Is there a life span for sex toys?

Contributor: Cinnamon Chambers Cinnamon Chambers
I know it will vary by material, but is there a list of recommended shelf lives for toys before they need to be replaced? I am not talking about obvious signs of wear and needing to be tossed, but rather the toys that seem to be in good shape but after a certain period of time that the material will simply begin to decompose or become unsafe for use? I would like to know before the toy gets to the dangerous stage if its time is up and it needs to go.

I know with toy collectors of a different variety like Barbie, My Little Pony, Cabbage Patch, etc there is a term "cancer" that is used to define the eventual breakdown of plastic causing mold looking dots, and other strange discolorations. It is rumored that contact with water, time, storage temperatures etc can cause this. I am just curious if this also applies to sex toys or what your experiences with them have been.
01/22/2009
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Contributor: Oggins Oggins
Wow! I have no idea at all but, that's a great question! ....Yeah, that helped a lot didn't it! =P
01/22/2009
Contributor: Nashville Nashville
Yes- jelly and rubbery toys (also toys composed out of various porous materials) will break down after a while. I read somewhere once what the shelf life for jelly toys were- I'm thinking it said 18 months? Don't quote me though, but I do know you have to factor in how long they've been sitting on the shelf at the manufacturer's warehouse and how long they were sitting on the shelf at the store...

Materials of such porosity break down even more so when introduced to bacteria. I've heard horror stories of jelly toys melting after a few months "out of nowhere".. When that happens all the phthalates in these toys come leeching out. "Lab tests on rats found that phthalates can cause liver, kidney and testicular damage. " <-- link

Google phthalates and sex toys.
01/22/2009