Browse any sex shop, online or in person, and the choice can feel dizzying, with vibrators, dildos, plugs, rings and wands in every shape and material going. A little background makes it far easier to pick something you'll actually enjoy, and to keep it safe once you've got it home.
Toys can make sensation stronger and more varied than hands alone, which is why they suit solo play and partnered sex equally well. They also help you learn what pressure and pace you like, and plenty of couples use them to add novelty without changing what already works.
This matters more than shape or colour. There are no regulations on sex toys, so any maker can call a product "body-safe", and the label alone doesn't prove much. Non-porous materials such as silicone, glass, stainless steel and ABS plastic are the safest choices because they don't trap bacteria, while rubber or jelly-like toys are best avoided, particularly if they have a strong chemical smell.
Choose a shop that spells out exactly what its toys are made from. Our friends at Girls Get Off stock vibrators and a range of toys designed for couples, which makes them a handy first stop, and it's always smart to check the materials listed for any product before you buy.
Water-based lube works with almost every toy, whereas silicone lube can degrade silicone toys, so it's best saved for skin-on-skin play. If a toy turns tacky or sticky after use, that's a sign it has been paired with the wrong lube.
Wash your toy before and after each use with warm water and mild, unscented soap. If it has a motor and isn't waterproof, wipe it with a damp cloth instead of rinsing it. Non-porous toys can be properly sanitised as well as cleaned, which porous ones can't manage, so it pays to choose well in the first place.
Let everything dry fully and store each toy in its own clean pouch. If a toy has been used anally, wash it or cover it with a fresh condom before it goes anywhere else, and do the same if you're sharing it with a partner. Anything designed for anal play also needs a flared base so it can't slip too far in.
Toys can be a lovely way to bring novelty into partnered sex, but it goes better when you've talked about it first. Raising it early takes the pressure off, and HUD App's My Bedroom™ feature lets you share what you're into and what's off the table before you've sent a single message, so toys can be on the table from the start.
A good toy doesn't need to be expensive or elaborate. It needs to be made from safe materials and cared for properly, and the rest is about finding what feels good for you.
Image courtesy of our friends at Girls Get Off.
Non-porous materials such as silicone, glass, stainless steel and ABS plastic are the safest choices because they don't trap bacteria and are easy to clean. Rubber or jelly-like toys and anything with a strong chemical smell are best avoided, since there are no regulations on sex toys and a "body-safe" label isn't always reliable.
Wash it with warm water and mild, unscented soap before and after each use, then let it dry fully and store it in its own clean pouch. If a toy has a motor and isn't waterproof, wipe it with a damp cloth instead of rinsing it, and use a fresh condom or wash it between uses if it's shared.
Water-based lube is the safest all-rounder because it works with almost every toy material. Silicone lube can degrade silicone toys, so it's best kept for skin-on-skin play or for glass, steel and hard plastic toys, which don't react to it.
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