What actually keeps a personal wellness product safe to use.

Body-safe silicone is the standard for most quality products — non-porous, flexible, and easy to clean. It has a slightly matte, velvety texture. ABS plastic (hard, smooth, usually in handles or buttons) is also non-porous. Glass and stainless steel are non-porous and can be fully sterilized. TPR and TPE are softer and often cheaper, but porous — they absorb bacteria and oils that can't be fully removed by cleaning, and they degrade faster. Jelly materials are the worst offenders: porous, often made with plasticisers that can cause irritation, and not worth using. If a product listing doesn't specify silicone, ABS, glass, or stainless, assume porous until confirmed.

• Silicone: slightly matte, velvety — the right texture for a body-safe product; shiny or rubbery feel usually means TPR
• ABS plastic: hard, smooth, non-porous — common in handles and controls, safe on contact
• Glass and stainless steel: non-porous, can be boiled or run through a dishwasher for full sterilization
• TPR / TPE / jelly / rubber: porous — bacteria survive cleaning, material degrades over time; not recommended

For silicone, ABS, and hard plastic products: wash with warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap before and after each use. Let dry completely before storing — residual moisture trapped in storage is the main cause of degradation. Non-motorized glass and stainless items can be boiled for 3 minutes or run through a dishwasher (top rack, no detergent) for full sterilization. Never submerge motorized items unless the product is explicitly rated waterproof (IPX7 or higher) — splash-proof and water-resistant are not the same thing. "Toy cleaner" sprays work but aren't meaningfully better than soap and water for non-porous materials.

• Soap and warm water before and after use — mild, fragrance-free, rinsed thoroughly
• Air dry completely before storing — do not store damp
• Waterproof (IPX7+) products can be rinsed under running water; splash-proof cannot be submerged
• Non-motorized glass or stainless: can be boiled 3 minutes or dishwashed for sterilization
• Toy cleaner spray: convenient but not more effective than soap for non-porous materials

The mechanism behind the silicone-on-silicone warning: silicone lubricant bonds to the surface of silicone toys, causing the material to swell, become tacky, or develop a texture change that makes the surface harder to clean. The effect is permanent. Water-based lubricant is the safe choice for all materials and is what most people should use by default. If you want to use a silicone-based lube (which lasts longer and doesn't require reapplication), a quick patch test on an inconspicuous area of the toy — a drop, wait 10 minutes — will tell you if the specific product reacts. Oil-based lubricants are incompatible with latex condoms and are not recommended for use with most toy materials.

• Water-based lubricant: safe with all materials, easiest to clean, needs occasional reapplication
• Silicone-based lubricant: longer-lasting, but degrades silicone toys — patch test first or avoid entirely
• Oil-based lubricant: not recommended — degrades latex condoms and many toy materials
• Coconut oil and similar household oils: not designed for this use, can disrupt vaginal pH and are not toy-safe