Sex Toy Care Kit

How do you take care of your toys?

Sex Toys Care Kit
By Dr. Laura Berman, creator of DrLauraBerman.com

If you're going to be playing with toys, make sure you take care of them! Here are a few basic items to stock in your Toy Care Kit:

Antibacterial cleaner. Or at the very least, use soap and water to wash your toy after each use. Remember, if you decide to use a toy in or around the anus (on either of you), it should be washed before once again stimulating the vulva. And always clean your sex toy if you decide to share it with anyone else!

Extra batteries. Check your toy's required size so you never run out of the power you need for a good time!

An all-purpose lubricant. K-Y Ultra Gel is a good option because it's both water-based and glycerin-free. Remember, water-based lubricants work with any toys (and if they're also free of glycerin, they're less likely to cause yeast infections). Silicone-based lubricants are not safe for silicone toys, and oil-based lubricants should not be used with rubber toys.

The instructions. Keep the manual that comes with your toy (or toys!) so you'll always know how to use it properly. You can refer back to the manual at any time, and you may be surprised by how versatile your toy can be! And naturally, you should check to see if your toy is waterproof before attempting to use it in the bath or shower.

Accessories. Some intimate accessories have their own accessories! For example, a vibrator may be compatible with a clitoral tickler or a series of G-spot stimulators. Find out whether your new toy has the potential for any of these special extras and then go ahead — accessorize!

Note from Lena: I keep my toys in their own zip-top bags, just to prevent cross-contamination in case I ever get careless. You never know!

Last Updated: 08/15/2007
Laura Berman, LCSW, PhD, is assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and director of the Berman Center in Chicago. Dr. Berman's online program, The Passion Prescription, based on her book of the same name, provides a step-by-step guide to recharging and making over your sex life.