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There’s a few things you need to think of before buying your toy(s). This section of the guide will help you figure out which toy is best for you by asking you a few simple questions. You will also learn about the materials used in the sex toy industry and why high-end, quality products will not only last longer, but may protect your health as well. We will discuss the benefits of silicone and explain how to clean and maintain your toys so they will last as long as possible.

What Sensual Product is Best for You?

When purchasing sensual products it is important to determine what type of product would best enhance your sex life at this time. Choosing the right erotic product is a personal experience that meets an individual’s specific needs and desires. Reading through the entire guide will help with your decision. We know that when individuals understand their emotional, physical, and relationship desires they are happier with their sex toy purchases.

If this is your first sex toy purchase ever you may not want to buy the biggest dildo possible. Sometimes our eyes are bigger than our vaginas or anuses. The dimensions of each product are included on our website so customers can choose the perfect size for them. You can also read the vibrator, dildo, and anal play sections of this guide to get help in picking the right toy for the job.

If you’re in a relationship and new to this sort of thing, you may want to start with a massage oil, romantic game, or an external vibrator that both partners can enjoy. You can slowly add more exciting products to your toy drawer over time.

If the toy is just for you it’s a little easier. Try to determine what will turn you on the most. Women may want to experiment with clitoral, G-spot, or blended stimulations. Men may want to experiment with different types of lube, cock rings, or masturbation sleeves. Many individuals enjoy anal play as well. And, some individuals may want to explore pornography and erotica.

Once you peruse Forever Pleasure’s website you’ll probably know exactly what ‘turns you on.’ If not, or if you or your partner have any questions, please contact us through email and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect toy(s).

Some Questions to Ask Yourself

Whether you’re about to purchase your first toy or you’ve got a packed pleasure trunk you should ask yourself a few simple questions to insure you purchase the perfect toy.

  • Is this toy just for you or do you intend to share it with a partner?
  • Do you want something romantic, sensual, or highly erotic?
  • How much do you want to spend?
  • Is quality important to you?
  • What kind of sex toy material do you prefer?

If you’re purchasing a vibrator, dildo, or anal toy:

  • Do you want something that vibrates or not? If so, how powerful do you want it?
  • Do you want an internal, external, or combination toy?
  • What do you want the toy to do for you?
  • What size, shape, and colour do you prefer?
  • Do you want something smooth or with texture?
  • Do you want it to resemble a penis or not?
  • Do you want it to look like a sex toy or be more discrete?
  • What density or stiffness do you like?
  • What sex toy material do you prefer?
  • How important is the ease of cleaning and maintenance of your toy?
  • How much do you want to spend?
  • Is quality important to you?

Sex Toy Materials

Vibrators, dildos, and anal toys can be made from just about anything including; plastic, jelly, glass, metal, acrylic, CyberskinTM, silicone, latex, and elastomer. Most toys on the market are poor quality and some are even harmful to the body. Forever Pleasure only carries insertable products made from highly reputuable companies who produce toys made of 100% silicone, 100% elastomer, or food grade vinyl. However, this guide will include information about all of the materials used in sex toy manufacturing in case you already have toys made from these products.

Silicone

Silicone is the ideal sex toy material. It is non-porous and the only sex toy material that can be disinfected. Because of this it can be shared between partners or used vaginally or anally after it has been boiled in water for around 4 minutes. Please remember that you CANNOT boil a silicone vibe or dildo that has a vibrator unit inside of it. Silicone is also hypoallergenic so individuals with latex allergies can use them. Further, silicone toys are non-toxic, pliable, durable, have no sharp seams, warms to the body quickly, retains heat, and carries vibration like a dream. They also don’t degrade so they last a long time. Forever Pleasure only sells silicone toys that are 100% food or medical grade silicone. Please be aware that many products claim to be silicone when, by law, they only need to contain 10% silicone to claim they are ‘silicone.’ There are many cheap ‘silicone’ products on the market, which can be just as harmful as sex toys made from jelly.

Elastomer

Elastomer is quickly becoming a very popular material used with high-end, sex toys. It has properities very similar to silicone. It is hypoallergenic, so it is kinder to your skin. These toys are extremely soft, yet very durable so it will last for years. Elastomer vibes are also extremely quiet and much easier to clean than latex. They are also 100% latex-free, so individuals with latex allergies and sensitivities can use them with no worries.

