishwasher to sanitize:

• Boiling is one way to completely sterilize your toy, making it safe for use between orifices and between partners. I'd recommend scrubbing any seams or highly textured parts with a soft toothbrush or other soft brush and a proper soap** before boiling, just to make sure there isn't anything in the crevices. Then, treat your toys like pasta: plop in a pot of water, bring to a boil, drain, and pour your favorite sauce on top... I mean, lay out in a dish rack or on a towel to dry. 
• If you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher, throw your dishwashable products on the top rack and put on the dildo setting. If your dishwasher is coy, the sanitize setting is the same as the dildo setting.

If your product has electronics integrated into the design, even if it is waterproof (and it might only be splash-proof at best, anyway- no one controls what companies say on their packaging and very few products can work while submerged without being damaged), I would not recommend boiling or dishwashing the product. This could compromise the electronics, degrading circuitry. It may work after the first time you do it, but it could lead to it breaking over time because connections in the electronics have started to corrode or loosen. The best thing you can do in this situation is rinse, soap up, scrub crevices and textures with a soft brush, rinse, and lay out to dry. If your product uses batteries, take them out before doing this and let it dry completely before replacing them and turning the product on. If it is rechargeable, wait for the product to dry completely before turning it on again or charging.

Of course, I am not always good about everything I've mentioned above. I have a busy schedule and a lot of sex toys. I am also occasionally lazy. Be sure to at least soap up your products between uses especially if you have a bacterial or yeast infection, especially if you plan on using it in a different orifice, and absolutely if you plan on using it with a different partner: they did not consent to using an unclean toy which may give them an infection of some sort. If you give yourself an infection, that's your own problem. I'm not saying an unclean toy will definitely result in an infection, but it could- the environment within the vagina and that within the anus can be very sensitive. You don't want to introduce anything that could be harmful or you could upset the balance. If you want to cut down on cleaning time, you can use a non-lubricated condom or one with water-based lubricant***. I would not recommend sharing a toy without a condom unless you've boiled, dishwashed, or scrubbed it with a 10% (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) bleach solution and rinsed it. Better to be safe than sorry.

If you take care of a pure silicone toy, it can last you a lifetime. The non-porous nature of the material means that it won't get dirt and bacteria imbedded inside of it and it can therefore be completely sterilizable. This means that it's safe to sanitize between uses and use with more than one person in more than one orifice, safely- something that no jelly, TPR, TPE, Cyberskin, Silagel, Elastomer, Elastomed, or other porous toy can ever do, no matter how much they try to convince you otherwise. Nonporous products (silicone, glass, metal, hard plastic, specially treated wood) are the only things that are safe to use between orifices, if you wash in between or use a condom and take it off or switch it for faster use. You should never, ever use a porous product with someone else: they cannot be sterilized, and they did not consent to a possible bacterial infection, yeast infection, or STI- and that's not even mentioning the possible chemical reaction the person can have. I don't see why anyone with a good conscience would share a porous product, but a lot of people don't think or know about the possible consequences.

Sex toys should be body-safe: they should not interact chemically with your body, and they should be easy to clean. True silicone products are all this and more. 

*Some products have a bullet that is separate from the toy but can be inserted to make it vibrate- some good silicone examples of this are Tantus Vibrators and Whipsider Rubberworks toys, some of which you can have made with a cavity for a bullet. If you have a product like this, I'd recommend taking the bullet out before cleaning, cleaning the cavity thoroughly, and when it's dry using a starch or a water-based lubricant on the bullet/in the cavity so it's easy to insert and take out when you're done. 

**But what's a good soap to use? Fantastic question. I personally use Seventh Generation's Free and Clear dishwashing soap. The reason for this is that it is fragrance and dye free, has natural ingredients, and isn't harsh. I'm sensitive and concerned about chemicals, which is why I choose this specific soap- but everyone should avoid fragrances or dyes when it comes to cleaning their sex toys. Fragrances are often alcohol based, which might damage the toy but even if that's not a concern, the skin in the vagina and anus and on the penis and vulva is very thin and sensitive. Fragrances and dyes can irritate these delicate areas, and that's just no fun for anyone.
*** The most common non-lubricated condoms I've seen on the market are one of the Trojan ENZ lines, they're in a red box and clearly say non-lubricated along the bottom of the front of the package. Condoms will generally say specifically if they have a water-based lubricant since most use silicone lube.

Keep an Eye out for Part Three: Silicone, Lube, and Silicone Lubricants. 

Fun Factory Magnum Stubbs: Feeling it in All The Wrong Ways

This is my favorite thing to do with the Fun Factory Magnum Stubbs. This and 'boink-ing' it are the only things I like to do with my Magnum Stubbs, sad to say. 

