PSA: Toxic Toys

I've had this post languishing in draft for many months, unmotivated to publish it primarily because the information is already available from numerous other sources. These days, every respectable online sex toy vendor has at least one page dedicated to information about the composition of the products it sells. For example, Babeland's starts here. A quick Google search produces a plethora of hits. I've posted the link to Violet Blue's most excellent article before, and I'm sure I will again. Wikipedia has an entry here.

But something happened last night that made me go Ewwww! and I think it only serves to emphasize all the warnings floating around about what's in some of the cheaper products folks stick in their bodies.

Damned near every toy carries the instruction to store it "a cool, dry place" after proper cleaning. I mean, it's so common that it doesn't even register any more. Our eyes just pass over it, unseeing. However, being the meticulous person that I am (STOP LAUGHING!), I've always followed this advice. I don't store my sex toys in the refrigerator (unless I'm chilling my Njoy) or the oven or in a vat of disinfectant. I have a breathable--but lockable--storage drawer (a steel gun locker, actually) in which I keep my toys.

Anyway, I opened it last night to put away some recent acquisitions, and when I happened to touch one particular dildo, it was slimy. My first thought was that I had a lube spill somewhere. Nope. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the toy itself was... oozing. Now, this was a large, jelly dong that I don't recall buying. I think maybe it came with a harness or something. Maybe I got it as a gift. That particular detail is lost in the recesses of my sex-addled memory. However, I do know I never used/tested it (because it was HUGE and I'm just not a size queen). It was stored in "a cool, dry place" and yet it was bleeding, leaking some unknown & presumably toxic substance.

I immediately tossed it in the trash, pausing only briefly to consider the environmental impact of its disposal. The thought of having that inside me made me sick to my stomach. When the nausea abated, I returned to my toy box and checked everything else. Fortunately, there were no other casualties.

In the coming weeks, I'm going to check each of the vendors with whom Toys for Tarts is affiliated. If I do not find a page on their site with information on materials and safety, I am going to contact them with a request that they create one. If, within a reasonable amount of time, they do not, I am going to sever the affiliation. Toys for Tarts will not support vendors (even if paid a pittance to do so) that knowingly put sales before safety. Readers are encouraged to comment here to share their related experiences with various vendors.

I will leave you with some simple advice:

1. Know the composition of the products you're using as well as how to safely use, clean, and store them.
2. If a vendor or manufacturer does not disclose the material from which a product is made, DON'T BUY IT.
3. If you are unsure about the composition of a product already in your arsenal, either replace it or use a safe barrier (such as a condom) when playing with it.
4. Pass this information along.

Until next time...

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

Strobe Probe

Have you ever bought something just because it was on sale? Well, I bought two of these jelly, rabbit-pearl vibes on a close-out sale over a year ago. If I recall correctly, the combined price barely tipped me into the free shipping range on Amazon. So, I guesstimate around $13 each. I could dig through my order history and find out exactly, but... well... who cares? The product's been discontinued, so it's not like anyone's gonna rush to buy one based on my stellar review.

No, the reason I'm posting is more due to the manufacturer (Doc Johnson) than the particular model, because I have buried many a rabbit-pearl by other manufacturers, but this one seems to be more durable. That may or may not carry over to other products by Doc Johnson.

Like I said, I bought two of these puppies. The second one is still in its box, unused & unopened. The first, however, has some serious mileage on it -- and it's still going strong. It's lasted four times as long as any other rabbit-pearl I've ever owned -- and I do believe I've been *ahem* harder on it than its predecessors.

Yeah, the strobe part is kinda funny, but I try not to think about my pussy glowing like my cheeks used to do when, as a kid, I'd stick a flashlight in my mouth.

Until next time...

peace & passion,

~ Alessia

Toy Care & Cleaning Tips

Information in this post is courtesy of Babeland. Receive 10% off your first online order from Babeland when you enter the coupon code babecat during checkout.

Non-porous Materials

• Glass should be washed with soap and water. Do not expose glass to extreme temperatures.
  
