The Body Vibes Dildo Guide

Dildo Materials

On one hand you have silicone, which is soft, flexible and almost lifelike to the touch. On the other hand you have plastic, which is hard, inflexible and, as you can imagine, does not feel like human skin. So why are there so many material choices?

The type of material you choose will depend on the particular feel you're going for. If you want a lifelike feel you would probably want to choose a dildo made from Cyberskin, silicone or one of the other lifelike materials. Each of the realistic materials feel like human skin to some degree or another, and each has very different cleaning and care requirements. For example, Cyberskin is delicate and requires special care while silicone is extremely durable. You can even run a silicone dildo through the dishwasher without ruining it, although we don't recommend that practice. If you're not too concerned with having the most realistic feeling dildo you might be happy with either plastic or jelly. Plastic dildos are usually hard and inflexible, while jelly dildos are typically soft and pliable. Again - your choice of materials will depend on your needs and desires.

Having said all that, we think the most important thing is to find a toy that you like. Whether it ends up being plastic, silicone, jelly or any other material may be secondary. We think it's useful, however, to be familiar with the different characteristics and cleaning requirements in advance. Some toys require special cleaning, and some are better suited for sharing with a partner.

NOTE: You may want to visit our main shopping page if you're interested in seeing examples of dildos made of the different materials. You will see a list on the left side of the page that shows links to all of our adult toys by category, which includes a section of listings by materials.

Plastic
Plastic is usually the material of choice for the outer casing of duotone balls. Plastic sex toys generally have hard, smooth exteriors and are inflexible. Cleaning is easy - all you need is a wet washcloth, some sex toy cleaner, or a tissue soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Popular Plastic Dildos: Ben Wa Balls

Silicone
Silicone is the second most lifelike material available, behind Cyberskin and some of the newer materials. Do you want your dildo to look and feel real? If so, silicone may be the way to go. Silicone tends to quickly absorb body heat and it retains the heat well, which adds to its realistic feel. Silicone also has a few advantages over its closest relatives, latex and jelly. It is an extremely rugged, high quality material and is very easy to clean. All you need is soap and hot water. Silicone is such a high quality material that non-mechanical silicone toys can actually be boiled or run through the dishwasher! Another benefit to silicone is its non-porous nature. It is less likely than latex and jelly to allow bacteria to grow, which means it's less likely to spread germs between users. We always recommend using a condom when you share a dildo, but if you don't, silicone might be the least likely to trap and spread germs. Due to the cost of silicone, these toys are generally more expensive than latex or jelly toys, but it is a higher quality material that generally will last longer. If you're looking for a high quality, versatile dildo, you may want to consider silicone.

Popular Silicone Dildos: Casanova, Petite Lilac, Tantus Spike

Jelly
Jelly dildos are close in look and texture to silicone, but are not quite as smooth and lifelike. Jelly is a great material for people who want the realistic feel of a silicone dildo but don't want to pay the higher price for silicone. Jelly dildos can be a little bit stiffer than silicone dildos, but many silicone dildos are extremely soft to begin with. It's just a matter of preference. Jelly can best be described as a soft and pliable material that feels smooth to the touch yet retains some rigidity. For many people the term "jelly" brings up images of strawberry preserves or a bowl of Jell-O. Jelly sex toys, however, are not as squishy as either of the two. Depending on the brand, the "softness" of jelly toys can range anywhere from the consistency of a hard-boiled egg to the consistency of a cold stick of butter (without the grease of course). On a related matter, jelly is more porous than silicone - so it isn't wise to share a jelly dildo unless you use a condom. The best way to clean jelly dildos is with warm water. Never use rubbing alcohol to clean jelly, and always use water based lubrication - jelly will degrade if it is exposed to a non-water based lubricant or rubbing alcohol. If you decide on a jelly dildo, it might be a good idea to pick up some cleaner specifically designed for sex toys. The porous nature of jelly makes it harder to remove germs from the surface, but a good sex toy cleaner will kill any bacteria and leave a clean, fresh scent. A bit of soap and water will also work, but will not sterilize the surface.

Popular Jelly Dildos: 12-Inch Veined Gel Double, 7-½ Inch Gel Single, 8-½ Inch Veined Translucent Chubby

Latex
Latex has been around for many years and is a low cost alternative to silicone and jelly. Latex is another word for rubber, and dildos made from latex do have a rubbery feel. Latex is a popular choice for people who are experimenting with different dildos. It's generally less expensive than most other materials and the cost of latex is reflected in the price of latex sex toys. The downside of latex is that it generally doesn't last as long as silicone or jelly and it's quite porous, making it more difficult to clean. However, many people find latex dildos enjoyable and satisfying, and consider them a low-cost alternative to some of the more expensive materials. If you plan on sharing a latex dildo, be sure to use a condom. Soap and warm water is the preferred way to clean a latex toy. If is also worth mentioning that some people have an allergic reaction to latex. If you or your partner is allergic to latex condoms, you might want to try a toy made of silicone or jelly.

