Sex toys are becoming more and more popular, and the market is providing a dizzying array of toys from which to choose from. Finger-vibes, the rabbit, anal beads, strap-ons…the possibilities are endless. But when you buy that butt plug or that dildo, it’s important to keep cleanliness and your ‘internal safety’ in mind.

There is no official monitor for sex-toy safety or the information included by the manufacturer, so you’ve got to take some initiative in caring for your toys and your sexual health when using toys. The steps you need to take to preserve your investment and your genital integrity vary from toy to toy. Hopefully, below you will find a good overview of what you need to do to play it safe.

Vaginal toys

The most certain way of keeping your sex toy clean-as-new is to use a condom on it every time. But even if you don’t want to use a rubber on your rubber cock, you can keep your toy clean.

If your new toy is nonporous, like the Jungle Smoothie, washing with soap and warm water will do just fine. Always wash a toy after use; if you want to be extra careful, wash before use, too. To avoid corroding the rubber or plastic material, use a mild soap like baby shampoo or delicate laundry wash, particularly the unscented kind.

Toys made from porous materials, such as the Crystal Cote and any jelly vibes or toys, can also be washed with soap and warm water; but, you will definitely be playing it cleaner if you use a condom. Also, be sure to use them only with water-based lubricants (as opposed to oil-based).

Other toys, such as those made from silicone or glass, can be boiled. Don’t boil just any toy—make sure it is a material that can withstand the heat. And before you boil your toy, make sure you have removed any electronic components inside.

Anal toys

Do not—do NOT—ever put anything into your ass that does not have either: a) a string attached or b) a flared base (basically, anything that would keep the toy from being pulled into your rectum/colon). And food items, in general, should be avoided. You can be assured that emergency room doctors have many stories to tell of having to remove things from people’s asses as varied as salad bar tongs, dildos that were not meant for anal use, deodorant bottles and cell phones. You have many feet of intestine and, unlike with the vagina, things can get pulled inside and stuck in there. Don’t think you are going to be able to push whatever it is out when you go to the bathroom—it’s probably not going to happen. So, use a little common sense and save yourself from a visit to the ER.

As owner of an ass, you probably know that the rectum is not self-lubricating. So, no matter what you put into your ass, you’ll need lube to get it in. The skin of the anus is very sensitive and delicate, and forcing an object (a penis or finger or whatever) into it can tear the skin and put the person at risk for bacterial infection or a sexually transmitted disease. So, use lube, and lots of it.

If you want to play with your or someone else’s ass, use your hands or a toy made specifically for that purpose. You’ll be glad you did and won’t have to explain the “Emergency Colon-Object Extraction” that shows up on your health insurance itemization. Many vaginal toys, both dildos and vibrators, can be used for anal play. But, there are other toys that are made just for anal stimulation, like butt plugs.

Safety and cleanliness of butt toys can be maintained two ways: either by using a condom on the toy for each use or by cleaning it with soap and water, or special toy cleaners. Because it kills bacteria, this type of cleaner is especially good for anal toys, but for the extra-cautious it can be used for vaginal toys, too. Spray cleaners are helpful for toys with lots of little bumps or ridges that are hard to clean thoroughly with just soap and water.

Anal beads are special animals in terms of sex-toy cleaning. Some beads are connected by a nylon string and should not be used by more than one person unless a condom is put over them first. Because of the fabric string that connects the beads, neither soap and water nor antibacterial cleanser is likely to get your beads totally clean. You can soak them in hot water and bleach to kill most of the bacteria (and get rid of any smell). Or, you can just throw them out after use and get new ones. Better to use beads that have a latex-covered string so that bacteria can’t get into it.

Vaginal and Anal Action

Like the versatile penis after which many are modeled, many sex toys can, in theory, be used for both vaginal and anal penetration; but unless you use a condom on your toy, you should not ever use the same toy for both front and back-door action. The possibility of spreading bacteria from the anus to the vagina is too great and could give you a nasty infection. So, by all means, use a penis-shaped toy for anal play (if it meets the criteria of having a flared base); but, don’t share it with a vagina without cleaning it first.

Lubes

Different types of toys require different types of lube. The most common sex toys are made out of plastic, rubber or latex and the best type of lube for those toys is a water-based lube that will both lubricate the toy and not harm the materials out of which it’s made. If you’ve invested $100 or so in a good sex toy, you don’t want to corrode it by using the wrong lube. Water-based lubes can be used for glass toys, latex toys, plastic, rubber and jelly toys, and silicone toys.

Silicone lubricants like WET Platinum Body Glide last longer and are thicker than water-based lubes. They are great for anal sex but can’t be used with silicone toys.

Oil-based lubes, which are popular for anal sex, cannot be used with latex condoms or for vaginal sex. Oil will degrade latex and can cause a nasty vaginal infection.

Phthalate

“Jelly” toys are usually made out of a relatively flexible type of rubber or plastic and are a big proportion of sex toys on the market. Phthalate is a chemical that is added to plastic or rubber to make it more flexible. Several government agencies are studying whether or not exposure to phthalate can cause cancer or negative reproductive health consequences. Phthalate is included in a list of substances “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” but the jury is still out on whether (or how much) exposure to these chemicals causes cancer. If you are concerned about these risks, choose a different material for your sex toy or make sure to always use these materials with a condom. Silicone is a good alternative material that is also flexible like jelly toys.

Sharing Toys

If you find yourself taking a guy or gal home and want to use your strap-on or your butt plug on them, congratulations! And fear not: just roll a condom onto your toy, lube up, and go at it. Remember to use a new condom if you’re going from pussy to pussy, ass to pussy or from ass to ass.

Now you’re well-versed in how to use sex toys safely on yourself and others. So, kick up your heels and have fun!