If you’ve been a proud sex toy owner for any length of time, then you’re already familiar with the many benefits they bring to the table. Sex toys open the door to unique sensations you couldn’t experience any other way. They’re great ways to get to know your body and discover how it truly likes to be stimulated. They can elevate sex with a partner on many different levels, as well.
However, as effortless as integrating a sex toy into your repertoire can feel at times, there are still right ways and wrong ways to care for, store, and use yours. Are you making any of these common sex toy mistakes?
You’re not using lube.
Lube is perhaps one of the most underutilized, underappreciated adult products out there. People tend to think of it as something to reach for in the absence of adequate natural lubrication – as when engaging in anal sex or dealing with vaginal dryness. In actuality, it can be an especially great way to elevate any play that includes your favorite sex toy.
Lube helps eliminate the pressure to be wet enough on your own before you can enjoy your experience. It allows your toy to glide over the surface of your skin and helps enhance stimulation. Different lubes can add unique sensations (like warming or cooling) to the mix, as well. Just make sure you’re using a lube that’s compatible with your toy before you dive in.
You’re feeling shame about using a toy.
The days when sex toys were considered a lackluster substitute for a flesh and blood partner are long over with. You don’t need to be single or have trouble reaching orgasm any other way to justify owning a toy. You don’t have to worry about a toy ruining your ability to respond to a partner, either. And most importantly of all, there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of in owning, loving, or using adult toys.
The decision to take responsibility for your own sexual satisfaction is something to be proud of, and sex toys are among the best ways around to make that happen for yourself. Plus, everyone is using them these days, not just single people, and women. Many men also swear by toys like strokers and cock rings. Quite a few couples find toys to be a fantastic way to enhance their sex lives together, as well. Feeling same about using sex toys is a mistake.
You don’t have a maintenance routine.
You don’t want to be one of those people who only think about their sex toys when it’s time to get off, only to unceremoniously toss them into the back of a cluttered nightstand drawer when they’re all done. A sex toy – especially the motorized kind – is an investment in a significant part of your life and should be treated as such.
For instance, you should be cleaning your toys and often – certainly after every use, but also before if you’re serious about being thorough. Otherwise, you’re not only risking infection, but you’re not adequately preserving the life of your toy, which is a huge mistake. You don’t necessarily need to hop right up after orgasm and engage in a thorough soap-and-water washing every time, though. A spray-on, wipe-off toy cleaner does the same job. Always dry toys thoroughly after cleaning and store them properly – in individual bags or boxes to keep them from coming in contact with one another or anything else that could compromise the toy’s integrity.
You’ll also want to get into the habit of thoroughly inspecting your entire collection at least once every couple of months. Evaluate each toy for signs of integrity loss like pockmarks, cracks, discoloration, or frayed cords. If and when you notice any of these signs, it’s time to replace the toy in question. A motor that is louder than it used to be or has stopped delivering the same oomph in the power department is another sign that a toy might be nearing the end of its lifespan.
You’re keeping your toys strictly to yourself.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good solo session with your vibrator from time to time. But you’re really doing yourself a disservice if you’re not integrating your sex toys into partnered play, as well. Sex toys can help take the pressure off both of you when it comes to having (or delivering) orgasms, leaving you free to focus on one another instead. Toys are an incredible way to explore new sensations and experiences together, as well.
But however, you integrate your toys into your sex life, keep in mind that the whole point is to experience and explore pleasure on your own terms. Of course, that’s much easier to do when you properly care for your toys and feel entirely comfortable exploring all the possibilities they bring to the table.