I wanted to like the Fun Factory Magnum Stubbs. Not only because it's fun to suction to things and "boink" (if it's suctioned to something and you pull it one way, it "boinks" back and forth. the result is hilarious) and not only because it was a display model that I got for free thanks to the owner of my store being pretty awesome, but because it's a nice silicone product- I've flame tested*, and this thing is definitely 100% silicone, no questions about it.

I don't know if you know, but I love silicone. It's non-porous, super easy to clean, and there is pretty much no chance it will leach chemicals into my body or that I'll have a reaction to the material. I can boil it if I wanted to, or throw it into the dishwasher.

Beside that, it's super-simple in shape, and I thought that maybe it would be good for g-spot stimulation; it has a slight curve to it and a bulb at the end, hinting at a super-simplified realism. It's pink, sure, and I'm not a huge fan of pink- but at least it's more of a magenta color.

I tried, I tried valiantly.

Unfortunately, the Magnum Stubbs is too hard for my vagina. Though it's a pliant silicone, there isn't much squish to it. The finish on it- a very shiny, slick finish reminiscent of the le creuset silicone spatula my partner has (we're a silicone household, it's true)- just feels weird.

Inserting this thing is uncomfortable. I can feel it stretching out my PC muscles (also known as Kegels, these are the muscles that run from the front of your pelvis to your tailbone, wrapping around the urethra, vaginal canal, and anus in women and urethra and anus in men) right away, and even after the bulb at the end is inserted, it still feels like it's just stretching me out. Just letting it hang out isn't comfortable at all, and thrusting results in this weird sensation where it feels like the dildo is squeaking inside of me, though there isn't any sound, and when the end of the dildo got too close to the opening of my vagina, my PC muscles would push it out since they were so stretched from the girth of the toy.

I know I just re-used a picture from my Breeder Review, but a) I don't even want to look at this dildo anymore, let alone take pictures of it, and b) this is a good comparison of size and texture differences. 

My conclusion here is that the hardness, girth, and texture of the dildo are a trifecta of everything that's wrong for me. The texture and hardness may not have been so much of an issue had the girth not been too much for me (and this is probably the case, as the Key by Jopen Comet G wand is definitely firmer but I don't have the same issues with it due to the shape), but I know for a fact that softer toys, even with larger girth, are not an issue- the Bad Dragon Breeder, for example. The Breeder is definitely girthier than the Stubbs, but the difference here is the texture (the Breeder is very squishy) and the shape of the product (the Breeder starts small and gets progressively larger)- in other words, though the Breeder is bigger in length and girth, it is much more subtle, whereas the Stubbs is in your face yelling "HERE I AM!"

My partner has found the same; the Stubbs is too hard for him to use comfortably. I had him use it solo because I got in a harness and the Breeder is too squishy and difficult to get into it for use and I wanted to know if he liked the Stubbs before I used it. He told me it was "ok" but then when I asked him more, he told me it "kind of hurt"- he seems to take most of my toys as a challenge, and he doesn't like when they don't work out for him. We're now on a quest to find a better dildo for use with the harness.

Though the Stubbs has not worked out for us, it may work out for others who like girth or like harder toys- but if you don't know that's something you want, I wouldn't suggest this product. It may be good for anal penetration with a strap on harness, but it depends on the preferences of your partner. The firmness of it means that it's good for anal penetration, but if they're not very experienced they probably wouldn't like it. My partner is pretty experienced, but just finds that he doesn't like the texture of this one.

The toy does fit really nicely into my harness and the base is fantastic both because it can suction and because it works with a harness rather than against it, but those are about the only good things about this toy in my experience.

One day I'll make a video of me "boinking" the Magnum Stubbs so you can all understand how fun it is- however, this should not be the most fun thing to do with a sex toy.

Bottom Line: Too hard. Way, way too hard.

*flame testing is bringing a lighter to a product to see whether or not it is silicone. Real, pure silicone can withstand high temperatures (which is why that silpat is great for baking on), so if you bring flame to it it may create some ash, but after rubbing it away there should be little to no indication that anything happened. If large amounts of material flake off or there's a sticky something coming off on to your hands, it's not silicone or it's silicone mixed with elastomer (elastomed), TPR, TPE, or some other such 'less porous' and cheaper material. More info on this when my post about silicone comes out.

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! 

Another V-Day Sale!

This one coming from Tantus: Purple Goodies on Sale today, Friday January 25th through February 5th. Enter the Code PURPLEPASSION for 20% off any purple toys!

Of course, I made another image with some recommended purple products from Tantus:

Shown are proven classics and new toys from Tantus, but you can see many more in their webstore! New toys are The Neo, Twist, and Juice plugs and the Anaconda (I can be quoted as saying, "I just want the Tantus Anaconda so I can hit people with it") and the tried and true classics are the Little Flirt (which is my first Tantus product, I have it in copper- that color and pearl pink are still on closeout!) and the Silk in small, medium, and large.