Popular Latex Dildos: Classic, Emperor 8" Dildo - White, Emperor 8" Dildo - Brown, Hard & Erect

Glass
Who would have thought? On the surface, the mere idea of a glass dildo may seem strange, even dangerous. However, glass dildos are popular items that are not only beautiful but safe. Glass dildos are usually made of Pyrex glass, which is an extremely strong, scratch and chip-resistant material. Heat-treated and examined with high tech equipment for scratches, cracks and other flaws, glass dildos are - according to the manufacturer - completely safe for intimate use. We have never heard of anyone being injured by a glass dildo. These works of art are more expensive than most other dildos, but they are extremely beautiful and highly functional.

Popular Glass Dildos: Cherry Dichroic Tip G-Spot, 7-Inch Amber G-Spot Lattachino, Moon & Stars Dichroic Tip G-Spot , Blue Spiral Wrapped Love Wand

Cyberskin
Cyberskin was the first skin-like material developed for sex toys. There have been new advancements in recent years that have lead to new realistic materials, but Cyberskin was the first. This material looks and feels very much like human skin. It's smooth, soft, flexible, and it even maintains heat once it warms up. Cyberskin is porous like latex and jelly so it must be cleaned carefully with soap and warm water or with a Cyberskin cleaning solution.

Popular Cyberskin Dildos: Cyber Cock, Cyberskin Dream, Cyberskin 3-Inch Penis Extension

UR3
Of all the realistic materials UR3 is probably the easiest to clean and care for. It is a relatively new material and is still being evaluated for durability, but so far it shows a lot of promise. It appears to be more durable than Cyberskin and therefore a bit easier to maintain. There is no doubt, however, that it looks and feels very similar to real skin.

Popular UR3 Dildos: Raging Realistic, Vac-U-Lock 6-Inch Dildo

Metal
Metal is not a common material, but one that exists. Metal dildos are similar to plastic ones, in that they have a hard, generally smooth exterior and are easy to clean.

Popular Metal Dildos: Chrome Alloy Standing G-Spot, Stainless Steel Threaded Love Wand

Acrylic
Acrylic is a form of plastic as is considered a "specialty" material. Acrylic dildos are often very beautiful, since the visual properties of acrylic are similar to glass. They are durable, easy to clean, and are generally difficult to damage. These toys often last a lifetime.

Dildo Care and Cleaning

Since it's a good idea to clean your sex toys after each use, it's also a good idea to consider the care and maintenance required of each type of dildo before choosing one.

In general, dildos are very easy to clean. Unlike vibrators you never have to worry about damaging a dildo's internal parts with water - unless of course you have a vibrating dildo. Dildos can be cleaned easily by wiping them with a damp, soapy washcloth, or by rinsing them with soap and water or a good adult toy cleaner.

Some materials have specific cleaning requirements. For more on how to clean each type of material, see our "Dildo Materials" section above, or check out the quick reference cleaning guide below.

Plastic - soap and water, rubbing alcohol, sex toy cleaner

Silicone - soap and water, boiling water, sex toy cleaner

Jelly - mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner

Latex- mild soap and water, sex toy cleaner

Cyberskin - mild soap and water, Cyberskin cleaning solution, sex toy cleaner

Lubrication

Whether you're having sex with a partner or by yourself, lubrication can be an important consideration when selecting a dildo. You want to be sure the lubrication you use is compatible with the material your dildo is made of. Since some types of lubrication can damage certain dildo materials, it is good to know the basics before you start shopping.

Water-Based Lubrication:
This is the most common form of lubrication used today. Containing mostly water, water-based lubes will not stain your clothes or sheets, are safe with all sex toys, and are often pleasant tasting. Available in both flavored and non-flavored varieties, these lubes are long lasting and easy to clean.

Silicone-Based Lubrication:
Silicone-based lubes are a high-tech version of water-based lube. All the ingredients are the same, except that silicone lubes do not contain any water and are completely waterproof. They also don't dry out like water-based lubes do so they tend to last longer. Silicone lubricant is safe to use with all sex toys except those made of silicone. If you have a silicone toy, you must use a different type of lubrication.

Oil-Based Lubrication:
Oil-based lubes consist of common oils such as vegetable oil and are not recommended for use with sex toys. Oil-based lubes are OK for masturbation and generally considered safe for consumption, but they often leave an oily residue, can be difficult to wash off your body parts, may stain clothing and have been known to cause infection if allowed to stay in the vagina. Oil-based lubes are not compatible with latex based sex toys, condoms and some latex-based birth control devices.

Petroleum-Based Lubrication:
Petroleum-based lubes are made with mineral oil or petroleum jelly. As their name implies, petroleum-based lubes contain primarily petroleum products. While they are commonly used for masturbation and anal play, petroleum-based lubes tend to stain sheets and clothing and are not easy to wash off hands and other body parts. Petroleum-based lubes include Vaseline, baby oil and K-Y Jelly. It is important to know that Petroleum will dissolve latex, and should not be used with latex toys.

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