Sex Toy Materials: Which Are Safe and Which to Avoid
Two sex toys identical in shape can be made of completely different materials, and the difference isn't the price: it's whether or not you can sanitize them. This is the thing no one looks at when buying their first toy, and it's the most important thing of all. Let's see which materials are reliable, which require caution, and which are best left on the shelf.
The Distinction that Matters: Porous or Non-Porous
A non-porous material has a compact surface: it washes, dries, and becomes clean again. A porous material has micro-cavities invisible to the naked eye where moisture, residue, and bacteria remain, and from which washing cannot fully extract them.
That is the whole issue. A porous toy isn't forbidden, but it must be treated differently: shorter lifespan, use with a condom if you share it, more frequent replacement.
Reliable Materials
Medical-grade silicone
It is the gold standard and is the material of most quality vibrators and dildos. Non-porous, hypoallergenic, soft to the touch yet stable, it withstands hot water and soap without degrading. One precaution: never use silicone-based lubricants, which permanently damage its surface.
Borosilicate glass
The glass of glass dildos is not the same as a drinking glass: it is borosilicate, the same as ovenware, designed to withstand thermal shock and impact. Non-porous, compatible with any lubricant, and allows for temperature play. It just needs to be inspected before every use: a chip means throw it away.
Stainless steel
Heavy, cold, indestructible, and totally non-porous. Metal plugs are among the most durable products ever: if you don't lose it, it will outlive you. However, their weight and rigidity make them less suitable as a first purchase.
ABS
The rigid, shiny plastic of many handles, eggs, and electronic parts. Non-porous, safe, easy to clean. It is hard, so it transmits vibrations well.
Materials to Handle with Caution
TPE and TPR
These are the soft and elastic compounds that make many realistic dildos and masturbators so lifelike. To the touch, they are superior to everything else, and that is why they exist. But they are porous: they must be washed and dried immediately, stored individually, not shared without a condom, and replaced when the surface texture changes. They have a shorter useful life, and that is physiological, not a defect of the individual product.
Jelly, soft PVC, and undisclosed materials
Here you are on the wrong side. Old jelly-like materials are porous, often softened with additives, and are the ones with that classic persistent chemical odor. The biggest problem, however, is another: when a product does not state what it is made of, the material is almost always this. A serious seller writes medical-grade silicone, ABS, borosilicate glass, or steel. Anyone who writes nothing has a reason.
Three Practical Tests
- The smell. A strong chemical odor that doesn't fade after washing is the most reliable sign that you have something inferior in your hands.
- A sticky surface on a new product, or one that becomes sticky after a few weeks, indicates a low-quality compound.
- The product description. If the material is not indicated, consider it porous and act accordingly.
Material and Lubricant Go Together
The choice of material also determines what you can put on it: water-based is fine with everything, silicone-based only on glass, metal, and ABS; oils stay out of the game. If you haven't read it, the lubricant guide clarifies all the pairings.
In Summary
Medical-grade silicone, borosilicate glass, steel, and ABS are safe choices and last for years. TPE and TPR offer the best realism but require more care and have a shorter lifespan. Anything that does not declare its material, leave it where it is. And whatever you choose, proper cleaning is what really makes the difference in longevity.