Whether you’re preparing to purchase your very first sex toy or are already the proud owner of a growing collection, it goes without saying that toys are true game changers. Adding a toy to your sexual repertoire is a beautiful way to get to know your body better and discover all the different ways it experiences pleasure. Plus, it takes the guesswork out of having a quick and dirty orgasm when you want one.
But while falling head over heels in love with the world of sex toys is nearly effortless, there’s still an art to getting the absolute most out of yours. The following are a few of the most common mistakes sex toy lovers make when enjoying their toys. Do any of them sound familiar?
You don’t store your toys properly.
Plenty of sex toy owners really don’t think about how and where they store their goodies, figuring one solution is as good as another. Some, simply toss theirs into a nightstand drawer when they’re finished playing, or else they stuff it under their mattress for safekeeping, never realizing they could be shortening the life of their toy.
Sex toys should always be stored in individual boxes or bags and then tucked carefully away somewhere safe, away from extreme temperatures. Individual storage solutions help keep dust, dirt, and debris from sticking to the toy in between uses. They also keep toys from touching one another, preventing any possible corrosion.
You don’t clean your toys regularly.
Most people fully realize they should be cleaning their vibrators and other toys regularly. However, most don’t do it nearly often enough or know how often they really should be doing it. So let the record show that your toys should be cleaned thoroughly after every single use without exception. (For best results, you may want to give them a quick wash before each use, as well.)
Plain soap and water work just fine in most cases. But many toy lovers like to keep handy spray-on, wipe-off toy cleaners close at hand, as well, for those times heading for the sink isn’t convenient. In addition, you should get into the habit of inspecting your toys for signs of integrity loss every 2-3 months and replacing any showing signs of wear and tear. Think cracks, warping, pockmarks, frayed cords, and so forth.
You treat your toys like a dirty little secret.
No one’s saying you have to shout it from the rooftops that you own a toy or tell anyone who’ll listen all about the finer points of your go-to vibrator. It’s OK to keep your private business private. But you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about using a toy or see it as something shameful, even if you were raised to see things that way.
The days when sex toys were wrongly viewed as poor substitutes for a sexual relationship with another person are long over with. Today, sexual empowerment is in, as is the decision to take responsibility for your own pleasure. And toys aren’t just for women, either. Men love them, too, as do couples. So, owning, using, and loving your toys is something to be proud of, even if you prefer to keep that fact to yourself.
You haven’t tried using a toy with your partner yet.
Again, your sex life is your business, especially regarding how you approach self-pleasure. But you should know that a good toy can bring just as much to the sex life you share with your partner as it can your solo sex life. Sex toys bring fantastic new sensations to the table that you’d never be able to experience any other way.
And they take the guesswork out of orgasms, too. That means you and your beloved are free to get out of your heads a little and lose yourself in what matters most – each other. Toys are great tools for encouraging open dialogue about sex, too – something every couple should have on an ongoing basis.
You rarely to never use lube.
What if we told you there’s a product out there that could take pretty much every sexual encounter you have to the next level and beyond? You’d want to use it, right? Well, that product is lube, without a doubt – a woefully underrated product.
Yes, lube can come through for you in a pinch when Mother Nature just isn’t cooperating, but that’s not the only time it comes in handy. Lubes help convey sensations (such as vibrations) like an absolute dream, meaning adding just a touch – even when you don’t think you need it – can add some serious oomph to your play session.
So, as you can see, there’s always a way to get more out of a really great sex toy, and addressing the above mistakes is a great place to start. Get the ball rolling today!