How to Choose the Perfect Dildo or Dong - Part 1: Materials

Hey there Lovers & Lusters! If you walk into any one of our three New South Wales-basedlocations, you’ll be overwhelmed with the selection of lifelike dildos and dongs available for you to choose from. This can be a big decision and investment if you want something to last for a long time. 

We’re here to walk you through the process of buying your first dildo. 

This is going to be the first part of our series on“How to Choose the Perfect Dildo or Dong.”

Dildo & Dong Basics

Adildo is a phallically (penis) shaped sex toy that is used for penetration. The big difference between a dildo and adong is a dildo without testicles or has two ends (commonly referred to as a double-ended dong.)

Regardless, these two terms are often used interchangeably. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll be doing this throughout the article ourselves. 

Dildos and dongs vary massively from ultrarealistic and lifelike to vibrating to tentacle shaped. If you’re into it, a company has designed it.

When you’re choosing your first dildo, there are several things you should be looking for.

Materials

Not all sex toys are created equal, as we always say. If the toy is very affordable and doesn’t list the materials it’s made out of, calmly step away from it, unless you plan to use a condom, of course. 

The vast majority of dildos on the market are made out of porous materials, meaning you won’t be able to sterilize them, ever. So if you want to share your toy with a friend, make sure one or both of you uses a condom.

The biggest thing you need to be aware of is whether or not the material is phthalate-free. 

As we’ve mentioned before,phthalates are a group of very cheap chemicals added to plastics and rubbers to make them bendier. They’ve recently been linked withcountless dangers such asbreast cancer, infertility and autism. 

However, since the government doesn’t regulate the sex toy industry, many companies add phthalates into their products to increase their profit margin. Most reputable sex toy companies only use body-safe materials, which will be the ones we recommend. 

Dildos, in particular, are usually found to make out of a few major types of materials. We’re here to break them down for you.

Silicone

Remember, just because the package says “silicone” does not make the toy safe. Body-safe silicone, 100% silicone, medical-grade silicone, and platinum cured silicone are all non-porous and safe options. Still, if it doesn’t say it on the box or the company website, it could be any amount of silicone (less than a per cent in some cases.) 

The Pros

Since pure silicone is non-porous, these are entirely body-safe, and you can share them with partners & friends alike! Just make sure you give it a thorough cleaning between uses. These can also last for years and years if they’re cared for correctly. 

For those of you with sensitivities, these are a great option as pure silicone is hypoallergenic.

The Cons

Silicone dildos are not very lifelike and tend not to be very bendy.

You cannot use them with a silicone-based lubricant or most hybrid lubricants, so double-check what you’re using before you put it in.

Silicone toys should also not be stored together, so wrap that silicone dong up in a piece of fabric before you put it away!

Cleaning & Sharing Silicone Dongs & Dildos

If you buy a silicone dildo or dong, you can share it with a friend! 

Since this material is non-porous, you can sterilize it by dunking it in boiling water for a few minutes.

Remember, if you’re going from vagina to anus, that’s okay, but anus to the vagina is not safe. Our favourite saying is, “V to A is okay. A to V is not safe for me!”

PVC (Polyvinylchloride)

This is one of the most commonmaterials that sex toys are made from. It is often combined with rubber or silicone to make the toys softer and more flexible.

The Pros

PVC toys (without silicone mixed in) can be paired with any lubricants (except oil-based) and are very inexpensive.

Toys made from rigid PVC are great at transmitting vibrations and are famous for that reason, as well as the fact that hard PVC is non-porous and can therefore be cleaned thoroughly and shared.

The Cons

Soft PVC is what you’re going to find in the vast majority of dildos. Soft PVC is mixed with a variety of other chemicals and materials to make it feel more lifelike. Therefore, these likely contain phthalates and are porous, meaning that they can’t be sterilised or shared.

Make sure to use these with caution and put a condom on.

Cleaning & Sharing PVC Dildos and Dongs

As we stated before, exercise caution and use a condom with these guys. This will also make clean up quick and easy.

To wash these, you can use a mild antibacterial soap and warm water, being sure to let them air dry before storage.

TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber) & TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)

Other exceedingly common materials used in dildos and dongs, TPR & TPE, are inexpensive and still relatively firm but more lifelike than the other materials we’ve discussed. These two materials are slightly different, but in the industry, they’re used interchangeably on boxes, so we’ll do so here as well.

The Pros

There is such thing as medical-grade andnon-porous TPR! Although not very common to see, these toys are velvety soft and offer you the freedom to thoroughly sanitise the toy. Non-porous or pure TPR is also latex and phthalate-free. Also hypoallergenic, these are ideal for those with skin sensitivities.

These dildos are strong, durable and easy to clean.

The Cons

It is challenging to find non-porous or medical-grade TPR dildos. If you do, be aware that some are softened with mineral oils that can lead to a skin reaction if you’re allergic to them. 

Porous TPR/TPE blend dildos are exceedingly common. These blends often contain rubbers and plastics and will exhibit the properties of both. These porous or blended dildos often have a multitude of chemicals as well as phthalates and even latex, so approach with extreme caution.

If you notice that your toy becomes sticky, oily, smelly, or develops dark spots on it, throw it away immediately and buy a new one. 

Cleaning & Sharing TPR/TPE Dildos & Dongs

Many will tout that they’re safe to throw in the dishwasher without soap. We advise that you skip that and just use a toy cleaner or mild antibacterial soap and water to clean them. As with all sex toys, allow these to air dry thoroughly before storing them in a dark area.

We strongly suggest using a condom with these toys as it is hard to guarantee if they’re non-porous or not.

Glass Dildos & Dongs

Glass toys have a surprisingly lousy rep even though they’re incredibly durable, look beautiful, and are almost always non-porous!

The key is to choose the right glass.Pyrex (borosilicate glass) is the most common and safe; it’s the same used in laboratory equipment and soda-lime glass. These don’t take on funky smells that other materials so, and have tons of other benefits!

The Pros

If you choose the right type of glass and it is properly annealed (sealed), then your toy is non-toxic, non-porous, boil-able, and totally safe to share (after cleaning)! 

Glass toys, when not thrown around, are incredibly long-lasting and can handle pretty extreme wear and tear. They’re hypoallergenic as well!

Want to step up your dildo game even more? These can be warmed up quickly by putting them in warm water or cooled down in a freezer to shake things up!

These are compatible with all kinds of lubricants, including oil-based, and are highly recommended for G-spot stimulation.

The Cons

There aren’t many. If you choose the right kind of glass from a reputable supplier, then you’re good to go! They tend to be on the higher end of the price range, but that’s because they can last a lifetime. 

Just carefully check your glass toys before and after each use to ensure nothing has been chipped or will cause injury.

Cleaning & Sharing Glass Dildos and Dongs

Dip them in boiling water for 3-5 minutes for a deep clean, toss them in the dishwasher without soap on the top rack, use mild, antibacterial hand soap, toy cleaner, whatever floats your boat! These are super easy to clean and store.

For sharing, we always recommend using a condom or sanitising them between partners. 

While that isn’t a review of every single material dildos are made out of, those are several of the most popular ones.

This is the first part of our series on choosing the perfect dildo, so stay tuned to learn more next week!

 

 

Get out there, Get in there, Get off there!

Elaine S. Turner

www.SexWithElaine.com

Elaine@SexwithElaine.com