a few questions for a new(ish) silicone toy owner

[lucmccloud]

yea, I have a few questions, some have been previously answered I imagine, but Not only will it help to have everyhting in one place, but hopefulyl wea ll learn something new.

1: I've seen how people say they "powder their toys" and how the toy is powdered form when it comes in the box. The paper says that its so it doesnt stick to the bag, is there any other reason for powdering a toy, such as sanitation, or storage?

2: How do you guys go about "powdering your toys"?

3: Are there any specific powders or materials I should avoid putting on my toy? (Such as arm and hammer baking soda, or Gold bond powders?)

4: Oil and Silicone based products with a silicone toy is naturally a nono. As is Gel toys. But are there any adverse effects from leaving a condom (latex) on a toy for, say, overnight? How about water based lubes? I also got these "Avanti" durex condoms that arent latex, but some other material, are they safe to use?

5: Will soaps damage my toy?

6: Are there any long term effects from leaving a toy inside myself for extended periods (say, overnight?)

7: I dont have a Cedar chest, and the Dresser isnt the best place for me to store my toy (since its frequently used). Where else would you recommend? Will a Shoe Box under the bed work?

8: What other "special" care should be taken with using and cleaning my toy?

9: Is there a specific brand or type of lube prefered to use with untextured silicone toys?

10: If my toy happens to become damaged (whether by a known reason or unknown reason) its still safe to use, right?

(yes, I know some of the questions seem to be stupid, but a general FAQ seems like a good idea ^^)

[Quail]

1. You'd only need to powder toys there were, say Cyberskin or similar materials, like with Fleshlights. You don't need to for silicone unless you wrap it in plastic, but even then it's not really necessary. I suggest wrapping it in cloth instead, honestly.

2. Again, no need to powder but if you did, you'd need cornstarch.

3. I think all powders are pretty much fine.... I mean i heard of someone washing their silicone toy with baking soda and water to rid of the smell, but yeah. Don't completely quote me on that.

4. Most condoms have silicone lube on them. I do not advise leaving any condoms on a toy overnight. Water-based is fine, but why leave on overnight? Then your toys will get all icky and nasty. not sure about those other condoms, though, but I still say do not leave them on overnight or long periods of time.

5. No. in fact you can even wash them with a 10% bleach solution.

6. No, since silicone is inert and body safe, it's perfectly fine to leave in your body granted you are not hurting yourself.

7. A shoe box would work, just wrap the toy in some cloth or something maybe.

8. Prevent your toy from touching other non-silicone toys.

9. Just stick to water-based pretty much. I hear good things though about JLube. K&Y also works, Hathor, Maximus, Adam and Eve Personal Lubricating Gel, etc....

10. If a toy is damaged, especially silicone, and there are micro tears, I would discontinue use. It could rip more or just later on become unusable. But it depends on the damage.

I hope that helps. Please to anyone who can correct me if I'm wrong with any of these, it's still early for me. *sips coffee*

[lucmccloud]

definitely does, I just wanna clairify question #2;

How do you go about powdering it, like, do you put some in your hands and rub it, or some other way? or just hold it over a garbage can and dump a pound of powder? XD

But these helped alot, add anything you think I may have missed ^^ We'll see to this getting pinned ina new topic soon, eh? (seriously, a general faq like this would be aweosme imo)

[Quail]

Just apply to your hand and pat it on, really, or put in a bag with powder and shake I guess. I don't know, I don't have any toys I need to powder.

[hisredwolf]

definitely does, I just wanna clairify question #2;

How do you go about powdering it, like, do you put some in your hands and rub it, or some other way? or just hold it over a garbage can and dump a pound of powder? XD

But these helped alot, add anything you think I may have missed ^^ We'll see to this getting pinned ina new topic soon, eh? (seriously, a general faq like this would be aweosme imo)

I really don't see a point in powdering. It's great for when the toys are shipped to us so they don't stick to the bag, but really I just keep mine rolled up in fabric in a box and that's it. No need to have to constantly wash the powder off before play. All I do is wash mine after each use with antibacterial soap (like Dial) and warm water and dry them off with a towel, then return them to their fabric in the box. 

[Quail]

I really don't see a point in powdering. It's great for when the toys are shipped to us so they don't stick to the bag, but really I just keep mine rolled up in fabric in a box and that's it. No need to have to constantly wash the powder off before play. All I do is wash mine after each use with antibacterial soap (like Dial) and warm water and dry them off with a towel, then return them to their fabric in the box. 

Exactly. Silicone doesn't need to be powdered, you do it to skin-like materials that leak plasticizers.

[Brownbear]

Hello

   Powdering is necessary for the Jelly/gel toys as it coats the toys and bonds to the sticky substance than comes out over time, it makes it to where it can be washed away with soap and warm water leaving the toy as good as new.

On the silicone toy, the powder is there to keep it from sticking to the bag,
So you dont have to use powder on them after you recieve it. I leave mine out on the shelf, and it doesnt hurt them in the least.

Hope that helps answer your question

Bear

[lucmccloud]

does answer it ^^

I powder mine to get rid of the smell and keep it dry, that and I just liek how it looks powdered =/ Shame I cant use it like that XD For some reason the stink tends to stay in even after washing it with antibacterial soap, so the powder somehow gets it out. Wipe it down with a wet cloth, and lube it up for fun ^^ when done, wash and store.

