It doesn’t matter if you spend a little or a lot on a sex toy, you want it to last as long as possible, especially if it makes you or your partner feel really good. The best way to get as many uses as possible out your favorite vibrator, dildo, penis ring, or any other sex toy is to take care of it properly.
Use Compatible Materials
When you need to use a condom or lubricant while playing with a sex toy, make sure you use materials that are compatible with each other. Silicone, PVC, and other softer materials should not be used with latex condoms or silicone lubricant. Once the material of your sex toy makes contact with the latex or silicone, either the condom or the toy itself can be damaged.
Always read the manufacturer’s instructions before using lube or condoms to find out what they recommend. Latex-free condoms are always a safe bet with any sex toy as is water-based lubricant. Some silicone toy makers suggest you do a patch test on a toy before using a silicone lube. Using the wrong materials together can kill your toy.
Keep Your Sex Toys Clean
Your sex toys should be cleaned on a regular basis to help them last as long as possible. Let too many body fluids dry on your vibrator or dildo, and you’ll have to toss it pretty quickly because that’s just gross. Clean your toy thoroughly after you take it out of the package and again after every use. If you tend to store your sex toys in a drawer with other things, you need to wipe them down or rinse off any dust or lint before each use. The last thing you want is dust, lint, or some mysterious residue touching your genitals.
How you clean your toy depends on the material it’s made of and whether it has a motor or not. All sex toys can be cleaned with a sex toy cleaner or soap and water. It can be as easy as spraying on the cleaner, and wiping down your sex toy. Non-porous materials like glass, metal, stainless steel, stone, and silicone can be boiled or cleaned in the dishwasher. But if your toy uses batteries, has an USB charger, or has a motor on the inside, don’t submerge it in water – stick with a toy cleaner or soap and water.
Proper Storage Matters
How you store your sex toys makes a difference in its longevity, too. Shoving your penis ring or vibrator in a drawer with a bunch of other random stuff causes problems. Dust and lint can coat it requiring you to clean it before you get sexy. Something might get stuck in the charger connector which could make charging it later impossible or difficult.
If your sex toy comes with a bag or box, use it. Once you’ve done that, it’s fine to stick your favorite vibe in a drawer with everything else. At least you’ll know it’s protected. You also want to store all your sex toys in a cool, dry location, especially anything made of PVC or TPR/TPE. Heat can damage toys made of this material. Don’t store your jelly toys in the same bag or container, either. Put them in their own container before storing.
Don’t Forget the Batteries and Chargers
To help your sex toys last a little longer, make sure to remove the batteries between uses. When you’re done, pop the batteries out and put them in a dry, cool place. When replacing the batteries, change out all the batteries, not just one. This is a great reason to always have extra around. You never know when you’ll have a sex toy emergency.
Not all toys use batteries though. Some are rechargeable and more are starting to use USBs. Charge your sex toy completely before the first use. To help maintain battery strength longer, wait to charge it until it’s died completely. You don’t need to plug it in after every use unless it loses power. Be careful with the cords, too. Don’t bend, twist, or yank on them. Just like your smartphone, these cords can and will break, and not all of them can be easily replaced.
Conclusion
Getting up to clean and store your sex toys after sweaty and sexy fun with a partner or by yourself probably doesn’t sound very appealing. You don’t have to stand at the sink naked, scrubbing your sex toys – unless that turns you on. Simply get into the habit of keeping them clean and putting them away properly. Make sure you know what your toys are made of so you don’t mix them with materials that will cause problems. Eventually, it’ll become second nature, and your favorite sex toys will last much longer.
What’s the longest you’ve ever owned a sex toy? Comment below!
