Adult Toys: Who Uses Them, and How to Care for Them Properly

Adult toys are becoming more a part of people’s intimate lives, both in terms of their solo play and their partner-based activities. That’s good, as many people find that the use of adult toys opens up new sensual horizons. And when used properly, adult toys don’t present a significant male organ health issue. But sometimes a man can misuse an adult toy, and that can create a problem – and one of the most common ways in which an adult toy may be misused concerns improper cleaning of the item.

Statistics As with many things sensual, hard statistics are difficult to come by when it comes to adult toys and their usage. However, there are some surveys and studies which, despite limitations, give a fairly good idea about adult toy use. For example, in 2016, a study reported that 24% of all men had at least once inserted an object into their rectum while self-pleasuring. More than 32% reported using a vibrator at some time while self-pleasuring. From this data, it was believed that at least 14-18% of straight men had engaged in fastidious play while self-pleasuring.

Another study looked specifically at vibrator use among gay and bi men. This report was based on data from more than 25,000 men who identified as homo or bi. Almost half reported having used a vibrating toy before, with most of them using it during solo play and very frequently inserting it into the rectum. But a survey by adult toy manufacturer Adam and Eve found a very disturbing figure. When asking (both men and women) about how often they cleaned their adult toys, only 63% reported doing so after every use. Nine percent reported cleaning them after a few uses, but a whopping 28% said they never cleaned them at all!

Importance of cleanliness The survey doesn’t break down the cleaning statistics by gender, but given the fact that men are often a bit more lax in their cleanliness habits than women, it’s tempting to assume that men are more likely than women to be careless about cleaning their toys. And that’s definitely not a good thing.

Depending on the object and how it has been used, the toy in question may contain dried semen, fecal matter, urine, blood, sweat, bacteria, hair, yeast, fungi, or elements which could potentially cause an allergic reaction. And in some cases, using an adult toy can spread partner- transmitted infections. So keeping adult toys clean is crucial to a person’s health. This is true whether the toy is used for solo purposes or for partner- based pleasure. (And a rule of thumb: it’s better to have separate toys for each partner rather than sharing one toy. If toys are shared, a protective device should be used to prevent transmission of infections.)

Clean regularly To be safe, adult toys should be cleaned after each use. Consult with the instructions that come with each toy, but in general, using mild soap and water or an adult toy antibacterial cleaner is best. Some toys – such as those with a porous material or those which are inserted into the rectum – may need more though washing. It’s also important to be sure that the toys are dry before they are put away.

Cleaning adult toys thoroughly is excellent for male organ health; that health can also be better maintained by using a superior male organ health creme (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) regularly. Search for a crème that includes both L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former amino acid helps produce nitric oxide, which in turns helps male organ blood vessels expand when an increased blood flow is required. The latter is good at helping to protect delicate manhood sensitivity from diminishing when the member is used over-aggressively.male organ health creme