The guide to getting the right toy material
Nowadays, sex toys come in a huge range of styles and finishes. Choosing which sex toy material is right for you usually comes down to personal preference. To make that decision easier, we've outlined the differences in each type of material. This way, you can make an informed decision about which one is the best for you.
Where to Start
Embarking on your journey into the dazzling world of sex toys? Get ready for an exciting revelation – the choice of materials for your pleasure-enhancing playthings can truly be a game-changer! The feel of your toy is important to your pleasure. Imagine indulging in the smooth, silky touch of silicone, enhancing every intimate touch with a luxurious glide that's designed for pure pleasure. Or consider the irresistible allure of body-safe stainless steel, which not only provides a thrilling weightiness but also responds to temperature for an added element of surprise. Different material types require different cleaning procedures and lubricants to ensure cleanliness and retention of the material.
Silicone
Silicone is silky smooth and soft to the touch. Some types of silicone are firmer, making for a stronger and fuller experience. Silicone is used for dildos, vibrators, anal toys, and massagers.
- Silicone is a non-porous material that is an unwelcoming place for bacteria, so it’s super hygienic.
- To clean your silicone toy wash it with mild liquid soap or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use. You can also boil it for three minutes or stick it in the top shelf of your dishwasher (but only if there are no electrical components or batteries!).
- Use a water-based lubricant with silicone toys—silicone lubricant can degrade the material of silicone toys!
ABS Plastic
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic toys are smooth, hard, and rigid. Because of their firm touch, ABS plastic toys are great for dildos, vibrators, and massagers.
- ABS Plastic toys are non-porous and thus super-hygienic and easy to clean.
- Wash your hard plastic toy before its first use and after each subsequent use with soap and water or toy cleaner.
- You can use any type of lubricant with ABS plastic toys.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel toys are cold, heavy, and smooth, but warm up with body heat. Stainless Steel is used for anal plugs, beads and some dildos. They will last forever if properly maintained. If they do not contain a vibrating or mechanical component, they can be boiled or placed in cold water (or a refrigerator) to change the sensation of play.
- Stainless Steel toys are non-porous and thus super-hygienic and easy to clean.
- Wash your stainless steel toys in soap and water or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use. You can also boil them or put them in the top rack of the dishwasher (but only if there are no electrical components or batteries!). Just remember not to touch them until they have cooled down!
- Stainless Steel toys are compatible with all types of lubricant.
Glass
Glass toys are smooth and rigid and often used for anal plugs, beads and some dildos. Glass toys are extremely beautiful as they can be shaped and colored in amazing ways. The material used to make a glass toy is NOT standard, easily breakable glass. The material most often used in glass toys is called Borosilicate or Pyrex which is a medical grade glass that can withstand heat, cold, and pressure. Use this type of toy for sensation stimulation in hot or cold play.
- Glass toys are non-porous and thus super-hygienic and easy to clean.
- Clean your glass toys by washing them in the top rack of your dishwasher (but only if there are no electrical components or batteries!), or washing them with soap and water or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use.
- Glass toys are compatible with all types of lubricant.
Ceramic
Ceramic toys are less common but give a smooth and firm sensation. These toys are made from clay and infused with additives that provide exceptional strength and polish. Some ceramic toys are hollow and feature a plug at the base. This allows you to fill them with warm or cold water and they retain the adapted temperature. Use this type of toy for sensation stimulation in hot or cold play. Most often used for butt plugs and dildos.
- Ceramic toys are non-porous and thus super-hygienic and easy to clean.
- Wash these toys gently with warm water and mild soap or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use.
- Ceramic toys are compatible with all types of lubricant.
Realistic Feel
Realistic feel is a very broad term for sex toys made with materials that are designed to be natural in both look and feel. CyberSkin, Real Feel Super Skin, Better-Than-Real, Fanta Flesh, Futurotic, Loveclone RX, UR3, Sensafirm these are terms for essentially the same elastomer based material. Realistic Feel toys are made to feel like real human flesh and many even retain your body’s temperature to feel like real body heat. They are used for dildos and vibrators to give you the realistic illusion of penis penetration.
- These toys are made from porous materials that need to be cleaned thoroughly and frequently. They cannot be sterilized.
- Wash these toys gently with warm water and mild soap or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use. Dry your toy thoroughly. Before putting your toy away for its next use, dust it with cornstarch powder. This will help maintain its life-like appearance and texture.
- Use water-based lubricants with these toys.
TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber)
TPR is a polymer blend that is somewhere between a realistic feel and a silicone as to texture and flexibility. TPR is hypoallergenic and less porous than a jelly or cyberskin, but more porous than silicone. Overall, it is a soft and pliable material that feels smooth to the touch.
- TPR is hypoallergenic and less porous than a jelly or cyberskin, but more porous than silicone. It cannot be sterilized.
- Wash your toys with mild soap or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use.
- Make sure to use water-based lubricants with TPR toys.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
TPE is known as “the safer jelly” because it does not have phthalates. Phthalates are used to soften the PVC used in a jelly toy. Elastomers are softer, so they do not require the softening process. The feel is similar to a jelly toy, but functions more like a rubber.
- TPE is a semi-porous material that must be washed thoroughly and frequently. It cannot be sterilized.
- Wash your toys with mild soap or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use.
- Make sure to use water-based lubricants with TPE toys.
Jelly
Jelly toys are smooth, rubbery, and flexible. This material is very pliable and popular for vibrators and dildos because you can feel the vibrations through the material.
- Jelly-rubber is a porous material that must be washed thoroughly and frequently. It cannot be sterilized.
- Wash your toys with mild soap or toy cleaner before its first use and after each subsequent use.
- Make sure to use water-based lubricants with jelly toys.
