When you buy a dildo you need to know what you’re getting yourself into – or, rather, what’s getting into you. Before you can choose the size and shape, you’re gonna have to choose a material. Each type has different benefits and detriments. To help you with this hard decision (pun intended), we’ve put together a quick summary of popular materials and their unique pros and cons:

Soft Plastic/Rubber

The main advantage of these toys is that they are inexpensive. If you’re not looking to invest a lot of money or to make a full commitment to a toy then this is a good bet for you. They won’t feel that realistic or be very durable but they will hit you where it counts – your prostate!

Unfortunately, soft toys are difficult to clean, especially because they may have pores that bacteria can get trapped in. The contents of the plastics may be unlisted so you won’t be able to sanitize them (in the dishwasher or by boiling them) and there may be some less than ideal ingredients in their mix.

Harder Plastics

Harder plastic toys are similar to soft toys in that they are cheaper and will get the job done. They are also more durable and slightly more hygienic since they clean more easily.

They also have similar shortcomings, since they can’t be sanitized and may have unspecified ingredients, some of which may not be the best for your body.

Silicone

The best part of silicone is that it’s safe. This is largely because it can be cleaned in so many ways – from soap and water, to toy cleaner. You can often boil these toys to clean them (but double check on the packaging), and can also often be put in the dishwasher (again, check the packaging to be sure). This means you don’t have to worry about harmful bacteria. They’re also flexible and durable, making them perfect for a good ride.

Unfortunately, these toys are more expensive. You’ll also have to use water-based lube, since silicone lube will deteriorate and damage the toy.

When buying a silicone toy make sure that they are listed as 100% silicone (preferably medical grade), since some companies will list silicone blends as silicone.

Metal and Glass

These toys are very visually striking and are extremely durable. They have no pores, making clean-up nice and easy. They hit the your prostate nice and firmly and are a great option. Plus, you can run glass toys under warm or cold water for different sensations in your body.

Glass and Metal toys aren’t flexible, which may be a factor in your decision making. Metal toys can also be heavy.

And Remember…

If you are using a dildo anally make sure it has a base so that you can always get it back out. Oh, and have fun!

What type of sex toy do you have? What’s your favourite?