• Pyrex, a heat-resistant glass, can be boiled, put in a dishwasher, or washed with soapy water.
• Silicone is our material of choice because it will clean easily and thoroughly. To clean, wash the toy with soap and water or place it in the top rack of your dishwasher. Immersing silicone in boiling water for 10 minutes will disinfect it. Silicone may be shared safely after disinfection. Never use silicone lube with silicone toys; this will break down the surface of your toys.
• Stainless steel can be boiled, soaked in a bleach and water solution, or run through your dishwasher.

Porous Materials

• Acrylic toys should be cleaned with soap and warm water.
• Cyberskin (also known as Ultraskin and Softskin) is a delicate material; wash it gently with soap and warm water. Air-dry, then powder lightly with cornstarch (do not use talcum powder; it has been linked to cancer). Store the toys in a plastic bag containing a small amount of cornstarch to keep them from getting sticky. Cyberskin may contain some of the same chemicals found in jelly-rubber. We recommend using a condom on Cyberskin toys.
• Elastomer is a soft, phthalate-free plastic. People who wish to avoid contact with rubber softeners can choose Elastomer toys as a hypoallergenic, durable alternative. To clean, wash with soap and water. We recommend using condoms if sharing the toy and for easier clean-up.
• Hard plastic toys should be wiped down with a soapy cloth and warm water.
• Jelly rubber is a soft rubber that cannot be completely disinfected. To clean, wipe the toy with a soapy cloth and warm water. Store it in a cool, dry place away from other objects. Jelly-rubber contains latex and phthalates (pronounced “thall-eights”). Phthalates are chemicals used as softeners or solvents. We do not have conclusive information on the health effects they may have. Because of their porous nature and chemical components, we believe the only way to safely use jelly rubber toys is with a condom, every time.
• Leather will wipe clean with a damp, soapy cloth or with leather cleaner. Do not soak leather. Wiping with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution (rubbing alcohol) will disinfect leather toys. After cleaning, you may recondition your toy by using a leather conditioner. Protect metal parts from tarnish by applying a coat of clear nail polish. Always let leather air dry and store in a cool, dry place.
• Neoprene is a synthetic, rubber-based polychloroprene. Wash it with warm water and mild soap, then air-dry.
• Nylon can be hand or machine washed.
• Soft vinyl toys have a smooth, flexible surface that is easy to clean with soap and water. These toys typically contain much lower levels of chemicals than those made of jelly-rubber.
• Vinyl will wipe clean with a damp, soapy cloth or rubbing alcohol.
  
• Nitrile safe sex supplies are compatible with oil-, water-, and silicone-based lubricants. They protect against STDs and pregnancy. Masturbating with gloves, condoms, or dams can be a great way to further eroticize them. Buy differently-sized gloves in different colors to make it clear in the heat of the moment which are medium and which are large. To avoid cross-contaminating, use different color gloves for the butt and the vagina or use a marker to put an “X” on the gloved hand you will be using for the butt. Use dental dams or non-microwavable plastic wrap for cunnilingus and analingus. Put an “X” on the outside so when things get good and slippery you can tell the sides apart.

For more about sex toy materials, click HERE.

General Tips for Longer Toy Life

We strongly recommend using a condom with toys that are made of porous material. This will help prevent transference of body fluids that can carry bacterial and/or viral infections.

• Remove batteries when storing vibrators.
  
• Never submerge electrical components in water. Use a damp, soapy cloth to clean electric toys.
  
• Protect your water-resistant and waterproof vibes by making sure the rubber O-ring stays tight around the battery compartment. If the O-ring is missing or broken, the vibe is no longer safe to use in water.
  
• For vibrators with cords, wrap a small piece of electrical tape around the vibrator/wire and wire/ plug connection points to strengthen them.
  
• Rough edges on hard plastic toys can be filed down with a nail file.
  
• If you are using a bullet vibe internally, put it in a condom and use the condom, not the power cord, to pull it out.