Materials

Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
We warn folks all the time about certain materials. Has anyone had any personal experience with this?

I've had cyberskin go so floppy and bent over it was unusable and jelly that pitted. I've had TPR silicone get these weird melty areas where it touched other toys and sil-a-gel that became stingy. I've not had any health/bacterial/infec tion issues due to toys, though, so I find myself forgetting to tell people to use a condom with things simply because I've never personally had to worry about it.

How about y'all?
01/19/2009
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Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I've also had an egg completely disconnect from the remote wires!
01/19/2009
Contributor: CaptainBunnyKilla CaptainBunnyKilla
I haven't had anything bad happen yet (knock on wood). I'm super paranoid about keeping toys from touching and taking batteries out, etc. Fingers crossed my luck continues...
01/19/2009
Contributor: Not Here Anymore f/k/a Happy Lady Not Here Anymore f/k/a Happy Lady
My favorite Jelly toy suddenly became a harborer of bacteria. I was cleaning it with antibacterial soap and hot water constantly. I only ever used it solo and had no sexual partners at the time, but I kept getting BV over and over. Then I posted a review of the toy and someone mentioned the dangers of Jelly. Sure enough, once I started using a condom on that toy I stopped getting BV. Now that toy is somewhat forgotten in my drawer ... mostly because I have much better options now.

I've also had batteries melt inside a control pack after using that particular toy for more than 30 minutes. I don't think they were really old batteries, it's just a cheaper toy that wasn't meant to be used that long.

Oh, and I also have a remote control egg that I store in the little drawstring pouch that came with it. I was also storing the watch batteries it uses in the pouch. I moved and the pouch got lost. When I found it the watch batteries had fallen apart and there was corrosion all over the egg. Boo.
01/19/2009
Contributor: Mr Guy Mr Guy
Shopping for sex toys is a lot like shopping for cookingware. You can buy the cheapo stuff at Wal-Mart, and, yeah - it'll get your food cooked. But it'll fall apart and you'll have to replace it.

On the other end of the scale, there's All-Clad. It costs a ton, but it's fabulous stuff. You will not burn the béchamel in an All-Clad saucier. And if you take care of it, it'll last you forever. Or at least a couple of decades.

Me, I use All-Clad for most of my cooking - stovetop and oven. Except for this one grody-assed little baking sheet that I've had since college (which was a long time ago). It's blackened and more warped than a Mothers of Invention record, but everything it touches tastes like a million bucks. Because you can't buy 18 years' worth of seasoning.

The moral of this story is that while it's probably best to go top of the line when feasible, there are some little cheapies that are frakking irreplaceable.
01/19/2009
Contributor: CaptainBunnyKilla CaptainBunnyKilla
Quote:
Originally posted by Mr Guy
Shopping for sex toys is a lot like shopping for cookingware. You can buy the cheapo stuff at Wal-Mart, and, yeah - it'll get your food cooked. But it'll fall apart and you'll have to replace it.

On the other end of the scale, ... more
I looooove All-Clad. Do you have any of the copper stuff?
01/19/2009
Contributor: Mr Guy Mr Guy
Quote:
Originally posted by CaptainBunnyKilla
I looooove All-Clad. Do you have any of the copper stuff?
I don't have any of the Copper Core series yet, but it's on my wishlist. Along with a life-sized Cylon Centurion.
01/19/2009
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I get that buying the best quality toy you can afford is always the best bet. I suppose what I'm wondering is, with all the warnings we give, has anyone actually HAD any of these problems with materials, etc. (Like Happy Lady and her experience with BV from her jelly toy, etc)

For instance, I have a thing for rubber. I truly like it. I like the way it feels. I like the way it smells. (There is a small corner of heaven that smells exactly like a tire shop, I just know it!) And I've never, ever had a problem with my rubber toys retaining smell or giving me infections or breaking down. So I have a hard time with warning folks to use a condom or discouraging them from buying rubber.