I'll find a old pillow case to put it in. I'm tempted to cut a slit in ym body pillow and "mount" it to that <.<

[x_panther]

they've answered quite well actually <3 i dont have much to add

1-3: as brownbear said, powder on silicone toys really isnt necessary for storage (unless its in a plastic bag cause the material his very non pours so it 'vacuum pressure' sticks to the bag). on gel toys, the powder absorbs the elastomer (the stuff that keeps the toy soft) that leaches from the material over time. however, i have had zeta/zoofur toys for quite some time and i will say that the gel toys that i kept powdered did leach faster than those that i didnt, making them stiffen over their lifetime faster than those i did not powder and loose their shine. so now, i keep all the gel toys piled together with each other. just means i have to wash them a little harder before use. matter of fact the toys that had stiffened are softening up a little more since they've been piled with those i have never powered.

4: weve talked several times about lube on the toys. silicone and oils are nons on all toys. latex condoms are fine BUT lubed condoms commonly use phenoxyethanol (a glycol ether oil), dimethicone (an organicly compounded silicone), or a glycerin based water lubricant; and sometimes it can be really difficult to tell what lubricant is used on the condoms. best bet is to buy unlubricated condoms, lube up the toy, then apply the condom then lube up over the condom again. :3

5: silicone toys are really hard to damage unless you damage the toy with some sort of lubricant or contact with a gel toy. however, dont use anything that has an industrial strength degreaser on the gel toys. it will suck the elastomer out of the toy. that would make toy brittle and stiff.

6: debatable. silicone toys id say no accept cramping and straining. the gel toys are a porous material, so it absorbs moisture and anything that might be in that moisture (thats the reason why the gel toys get cloudy during long use).

7: in a box under the bed, the window sill, the hood of your car, just about anywhere for silicone toys. gel toys, preferably in a closed area where air doesnt circulate too much (the smell of the gel carrys a long way some times XD). always store the two types of toys separate. <3

8: use, wash, dry, repeat! gel toys i recommend lining your drawer with card stock to keep the elastomer from soaking into the wood. silicone toys i wipe down with rubbing alcohol or throw in a pan of boiling water if i let someone else use 'em.

9: what ever you prefer. i myself like thicker lubricants (ky jelly and astrogluide mixed is good for me) or massive amounts of j-lube if im going 'big' XD

10: so long as the base doesnt break off it, yeah it should be fine. silicone toys or gel toys that have been 'infected' by 'melting disease' i wouldnt use. o.o loosing the resulting 'slime' in your body doesnt sound fun regardless of safety XD

poke us for more info if needed <3

[lucmccloud]

alot of good tips regarding gel toys, I really want to try the raccoon, but its not in silicone =/

thanks for the help ^^

they've answered quite well actually <3 i dont have much to add

1-3: as brownbear said, powder on silicone toys really isnt necessary for storage (unless its in a plastic bag cause the material his very non pours so it 'vacuum pressure' sticks to the bag). on gel toys, the powder absorbs the elastomer (the stuff that keeps the toy soft) that leaches from the material over time. however, i have had zeta/zoofur toys for quite some time and i will say that the gel toys that i kept powdered did leach faster than those that i didnt, making them stiffen over their lifetime faster than those i did not powder and loose their shine. so now, i keep all the gel toys piled together with each other. just means i have to wash them a little harder before use. matter of fact the toys that had stiffened are softening up a little more since they've been piled with those i have never powered.

4: weve talked several times about lube on the toys. silicone and oils are nons on all toys. latex condoms are fine BUT lubed condoms commonly use phenoxyethanol (a glycol ether oil), dimethicone (an organicly compounded silicone), or a glycerin based water lubricant; and sometimes it can be really difficult to tell what lubricant is used on the condoms. best bet is to buy unlubricated condoms, lube up the toy, then apply the condom then lube up over the condom again. :3

5: silicone toys are really hard to damage unless you damage the toy with some sort of lubricant or contact with a gel toy. however, dont use anything that has an industrial strength degreaser on the gel toys. it will suck the elastomer out of the toy. that would make toy brittle and stiff.

6: debatable. silicone toys id say no accept cramping and straining. the gel toys are a porous material, so it absorbs moisture and anything that might be in that moisture (thats the reason why the gel toys get cloudy during long use).

7: in a box under the bed, the window sill, the hood of your car, just about anywhere for silicone toys. gel toys, preferably in a closed area where air doesnt circulate too much (the smell of the gel carrys a long way some times XD). always store the two types of toys separate. <3

8: use, wash, dry, repeat! gel toys i recommend lining your drawer with card stock to keep the elastomer from soaking into the wood. silicone toys i wipe down with rubbing alcohol or throw in a pan of boiling water if i let someone else use 'em.

9: what ever you prefer. i myself like thicker lubricants (ky jelly and astrogluide mixed is good for me) or massive amounts of j-lube if im going 'big' XD

10: so long as the base doesnt break off it, yeah it should be fine. silicone toys or gel toys that have been 'infected' by 'melting disease' i wouldnt use. o.o loosing the resulting 'slime' in your body doesnt sound fun regardless of safety XD

poke us for more info if needed <3

[HAMOS]

I used a condom once on my silicone toy. I tested it by bending and twisting it (softly) and it physically looks fine. I won't do it again after reading this.

however, should I be concerned at all???

[lucmccloud]

I used a condom once on my silicone toy. I tested it by bending and twisting it (softly) and it physically looks fine. I won't do it again after reading this.

however, should I be concerned at all???

Not at all. Just dont leave the condom on for excessive times (like 4+ hours). Pretty much, use the condom to pleasure yourself with the toy, then dispose of it. If you want to leave it in, dont use a condom v.v

thats pretty much what I do