Are sex toys safe to use? What materials are body-safe?

Yes, sex toys are generally safe to use. as long as you pay attention to what they're made of.

The most important thing to know is that not all materials are created equal. You want to stick to body-safe, non-porous materials, which means they won't absorb bacteria or harbor nasties between uses. The gold standard options are:

• Medical-grade silicone – soft, flexible, easy to clean, and the most popular
• Stainless steel & aluminum – firm, temperature-play friendly, and super easy to sterilize
• Borosilicate glass – smooth, non-reactive, and surprisingly durable
• ABS hard plastic – rigid, body-safe, and often used in bullet vibrators

What to avoid? Anything labeled "jelly rubber," "TPE/TPR," or "PVC". These are porous materials that can trap bacteria even after washing, and some contain phthalates, chemical softeners that can cause irritation or worse. A dead giveaway? If a toy has a strong chemical smell right out of the box, that's a red flag.

A few other safety tips worth knowing:

• Always buy from reputable brands — cheap mystery toys from random marketplaces are where most material issues come from
• Use the right lube — silicone lube can degrade silicone toys, so stick to water-based lube with silicone toys
• Clean before and after every use — warm water and mild soap works for most toys; some can even be boiled or run through the dishwasher (top rack, no soap)
• Check for cracks or damage — a damaged toy can harbor bacteria no matter how well you clean it

Bottom line: prioritize body-safe materials, buy from trusted brands, and keep things clean — and you're good to go.