Where as sil-a-gel has been a horrible experience for me. (My poor Dicky! My true love, spurned and dumped because he turned stingy and horribly painful!) If I did another sil-a-gel toy review I'd probably feel more comfortable with the warnings because of my personal experience.
01/20/2009
Contributor: Oggins Oggins
Well, other than having a few jelly toys melt on me.....which really isn't so uncommon but, truly is unfortunate considering the price tag that you find on some of them...I guess they are the elite jelly toys I'm not sure. It was in fact one of these elite jelly toys that cost $100+ that I had my first problem with. First let me say that I am not an allergy prone person. I have no allergies to anything. No medicines, not bees, nothing really other than a specific laundry detergent that used to be sold way back when. I overlooked the fact that it was jelly because I liked the way that it looked and it was rechargeable. I used it all of 5 times at the most without protecting it or myself with a condom barrier. All of those 5 times I experienced burning and irritation. It lasted about 3-5 days. Keep in mind I had used other jelly toys fairly regularly and never experienced this before so, I was on a mission to figure out what had caused this. We had tried new lube as well as other new toys at the time but, I finally pinpointed that it was in fact this jelly vibe because I used everything separately. Now that I cover it with a condom, I have no more issues but, I do find that I rarely use that vibe anymore. So, there it is, still new looking but, I know what it will do to me and has done to me. I think I may just throw it out......
01/20/2009
Contributor: Miss Cinnamon Miss Cinnamon
It's usually not the toys that give me problems, but lubes and condoms. My boyfriend uses Trojans, but after an unfortunate encounter involving my boyfriend, me, and a mint-flavored condom used in intercourse, all latex condoms that touched me caused a yeast infection. I went on the pill, waited a few months for my body to adjust, and then tried bareback sex with water-based lube. Again, yeast infections. I went down to the local sex shop and had a good talk with the lady behind the counter. She told me all about the evils of glycerin and then sold me an overpriced bottle of ID Millenium. I'm on a tight budget, so I haven't been able to try all the alternatives. At the moment, however, I'm on the pill and use silicone lube (sooo thankful for silicone). I hope to find a good condom soon, though. The pill isn't 100% effective and I don't want to push my luck.

Anybody have recommendations for non-latex condoms?
01/20/2009
Contributor: Liz2 Liz2
I have had jelly toys that just kind of disintegrated in spots. I have had infections but was never quite sure if it was from the lube I was using(with glycerin), the jelly material or something else.. I basically have changed lube and now use toys, 95% are silicone, glass or stainless steel.
I think Vixskin may be touchy so I keep them seperate.
01/20/2009
Contributor: Not Here Anymore f/k/a Happy Lady Not Here Anymore f/k/a Happy Lady
One of my other favorite toys is jelly with a rubber texture and NO smell. In fact, it is so non-jellyish that I called the manufacturer to confirm that it is jelly. I've used it for over 1.5 years without a condom and it hasn't caused me any trouble.

I also have a sil-a-gel toy that hasn't caused me any problems.

As has been pointed out here, we all have different bodies with various reactions to various substances. This is why I think it is important to mention material concerns in every review. Not all customers are savvy enough to read about the material separate from the product description or review(s).
01/20/2009
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by Miss Cinnamon
It's usually not the toys that give me problems, but lubes and condoms. My boyfriend uses Trojans, but after an unfortunate encounter involving my boyfriend, me, and a mint-flavored condom used in intercourse, all latex condoms that touched me ... more
A good friend of ours swears by the Lifestyles SKYN condoms.

Whatever you do, stay away from the lambskin ones. They stink to high heaven.
01/20/2009
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by Liz2
I have had jelly toys that just kind of disintegrated in spots. I have had infections but was never quite sure if it was from the lube I was using(with glycerin), the jelly material or something else.. I basically have changed lube and now use toys, ... more
I've had issues with lubes with glycerin in them, too. That's one product I really have a hard time recommending/being objective about.
01/20/2009
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
Quote:
Originally posted by Not Here Anymore f/k/a Happy Lady
One of my other favorite toys is jelly with a rubber texture and NO smell. In fact, it is so non-jellyish that I called the manufacturer to confirm that it is jelly. I've used it for over 1.5 years without a condom and it hasn't caused me any ... more
Yup. I think it really does come down to all of us being different. I think I"m going to start making sure I give the material concerns, state whether I personally had a problem and then give recommendations for those who want to avoid problems.

