This industry is barely regulated. Sex toys are sold as novelties in most jurisdictions, which means nobody is checking what is in them, and the difference between a material that is genuinely inert and one that leaches plasticisers is not something a product photo will tell you. Here is how to read a listing properly and which materials are actually worth putting in your body.
The single distinction that matters
Porous versus nonporous. Everything else is detail.
Nonporous materials have no microscopic structure for bacteria to live inside. You can genuinely clean them: soap and water reaches every surface, and boiling or a dishwasher sterilises them completely. Silicone, glass, stainless steel, and ABS plastic are all nonporous.
Porous materials have a sponge-like microstructure invisible to the eye. You can clean the surface but you cannot sterilise the material. TPE, TPR, jelly, PVC and most soft realistic materials are porous. They also degrade over time and cannot be shared safely between partners without a condom.
Porous is not automatically disqualifying. Realistic strokers are porous because that is what makes them feel the way they do. But it means treating them as personal items with a lifespan rather than heirlooms.
The green list
- Platinum cure silicone. The gold standard. Inert, nonporous, boilable, lasts years. Keep silicone lube away from it and store pieces separately so surfaces do not react.
- Borosilicate glass. Nonporous, dishwasher safe, holds temperature, and far tougher than instinct suggests. Our glass guide covers it.
- Medical grade stainless steel. Effectively indestructible, sterilisable, and the weight is a feature. See the steel guide.
- ABS plastic. The hard plastic on bullet vibrators and toy handles. Nonporous and perfectly safe.
The amber list
TPE and TPR are porous but phthalate free when made properly. Fine for personal strokers and dildos if you clean rigorously, dry fully, and replace them on a schedule.
Latex is fine unless you are allergic, and allergy is common enough to be worth knowing about.
Leather is not going inside anyone, but it sits against skin for long periods. Real leather with finished edges, always. See our cuffs guide.
The red flags
- "Jelly" as a material name. Almost always PVC with plasticisers. This is the one to genuinely avoid.
- A strong chemical smell out of the box. That is off-gassing. Real silicone smells of essentially nothing.
- An oily or sticky film that returns after washing. Plasticiser leaching. Bin it.
- No material listed at all. A manufacturer proud of their silicone says so. Silence is an answer.
- "Silicone blend" or "silicone-like". Marketing language for not silicone.
- Impossibly cheap for the size. Platinum silicone costs real money. A large toy at a tiny price is not made of what you hope.
Toys where the material is stated and correct
Everything below is Spicerack Selects, our in house shop, with materials named explicitly. Free discreet shipping.
Materials You Can Verify
SpicerackSelects
SpicerackSelects
njoy Pure Wand is medical grade stainless. Icicles No. 87 is hand blown borosilicate. King Cock Elite is dual density platinum silicone. FemmeFunn Versa is silicone over ABS. Sliquid H2O is a glycerin free water based lube safe with all of them, and Wicked Cleene cleans all of them safely.
The flame test, and why not to bother
You will read that you can identify real silicone by holding a flame to it: real silicone chars and does not melt or smell. It is true, and it also permanently marks your new toy. Buy from retailers who name materials instead.
FAQ
Are phthalates still a problem? Less than they were, but they persist in cheap imported toys sold as novelties. Nonporous materials sidestep the question entirely.
How long does a porous toy last? Depends on use and care, but think in years rather than decades, and replace at the first sign of tackiness or odour that survives washing.
Can I share toys? Nonporous with thorough cleaning between users, or a condom over anything porous. Our cleaning guide covers the specifics.
Does expensive mean safe? Correlated, not guaranteed. A named material beats a high price every time.
Browse the whole toy collection, or start with toy care.
Toy Care Essentials
