Dildos can add fun and excitement to your sex life. They can also help you develop an understanding about your partner and the type of stimulation that arouses him or her. A dildo can also help your partner learn more about you. The end result is a more rewarding sexual experience for the both of you. As you probably already know, dildos come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors. However, not every dildo is right for every person in every situation. Choosing a dildo is more fun when you're armed with the information you need to make the best choice given your unique needs and desires. Maybe a small, colorful dildo would work best for you or your partner. Or perhaps the power of a large, realistic vibrating dildo would better satisfy your desires.

Dildo Varieties and Their Uses

It's no accident that dildos come in such a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. There are about as many uses for dildos as there are people who use them, and with a large and varied market comes a large and varied selection. Some people use dildos for vaginal play, while others prefer anal play. Some share their dildo with a partner, while others will be the sole user. Certain materials are better suited for sharing with a partner and certain shapes are more appropriate for anal play. Each material gives a dildo a certain look and feel, and may have specific cleaning requirements. You can find out all of the specifics by reading further, but for now its good that you know that there are different materials, shapes, sizes and colors available, and that these differences may impact the usability of your dildo. Choosing a dildo, however, does not have to be confusing or overwhelming.

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.

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

 

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