Soft Vinyl

Food grade vinyl sex toys from excellent manufacturers are less porous and last longer than jelly toys. They are extremely soft and pliable, yet hard enough to feel great. Soft vinyl is a great vibe material because it carries vibrations wonderfully. Forever Pleasure only carries high-end food grade vinyl sex toys made in Japan. Some stores and sites carry cheap vinyl toys that are quite porous. These toys are more likely to house bacteria and yeast causing nasty vaginal and/or rectal infections. Because of this you should always use a condom on your inexpensive vinyl sex toys. Because vinyl toys are more porous they do not last as long as silicone toys. Further, vinyl cannot be disinfected. Clean your vinyl toys with anti-bacterial soap and water.

Latex

Latex vibrators and dildos are not as common as they used to be. Latex toys are generally more cost-effective than silicone or elastamer toys, however, they have their disadvantages. Latex is soft, but not pliable so these products do not bend well. Latex is also very porous, which makes the toy break down over time and difficult to clean properly. Since you cannot sterilize latex toys you MUST use condoms on your toys if you share them with a partner or use them for vaginal and anal penetration. As well, many individuals have latex allergies or sensitivities. These individuals should use hypoallergenic sex toys made from silicone or elastomer.

Plastic

Plastic toys are generally very hard and not pliable. They are usually smooth, but the cheaper toys have sharp seams that can cut the vaginal canal or rectum. Hard plastic does conduct vibrations well and can usually be used safely for the exterior stimulation of the erogenous zones. They are also easy to clean with either sex toy cleaner or rubbing alcohol. However, most plastic sex toys are poorly made and one should steer clear from them if at all possible.

Jelly

Jelly sex toys are extremely common because it is an inexpensive material that can easily be formed into almost any shape. They come in a huge array of shapes, sizes, and colours. Jelly toys are very soft and pliable, yet can be quite rigid during play time. Jelly toys are porous and difficult to properly clean. They CANNOT be sterilized like silicone. They also appear to contain chemical agents called phthalates, which have been known to cause health problems in laboratory studies. It is important to note that inserting jelly toys into the vagina or anus can be harmful to your health. Please use a condom everytime you use a jelly toy to help with safety, maintenance, and cleaning. Also, please read the Health Issues with Inexpensive Sex Toys section for more information.

CyberskinTM or other Realistic Materials

These toys are known for their realistic-looking and feeling flesh-like texture. They are soft, smooth and flexible, much like human skin. However, these toys are extremely difficult to keep clean after use. You can keep your toy from looking like a lint magnet by adding corn starch or CyberskinTM talc after each use. They are also very porous and difficult to clean and cannot be sterilized. Like jelly toys, they may contain harmful phthalates. If you must use these toys, please use a condom each and every time.

Glass

Glass sex toys should be made from PyrexTM, which is generally laboratory quality. It should not shatter when dropped, but they can. If you see a crack your glass toy discontinue use immediately. You do not want a glass toy breaking while using it internally. Glass is non-porous, retains temperature very well, and is extremely smooth. It does not contain phthalates and is easy to clean with antibacterial soap and water. PyrexTM glass toys can even be boiled.

Metal

High quality metal sex toys are fine if they do not have any sharp seams and if they are unpainted. Painted metal toys are prone to flaking. Cheap metal vibes are not recommended. Metal toys are very hard, non-porous, 100% phthalate-free, and usually quite smooth. They are easily cleaned with anti-bacterial soap and warm water.

Health Issues With Inexpensive Sex Toys

Forever Pleasure only carries insertable vibes, dills, and anal toys made from either silicone, elastomer, or food grade vinyl, although 90% of our products are made from 100% silicone. We only carry products that meet our strict guidelines including sex toy material, excellent quality, and superior electronics. All of our vibes, dills, and anal toys are made in Canada, Germany, Japan, or the United States. You won’t find anything harmful to your body here.

The sex toy industry is largely unregulated. They sell sex toys as novelty items so they do not need to adhere to certain regulations. Unfortunately, most North Americans who purchase sex toys are not aware of the health risks associated with certain toys. Further, North American and European health regulatory bodies have not put much effort into studying the safety of sex toys.

Besides the obvious adverse affects of poorly made sex toys such as sharp seams, allergies, decomposition, and bacteria infections due to porous toys, the most concerning issue is with off-gasing pthalates. Pthalates are a family of very common chemicals used in a variety of products, from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), children’s toys, and sex toys made from jelly. They are also used in the production of paint, adhesives, insect repellents, and rocket fuel.

Pthalates are added to plastic (usually PVC) to increase their flexibility. Unfortunately, over time, the pthalates added slowly ‘leak’ out in a process called off-gasing. They generally release lead and cadmium, which can be absorbed into the body. Because of this, the US Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and other health agencies around the world have started to research the harmful effects pthalates cause to the body. Health Canada and the European Union have removed all the plastic toys designed for children under three that contain pthalates.