Go look at their shop. Do it. Tantus is fantastic, their products are 100% pure premium silicone, they'll last you forever unless you maim them purposefully with a chainsaw, and you can boil them to clean them (be sure to remove the bullet vibrator from their vibrating toys, first)! They're just great, and you should know they're great because I'm not even an affiliate with them yet (waiting on getting my code) and I promote them like crazy: I do that because I love them.

There's a reason people who have Tantus products are rabid about the company. If everyone would replace their shitty jelly rubber plugs and dildos with Tantus toys, I could die happy knowing that people aren't mistreating their orifices.

What are you waiting for?

Valentines Day Sales, Deals, and Ideas!

So, a few of the companies I like and affiliate with are having Special Valentines Day Sales. I'm not really into Valentine's Day myself (I'll be working my first double at work), but I figure some of you may be interested so I might as well share!

Lovehoney is doing a few things, but one of the awesome sales they have on for Valentine's Day right now (up until the 13th!) are the 3 for's: 3 for $15, 3 for $35, and 3 for $65. I've made a few selections of non-porous toys, nice lubes, and other accessories for you to take a gander at but they have many more products on offer.

In the 3 for $15 section, I've shown the Lovehoney Powerful Pocket Vibrator, Bombshell Bomb Pleasure Balm (it comes in Cherry, Mint, and Chocolate!), and the Earthly Body Mini Gift Pouch. They also have individual Earthly Body Massage Oils and Massage Candles in different scents in this offer. 

In the 3 for $35 section, I've gone just a little kinky. Shown here are the Bondage Boutique White Hemp Rope (which has fantastic reviews and which will be coming in the mail sometime soon for myself- there will be a review on the blog at some point, and which I accidentally gave the wrong name in the image above- whoops), Lovehoney Medium (or Large!) Snug Plug Silicone Butt Plug, and Maximus Anal Lubricant. Maximus does contain Parabens, so if you're sensitive or concerned about Parabens, try something else suited to anal play, like Sliquid Silver, Ride Lube in Silicone, or Sliquid's Sassy or Organics Gel- which unfortunately are not on sale, but I personally think they're worth it. 

In the 3 for $65 section, I've included some things for both genders: the Lovehoney G-Whizz Silicone G-Spot Vibrator, YES Organic Water-Based Lubricant, and Tenga's 3D line of Male Masturbators, which comes in 4 textures: Module, Zen, Polygon, and Pile.   

From Tantus' Closeout Section (going on year round! Though I hear something about a VDay sale on Purple Goodies at Tantus' online store, Tomorrow, Friday Jan 25th...). Shown in my collage are The Little Flirt in Pearl Pink and Copper (I have Copper, it's lovely! another thing you'll be seeing a review of soon), The Cherry C-Ring, Ripple Small or Large (shown in Black, also comes in Purple) , The G Spot Vibe (Shown in pink, also comes in white and purple), and The Charmer (shown in pink, also comes in purple). Most of these items are under $20, which is a fantastic deal for 100% Pure Premium Silicone- and I can vouch for the quality of Tantus' Silicone. My little end is the perfect balance between firm and squishy, and the Silicone is definitely real, and 100% pure. No question. Maybe I'll make a video of me doing a flame test?
Other things you may want to look at in the closeout section are the Bend Over Beginner Harness Kit (comes with a Harness and the Silk in Small and Medium!), The Pro-Touch Vibe, and so much more.

If you're looking for something Super Fancy, you should look into the Lelo Adore Me Pleasure Set- now $20 off it's normal price of $159. It comes with a Lelo Mia 2, a Silk Blindfold, a Signature Gift Card, and Chainlink Cuffs.  They have other sets which aren't on sale: the Dare Me Pleasure Set, which has a black color theme and includes Luna Beads Noir, Silk Cuffs, and a Suede Whip for $119 (Great for female-bodied persons who love 50 Shades!), and the Indulge Me Pleasure Set which has a purple theme color and comes with a Lelo Noa Couple's toy, Silk blindfold, and a feather teaser. 

Another awesome Valentine's Day offer for the Bondage Enthusiasts: Twisted Monk has a V-day gift box! It includes 1 30ft length of their amazing, high quality hand-finished 6mm Hemp Rope, 2 10ft lengths of the same beautiful rope, Safety Shears (in case of bondage emergency, of course), 6 clips to match the rope, a red wax candle, and their Getting Started Vol 1&2 DVDs. All wrapped beautifully and stamped with a wax seal. At a price of $69.99 (you're saving $30!) and 36 hour delivery, this is definitely a good last-minute gift, and a fantastic one at that.

I'll be sure to update as I hear of new deals going on. In the meantime, Happy Shopping! Get something body safe and maybe a few fantastic toys that will last a lifetime.

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.