That way it'll sound less like the safety police, less like the toy is undesirable, and more like "this is what could happen, you choose how to deal with it".
01/20/2009
Contributor: Jimbo Jones Jimbo Jones
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
Yup. I think it really does come down to all of us being different. I think I"m going to start making sure I give the material concerns, state whether I personally had a problem and then give recommendations for those who want to avoid ... more
I think that's a good idea and one I will have to work on adopting in my own reviews. We have only had trouble with one jelly toy and it was one that we had in storage for quite a while. It caused a burning sensation when I penetrated my female partner vaginally with it. Needless to say, it went into the trash after that experience.
01/21/2009
Contributor: kinky girlfriend kinky girlfriend
I am in a serious relationship but I also want a dual action vibrator..will I be less tight if I use diffrent sized sex toys? I want to feel as good as I do now around my bf..haven't used vibrators..thinking about
link Do I really have to worry about using a condom with that? its not like I would share it.
02/20/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
Never had an infection but then again I won't by jelly, rubber or cyberskin. I like glass and silicone. If its a silicone blend a condom goes over it.
06/01/2009
Contributor: Avery Dragon Avery Dragon
I recently went on vacation to my sisters wedding out of state. leaving all toys in a bag like i normally do, i had a couple in draw string bags, but most were touching and up to that point never seemed to have any problem. When i got back i was ready to have some happy fun alone time. To my horror i found that a few of my toys had molded together somewhat. my Basix 10" dong with a cyberskin masturbator sleep..they didnt mold together, just get stuck for a moment..they came apart but both have a visible area as to where the other was. A UR3 dong and a TPR dong molded together in certain curves...the red one seemed to be the worst...

Do you remember the movie Ghost busters? The green ghost..yea..except in red...it looked like the toy left 'mucus' over most of my other toys..it took some scrubbing..but everything is fine now..except those 2. lol
06/01/2009
Contributor: Reesa Reesa
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I get that buying the best quality toy you can afford is always the best bet. I suppose what I'm wondering is, with all the warnings we give, has anyone actually HAD any of these problems with materials, etc. (Like Happy Lady and her experience ... more
I've had toys retaining smells to the extent where I eventually gave up on the toy entirely. I've also had batteries corrode inside a bullet once, but it didn't really matter to me since I didn't like that bullet in the first place.

Mostly, I just have batteries die on me because I fall asleep with the toy gently rumbling away.
06/04/2009
Contributor: Reesa Reesa
Quote:
Originally posted by Carrie Ann
I've had issues with lubes with glycerin in them, too. That's one product I really have a hard time recommending/being objective about.
Yeah, the glycerin tends to encourage yeast infections. Lubes with glycerin and flavored condoms and such are generally best kept away from the vagina. They're better off used for oral sex or even anal sex. You just want to keep that sugar out of your cooch.
06/04/2009
Contributor: Reesa Reesa
Quote:
Originally posted by kinky girlfriend
I am in a serious relationship but I also want a dual action vibrator..will I be less tight if I use diffrent sized sex toys? I want to feel as good as I do now around my bf..haven't used vibrators..thinking about
link Do I really have to ... more
You see that little picture labeled "Material Safety" next to the stars? That's an important symbol to look out for when asking yourself that question. The vibrator you're looking at is rated a 2, which means this material is a lot more likely than others to harbor bacteria and there are fewer options to sterilize it. You may not have any problems with using the toy without a condom, but you're taking a risk there, and the longer you have the toy the more risky it is as it has the opportunity to pick up and host more and more germs. It's up to you whether or not you want to take that risk.

The other factor is how you're going to use that toy. If you don't want to use a condom on it, you should DEFINITELY designate this toy a one-hole toy.
06/04/2009
Contributor: deceased deceased
Quote:
Originally posted by Avery Dragon
I recently went on vacation to my sisters wedding out of state. leaving all toys in a bag like i normally do, i had a couple in draw string bags, but most were touching and up to that point never seemed to have any problem. When i got back i was ... more
Back in the days when toys were all jelly, vinyl and cyberskin, I put all my toys in an airtight plastic container in a drawer. One week later, they had all cannibalized each other and became one strange looking object.
06/07/2009
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
I had a jelly toy that I finally realized was harboring yeast infection-causing bacteria. Ugh. Yeah. Totally awful. This was back before I understood porosity and such. I don't really own any porous dildos now but if I ever do get one I will DEFINITELY be using a condom.
09/26/2010
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Oh! And I have also used silicone lube on a Vixen toy and had it bond I also accidentally melted a jelly cock ring by putting it next to the same toy.
09/26/2010