Although
they are slightly more expensive, buy
silicone
products. The non-porous texture of silicone does not retain
bacteria and is easy to clean.
Smell toys before buying them: many products
are made with industrial grade petroleum products
and may leech gases and chemical odours.
Look
for any loose connections or wiring. Many products are made with
low-grade electronics that easily break down.
Avoid
products that are covered in talcum powder. These products are
coated to give sticky products a “natural feel.” But
these materials are a natural habitat for bacteria.
Always
wash your products after use. All products can be washed with
soap and water, but unless you are using silicone, porous products
may retain cleaning products after being rinsed.
Silicone
is not absorbent so it doesn’t retain smell or bacteria and
lubricants go further because they aren’t being absorbed into
the toy.
Cleaning
silicone is like cleaning your stainless steel cookware; it's spotless
after a good scrub, while rubbers or soft vinyls are more akin to
that old plastic container you've got kicking around with the spaghetti
sauce stain still visible.
When
cleaning Silicone you are dealing with the surface only, so in most
cases soap and water are sufficient.
Source: The
Women’s Ware Sex Toy Guide, 2001
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content
of external sites. Links will open in new window. 
