Congratulations on getting your first ever sexy toy. You’re going to have a jolly good time with it. But there are some things you should know about sex toys. There is always the potential that you could get hurt, get a rash, or get infected with something icky. There are real risks involved with sex toys – STDs that include HIV.

So it’s best to play things safe – that means the enjoyment will last so much longer.

Use lube and make sure that it doesn’t contain petroleum.

This is especially true for any anal toys you may want to play with. Our anuses do not create their own juices so you should use a lot of lube when you’re getting ready for some action. But be careful about the type of lube you use – you don’t want anything that contains petroleum or glycerin because these can cause irritations. Use water-based lubes for the best results.

A girl’s gotta have her own toys to play with.

Try not to share your toys with anyone else but when you do, make sure you play it safe by using condoms. You could end up with an infection if you do not take care to protect yourself.

Keep your toys clean.

This should go without saying but sometimes it’s well worth repeating the obvious. Don’t just leave your anal beads or but plug in toilet paper next to the basin; run some luke-warm water into the basin and leave the beads overnight. They’ll be pretty clean the next morning and then you should dry them and store them.

Find a place where you can leave your treasure trove of sexy goodies. Make sure that this place is secure, clean and discreet, especially when you live with other people. They shouldn’t be able to get to your toys at all; you don’t want to share these intimate toys with other people.

Boil silicone sex toys in water between uses. Use condoms on your sex toys at all times if you have an STD; you don’t want to risk re-infecting yourself.

Be careful when you’re using sex toys

Don’t emulate Hugh Hefner’s near death escape from the 1970s… He very nearly swallowed a Ben Wa ball back then. Other sex toys that could be potentially unsafe are glass dildos. There have been reports of problems with certain brands that shatter.

Research the materials they used to make your favourite sex toy

Run far away if it contains phthalates – these chemicals disrupt our hormone system – or latex, which contains toxins that could leak into your body. Many people are allergic to latex and even those who aren’t could do worse than to look at alternatives to latex. Try to stay away from ‘scented’ and oil-based products – these could irritate your body and give you an unpleasant rash.

Only engage in sex that’s emotionally safe

Your partner should never push sex toys on you if it makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Perhaps you could first become more accustomed to the idea of using sex toys by walking around in a non-threatening sex shop.

Author bio:

This article on sex toys and sexual hygiene was written by Grown Up Goods.