In 2001, the popular German magazine, Stern, hired toxicologists to determine the safety of certain sex toy materials. They were alarmed at the high concentrations of pthalates, which were 100 times the acceptable European standard. The toxicologists warned that sex toys containing pthalates (ie. anything initially made from PVC) would be absorbed into the mucous membrane of the vaginal canal and rectum. They expressed concern that the pthalates would eventually be absorbed by the liver or kidneys.

In 2006, Greenpeace Netherlands commissioned a study, which found seven out of eight vibrators and dildos tested contained pthalates in concentrations varying from 24 to 51 percent. Besides the effects mentioned above, the experts from this study indicate that vaginal or rectal exposure to these chemicals can harm hormone production and damage reproduction. They also indicated that sex toys made from these materials might lead to cancer.

The United State’s CDC has been studying the affects of pthalates on a number of animals and humans. They conclude that although pthalates cause a number of health-related issues for rodents, including hormonal or endocrine problems, liver or kidney damage and tumors, and infertility, no human studies have been found that report these health issues. The CDC states that pthalates can be absorbed into the system through skin contact and that people should be concious about the adverse affects of these chemicals.

Eventhough human studies on the adverse affects of pthalates are inconlusive, we at Forever Pleasure will not sell any sex toy products that may contain pthalates. We believe our bodies are our temple. You shouldn’t ingest harmful chemical ingredients, therefore, you shouldn’t be inserting sex toys that may be harmful to your health. A good motto to follow when it comes to sex toys is, “if it smells bad, don’t buy it!”

The Benefits of Silicone

Silicone sex toys are preferrable because they are:
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Non-porous
  • Not absorbent (so it doesn’t retain smell or bacteria)
  • Odorless
  • Easy to clean (the only common sex toy material that can be disinfected by boiling)
  • Non-toxic (they are 100% pthalate-free)
  • Durable (won’t leave fragments of material in the body like other toys)
  • Unique (they come in a number of shapes, sizes, and vivid colours)
  • Long lasting
  • Pliable
  • Smooth (no sharp seams)
  • Life-like to touch
  • Great conductors of heat (they quickly warm to the body and retain the heat)
  • Fantastic for carrying vibrations

Sex Toy Cleaning & Maintenance

Following is a quick list of sex toy materials and how to properly clean and maintain them. Included in this section is the types of lubes you can use with each material. Again, Forever Pleasure only recommends vibes, dills, and anal toys made from 100% silicone, 100% elastomer, or food grade vinyl. We have included all the sex toy materials in case you currently have a toy made from these materials.

With vibrators, always remove the batteries when cleaning and after each use. NEVER leave the batteries in your toy when it is not in use. Removing the batteries during cleaning will help prevent corrosion if water happens to get into the electrical component. Waterproof toys should be fine, but it is better to be safe than sorry. If corrosion does occur on the battery component you can clean it by applying a small amount of baking soda and lightly scrubing it with a cotton swab.

Silicone

Cleaning – Antibacterial soap and water, boiling for 4 minutes (not vibes with electrical components). Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust, remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based (WARNING: silicone-based lubes will break down the silicone)

Elastomer

Cleaning – Antibacterial soap and water, sex toy cleaner Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust, remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based or silicone-based

Soft Vinyl

Cleaning – Antibacterial soap and water, sex toy cleaner Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust, remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based or silicone-based

Latex

Cleaning – Mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust, remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based or silicone-based

Plastic

Cleaning – Antibacterial soap and water, sex toy cleaner, rubbing alcohol Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust, remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based or silicone-based

Jelly

Cleaning – Mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust (jelly toys collect dirt/lint very easily), remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based or silicone-based

CyberskinTM or other Realistic Materials

Cleaning – Mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner, CyberskinTM cleaning solution Maintenance – Cool dry place, protected from dirt and dust (CyberskinTM, etc. toys are dirt/lint collectors!, remove batteries Lubes

– Water-based (WARNING: silicone-based lubes will break down the CyberskinTM, etc.)

Glass

Cleaning – Antibacterial soap and water, boiled in water, sex toy cleaner Maintenance – Cool dry place Lubes

– Water-based or silicone-based

Metal

Cleaning – Antibacterial soap and water, sex toy cleaner Maintenance – Cool dry place Lubes – Water-based or silicone-based

Up: Ultimate Sex Toy Guide - Next: Toys For Females

This article was published on Friday 24 November, 2006.

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