Sex toy question - melting!

[magenter.livejournal.com]

Thanks to everyone who lent advice on my last question (re: STI/STD) testing... I'm going to start with HIV testing, since I've got info on getting it done for free.

Now, I've some more questions on a different topic:

I've got a fair collection of vibrators, and a couple of dildos. Normally I store them all together in a small chest in my room. Amongst these I had one dildo that I believe was vinyl rubber, one jelly, and another that I can't remember what it was made of. The vinyl rubber one is the one I've had problems with. Two problems, specifically:
1) When I first bought it, I had no problem with the sensation/feel of it. Last year a friend and I used it with a harness, using water-based lubricant. I tried using it on an occasion after that (without lube), and it caused a slight burning sensation. I also found that, no matter how many times I washed it, it seemed to end up with a slight greasy feel.
So what the heck happened here? It seemed like it must have had some kind of reaction to the lube, but how/why? I tried using it once more at a later date, and got the same uncomfortable results. Haven't used it since then, obviously.
2) As I said, I store all my toys together. Well, apparently the three dildos ended up resting next to each other in the box... and the vinyl rubber one MELTED the other two. D: Like, not all the way. But there was a small melted spot on the jelly, and the other one had a LARGE melted area on the side. I ended up having to throw it out, which makes me sad because it was one of my very favorites ;_; There's no damage at all to the vinyl one at all.
Could this have something to do with question #1 (the lube), or should I just not store toys made of different materials together?

ALSO - - another question. I've often heard of people using condoms with their sex toys (when using them with a partner). Why is this done?
Generally, the only person "receiving" my toys is me, so I never really worried about it, but I figured this would be good to know about for future reference.

Comments

[youhavenotoes.livejournal.com]

people use condoms on thier toys because it makes cleanup easier, and if the reactionfwas fromt he lube and your toy, it prevents this =]

don't use jelly toys

[praeclarus.livejournal.com]

http://badvibes.org/

use silicone toys :) it's more expensive but your body's health is worth the extra few dollars.

Re: don't use jelly toys

[violet-tigress1.livejournal.com]

That makes me sad...I think I have a jelly toy.

Re: don't use jelly toys

[magenter.livejournal.com]

Urgh... well, I'm still holding on to my jelly, but only for myself; now I know not to use it with anyone else - - at least, not without a condom. (It's my favorite out of the bunch, but I've never used it with anybody else anyways, so it shouldn't be an issue...)
But the "dangerous dildos" article sounds exactly like my experience, so at least now I know for sure - - no more vinyl dildoes!

Re: don't use jelly toys

[thetormentedlew.livejournal.com]

Sorry. But your icon is great beyond comprehension.

[argritsgore.livejournal.com]

Put all of your toys in separate bags....sometimes toys stored together will cause them to melt. Yeah, it's a good idea not to store toys made of different materials in the same place....at least not w/o some type of covering.

Silicone toys are not fool-proof either. They also melt in heat, and next to certain toys.

Using condoms with your toys helps preserve their "life," if you will. You don't have to clean them as much, and many use toys for anal sex.....and condoms are good protection when doing those kinds of activities with your toys.

Since the lube is reacting funny with the toys--maybe getting a different brand of lube? But, always, always, ALWAYS use lube!! It cuts down on the wear and tear for your toys....and plus lube sensitizes you and enhances your pleasure. It's great all around!

If you have anymore questions, just ask.

[praeclarus.livejournal.com]

silicone melts at 200 degrees Celsius. boiling water peaks at 100 degrees celsius. silicone degrades ("melts") silicone; nothing else will degrade a silicone toy but another silicone toy (or with a silicone-based lube).

silicone toys are safer, and won't give you infections with proper care (you can't really clean a jelly or "cyberskin" toy).

[magenter.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it looks like I've definitely got to come up with a better storage system... hmm.

As far as the lube... I've only had a problem with this one toy, and judging by the articles I read on the link somebody posted above, I shouldn't have been using a toy made of that material anyways >_< I've been using JO H2O water-based lube, which has been excellent in every other situation.
Unfortunately, though, I can almost never use _any_ kind of lube with toys, if I'm receiving... it's a sensitivity issue. I use it with one or two of the larger ones (and, of course, I use it on the odd occasion where I'm actually having sex with a guy) but for 90% of toys I've used, the addition of lube actually takes away sensation for me. It's REALLY hard for me to get a lot of sensation from penetration; there has to be a lot of friction. And usually, if I use more than, say, a drop of lube on a toy, it's so slippery I can't feel anything. ;_; Like, to the point I can't even tell it's in. So not exactly pleasure-enhancing, unfortunately.

[tyrsalvia.livejournal.com]

Get a nice silicone dildo, rubber ones are not so good because they do nasty stuff like you've described above. I found that out the hard way.

[scien.livejournal.com]

2) is surprisingly common - I have seen it in this community at least a dozen times. This is why all sex toy packaging says to store toys separately. That said it is not a problem with some materials, typically the more expensive ones like silicone and glass.

3) If you buy an unlubricated condom, it makes cleaning the boy as easy as just disposing of the condom, since nothing but latex was in contact with the toy itself, there is nothing to wash off.

[archangelbeth]

Sounds like the lube and the vinyl combined to make it toxic... (Though I have one little toy that has a black spot on it -- it's peach-colored, and it was lying next to something black... I'm not sure what it's made of; something soft and bendy.) I store all my toys wrapped loosely in paper towels, so that they can't melt into each other.

I have some dildos which have had a greasy feel, even after washing. I'd presumed it was something to do with the material's friction coefficients or similar buzzwords, since I had washed them enough times...

I use condoms with the toys to speed cleanup, or if the texture of the toy is dubious -- I have a perfectly nice vibe which has a shiny metal "shell" and I think the silver paint on it is flaking. I don't want flaking silver splinter-paint in me! I actually just wash off the condom and store it with the vibe inside, and replace if it looks nasty the next time I want to play.