Sex toys bring a whole new level of fun to your sex life. Whether it’s vibrators, butt plugs, or dildos – when you find one that gets you going, you just want to stay in bed all day. How you use sex toys for women or men is completely up to your imagination. It lets you explore your own sexuality so you can use them in the way that brings you the most pleasure. However, there are a few things you should know when using sex toys. You could be making mistakes you don’t even know about! We’re here to tell you what they are so you can avoid them and experience greater pleasure.

1. You’re Not Cleaning Your Toys Properly

After an orgasm, you would probably want to just lay there and lose yourself in ecstasy. Cleaning up would be the last thing on your mind when that happens. Some of you might even want to just take a nap right after. You need to kick that habit right away! Proper toy hygiene is important to keep your toy in tip-top shape and also for your own safety. If you don’t clean your toys properly, nasty bacteria may start to build up and it’s definitely going to upset your vagina. So how should you clean them?

All sex toys should come with cleaning instructions, so don’t throw them away! Different sex toys require different cleaning methods depending on the material or whether it is battery-operated. Some can be washed with regular mild soap, others may need special cleaning agents. Your sex toys should be cleaned before and after every use to prevent any infections. Sounds like a chore but it’s definitely worth sparing yourself a trip to the gynecologist. If you don’t feel like cleaning right away, we suggest keeping some baby wipes nearby for a quick wipe down after use, and then wash your toy thoroughly after. If you’re using sex toys for women or men it is always important that you clean it after each use and store it in a clean pouch or box.

2. Not Knowing What They’re Made Of

Regardless of which sex toy you choose to purchase, you should always check the material of the sex toy. It is very important to buy one that is made of body-safe material because these toys will be going on your most delicate area and you don’t want one that reacts badly with your body’s natural chemistry. Sex toys manufacturers are not obligated to disclose the materials used, but a reputable manufacturer will be more than happy to share that information with you. 

Avoid sex toys made of porous or cheap materials such as hard plastic, jelly rubber, phthalates, and thermoplastic rubber (TPR). Porous sex toys are very hard to be completely clean because there are microscopic holes on the surface that holds on to bacteria. The bacteria build-up can cause an infection if you continue to use them. To be safe, make sure to only buy your sex toys from reputable companies. 

3. You’re Using The Wrong Lube

Lubes come in different bases as well. There are water-based lube, silicone-based lube, and oil-based lube. The number one thing you need to commit to memory is to never use silicone-based lubes on silicone sex toys. Silicone lubes may last longer, but they will mess up your sex toys made of silicone and takes forever to clean off properly. If you’re using oil-based lubes, take extra care when cleaning your private part because it can cause infections if not cleaned out completely. Your safest choice of lube is water-based lube. They are known to be versatile because you can use them in any sexual activity and also safe to use on sex toys. They are also very easy to find and easy to clean off. A lot of sex toys for women may require a little lube so that it’ll be easy to insert, so it’s best to invest in lube.

4. You Chose The Most Popular Toy

There are so many different types of sex toys for women and men out there and you just don’t know which one to choose! Naturally, you went with the most popular one. We understand that it can be difficult to know which one’s right for you, but don’t let popularity decide what you should be using. But of course it’s not entirely wrong to choose a popular one, after all, it’s popular for good reasons. However, choosing a sex toy should be about your body and how you want to be pleasured. If you want more g-spot stimulation, a vibrator probably can’t get the job done.

You might feel awkward or shy walking into a sex toy shop to get sex toys for women and men, but it’s better than shopping yourself online. This is because sex toy stores have employees who can really help you find a toy that best suits you. They’re not there to judge you, they’re there to help you make a decision. When you can’t decide what you’re looking for, talking to someone who is familiar with sex toys could help you discover something better.