Written
By: Jenne
Dildos
like most sex toys now come in a somewhat
bewildering list of materials, from plastic
to silicone and everything in-between. The
reason for this is because each material gives
each toy a different feel. If you're looking
for hard and inflexible then plastic for example
would be a perfect choice. On the other hand
if you're looking for realistic then Cyberskin
would give you about as close as you can get
to the feel feel.
As
when choosing all toys the material you choose
should be an important part of your decision.
Mainly because not only does this effect the
feel of the toy itself but also it's care
and uses, for example some toys are better
suited to sharing with your partners that
other.
Below
I've listed the most popular of the dildo
materials on the market today along with their
pros and cons to help you with your choice.
Plastic
Plastic is commonly used as the material that
forms the outer casing of duotone balls. Plastic
toys generally have hard, smooth exteriors
and are inflexible. Cleaning is easy - all
you need is a wet washcloth, some sex toy
cleaner or soap, or a tissue soaked in rubbing
alcohol.
Silicone
Silicone is often refereed to as the queen
of dildos and not without good reason. It
has the ability to absorb body heat and retain
it, as well as having an extremely realistic
feel. Because it is molded it comes in a variety
of shapes, colors and sizes. Silicone is also
easy to clean, requiring nothing more than
soap and water, this is because it's reasonably
non-porous. If you felt so inclined you could
also run it through the dishwasher or boil
it. Another advantage it has over it's relatives
is that because it's non-porous it is less
likely to spread germs. Although I would always
recommend using a condom if your sharing your
toys with a partner silicone is the least
likely to spread any nasties should they exist.
Generally
silicone is one of the more expensive sex
toys, but the extra cost is balanced out because
if cared for properly these toys will out
last many of it's counterparts.
Jelly
Jelly dildos despite their name are not as
flexible as many people would imagine. Instead
they are soft and pliable but they still retain
some rigidity. If your looking for something
a little stiffer than the silicone above then
jelly maybe the material for you.
Jelly dildos are close in look and texture
to silicone, but are not quite as smooth and
lifelike. Jelly is a great material for people
who want the realistic feel of a silicone
dildo but don't want to pay the higher price
for silicone. Jelly however is more porous
than silicone and therefore should not be
shared between partners without using a condom.
It's
worth noting that you should also never use
rubbing alcohol to clean jelly. You should
also always use a water-based lubricant with
this material as oil based lubes will break
down the jelly and we certainly don't want
that. Because of the porous nature of Jelly
it's harder to clean than silicone and a good
sex toy cleaner is a good idea as this will
take care of any bacteria that might survive
simple washing in soap and water.
Latex
Latex is often considered the poor mans alternative
to silicone or jelly. It is a good choice
however if you are simply experimenting with
the various shapes and sizes of dildos because
it is relatively cheap compared to other materials.
Most latex dildos are soft, but less flexible
than either silicone of jelly. It is not as
durable either and is porous which makes it
harder to clean. Another thing worth noting
is that many people are allergic to latex,
if you or your partner are allergic to latex
condoms then this is not a good choice for
obvious reasons. If you plan on sharing a
latex toy, ALWAYS use a condom. The best way
to clean latex is simply with soap and water.
Glass
Over the past year or so there has been an
explosion of glass dildos on the market. Despite
many people's initial reservations glass makes
for a great toy material. Usually these are
made of Pyrex glass which as any good cook
knows is about as durable as it comes. Each
dildo is rigorously tested before leaving
the factory. Despite what you may have been
lead to believe though glass toys should not
be heated in the oven, instead you can change
the temperature by placing it in warm or iced
water. Glass dildos are not cheap by any stretch
of the imagination, but they are beautiful,
easy to clean and highly durable.
Cyberskin
Cyberskin rates as about as near to the feel
of real skin as any sex toy has come so far.
It's amazing soft and smooth and feels like,
well real skin. Like Jelly and latex though
it is porous, so it's essential to clean it
thoroughly or preferably use a cleaner especially
made for the job.
Metal
Whilst metal is not commonly used for dildos
there are some that do exist. Generally made
of surgical stainless steel they are extremely
hard, [well they are metal!], durable and
easy to clean.
Acrylic
Acrylic is actually made from a special form
of plastic. Often used to make wands, acrylic
has the same properties and looks of the more
expensive glass dildos. Acrylic is easy to
clean and non porous, it also is extremely
durable and with care an acrylic dildo should
last a lifetime.
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