Sex Toys: Dildo Materials

Plastic

Plastic is usually the material of choice for the outer casing of duotone balls. Plastic sex toys generally have hard, smooth exteriors and are inflexible. Cleaning is easy - all you need is a wet washcloth, some sex toy cleaner, or a tissue soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Silicone

Silicone is the second most lifelike material available, behind Cyberskin. Do you want your dildo to look and feel real? If so, silicone may be the way to go. Silicone tends to quickly absorb body heat and it retains the heat well, which adds to its realistic feel. Silicone also has a few advantages over its closest relatives, latex and jelly. It is an extremely rugged, high quality material and is very easy to clean. All you need is soap and hot water. Silicone is such a high quality material that non-mechanical silicone toys can actually be boiled or run through the dishwasher! Another benefit to silicone is its non-porous nature. It is less likely than latex and jelly to allow bacteria to grow, which means it's less likely to spread germs between users. We always recommend using a condom when you share a dildo, but if you don't, silicone might be the least likely to trap and spread germs. Due to the cost of silicone, these toys are generally more expensive than latex or jelly toys, but it is a higher quality material that generally will last longer. If you're looking for a high quality, versatile dildo, you may want to consider silicone.

Jelly

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 dildos can be a little bit stiffer than silicone dildos, but many silicone dildos are extremely soft to begin with. It's just a matter of preference. Jelly can best be described as a soft and pliable material that feels smooth to the touch yet retains some rigidity. For many people the term "jelly" brings up images of strawberry preserves or a bowl of Jell-O. Jelly sex toys, however, are not as squishy as either of the two. Depending on the brand, the "softness" of jelly toys can range anywhere from the consistency of a hard-boiled egg to the consistency of a cold stick of butter (without the grease of course). On a related matter, jelly is more porous than silicone - so it isn't wise to share a jelly dildo unless you use a condom. The best way to clean jelly dildos is with warm water. Never use rubbing alcohol to clean jelly, and always use water based lubrication - jelly will degrade if it is exposed to a non-water based lubricant or rubbing alcohol. If you decide on a jelly dildo, it might be a good idea to pick up some cleaner specifically designed for sex toys. The porous nature of jelly makes it harder to remove germs from the surface, but a good sex toy cleaner will kill any bacteria and leave a clean, fresh scent. A bit of soap and water will also work, but will not sterilize the surface.

Latex

Latex is a low cost alternative to silicone and jelly. Most dildos are made out of latex, which is soft, but still a bit less flexible than silicone and jelly. Are you unsure what type of dildo you would enjoy? Latex is a popular choice for people experimenting with different shapes and sizes. Latex does not last as long as silicone or jelly, and is quite porous and therefore not as easy to clean, but many people find latex dildos enjoyable and satisfying. If you plan on sharing a latex dildo, be sure to use a condom. Soap and warm water is the preferred way to clean a latex toy. If is also worth mentioning that some people have an allergic reaction to latex. If you or your partner is allergic to latex condoms, you might want to try a toy made of silicone or jelly.

Glass

Who would have thought? On the surface, the mere idea of a glass dildo may seem strange, even dangerous. However, glass dildos are popular items that are not only beautiful but safe. Glass dildos are usually made of Pyrex glass, which is an extremely strong, scratch and chip-resistant material. Heat-treated and examined with high tech equipment for scratches, cracks and other flaws, glass dildos are - according to the manufacturer - completely safe for intimate use. We have never heard of anyone being injured by a glass dildo. These works of art are more expensive than most other dildos, but they are extremely beautiful and highly functional.

Cyberskin

Cyberskin is the most recent technological advancement in sex toy materials. This material is considered to be the closest thing to the look and feel of real skin. It is smooth, soft, flexible, and feels very similar to skin. It is porous like latex and jelly, so it must be cleaned carefully with soap and warm water or with a Cyberskin cleaning solution.

UR3

Of all the realistic materials UR3 is probably the easiest to clean and care for. It is a relatively new material and is still being evaluated for durability, but so far it shows a lot of promise. It appears to be more durable than Cyberskin and therefore a bit easier to maintain. There is no doubt, however, that it looks and feels very similar to real skin.

Metal

Metal is not a common material, but one that exists. Metal dildos are similar to plastic ones, in that they have a hard, generally smooth exterior and are easy to clean.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a form of plastic as is considered a "specialty" material. Acrylic dildos are often very beautiful, since the visual properties of acrylic is similar to glass. They are durable, easy to clean, and are generally difficult to damage. These toys often last a lifetime.