Do you own a sex toy? If yes, you aren’t alone. The number of men and women who use sex toys has increased rapidly over the years. The sex toys industry, which is worth over 30 billion dollars, is expected to grow exponentially in the next couple of years.
Granted, sex toys are safe and have a handful of health benefits. But if you don’t use them the right way, you may damage them and put your health at risk. If you are new to adult toys you may be clueless about how to use them properly and some things you should never do with them.
This article is going to shed light on some of the dos and don’ts of adult toys.
Do’s of sex toys
Learn about the material it is made from
Before buying a sex toy it is important that you first check the material it is made from. As you likely know, the sex toys industry isn’t closely monitored by the FDA. Because of this, some manufacturers make toys with harmful materials like phthalates, a chemical that can affect our hormones.
Be sure to avoid adult toys that are made from jellylike or porous materials, as they are more likely to be infested with harmful bacteria.
Clean your toys regularly
Whether you have a vibrator, a butt plug, or a dildo, you should clean them before and after use. Ignore this and you will be at a higher risk of developing health conditions like Urinary tract infection and trichomoniasis, just to mention a few.
The way you clean your toys also matters.
Since all sex toys aren’t made the same, you can’t clean them the same way. While some sex toys are dishwasher safe, others require special care. A simple way to learn how to clean your sex toy is to check the instruction manual that came with it. If your toy didn’t come with instructions, you should clean it with warm soapy water and dry it with a towel.
Buy from reputable sellers
There are two main ways you can get your hands on a sex toy. You can buy them from a sex shop in your area or order them online. Most sex shops offer high-quality toys. The same cannot be said for all online sellers. Some online shop offers low-quality products that will fall apart after a short while.
To be on the safe side, you should only buy sex toys from reputable online vendors with good reviews.
Things you should never do with your sex toy
Don’t use sex toys that you don’t own
Never should you borrow personal items like a sex toy from a friend. Even if they clean it thoroughly and covered it with a condom, there is still a chance that it contains microbes and viruses. The golden rule here is to never use someone’s sex toy and to never lend your sex toys to anyone.
Using the wrong sex toy
A common mistake many beginners make is to assume that sex toys are multipurpose and can be used to stimulate different parts of their bodies. For example, they may use a butt plug to stimulate their vagina. While this may seem like a harmless practice, researchers have found out that it can increase the odds of an infection. You see, if the bacteria in the butt gain entry into the vagina, they may cause an infection.
Using the wrong lube for certain types of sex toys
Lube can make masturbating with your sex toy more pleasurable. Before choosing a lube, you should first consider the material your toy is made from. Silicone adult toys should never be used with silicone-based lubricants. Water-based lube should be used instead. Oil-based lube is also great, but it can cause skin irritation.
Don’t use any type of sex toy when it isn’t working properly
Just like other electric-powered devices, sex toys may start to perform poorly after several months or years of regular use. As soon as you notice this, you should stop using the toy and dispose of it appropriately. Using a damaged toy will not only increase the risk of infection but will also increase the likely hood of you injuring yourself.
Final note
These are just a handful of some of the dos and don’t of sex toys. If you follow them, you will be able to get the most out of your sex toy. Even more, you will make them last longer. Remember that sex toys are personal items and should never be shared. Even if a toy is cleaned thoroughly, there is no assurance that it ia germ-free. To be safe, you should not borrow or lend someone your sex toys.