How Long Should You Keep a Vibrator?
Sex toys are a mystery to some people. How does one use them? What does the cleanup look like? Should you use a sex toy cleaner, or are soap and water enough? How long should you use your toy?
These are just some of many (many!) questions people have. Although the sexual liberation movement made sex toys less taboo, people still tend not to talk about them. That would be fine, except it leaves them in total darkness when it comes to some things. For example, if your favorite sex toy tears, can you still use it? More importantly, what is the average life span of a typical sex toy (such as a battery-operated vibrator)? See these sex toys for beginners.
Some Withstand the Test of Time, While Others Don’t
Like with any other tool, appliance, or gadget, the lifespan of a vibrator depends on how you treat it. Vibrators are no different than hand mixers, for example. If you use them with care, clean them properly, and store them somewhere where dust and dirt can’t damage them, then you might use them for years before you notice the first signs of wear and tear.
Of course, the quality of the toy and some other factors come into play here. High-quality toys generally tend to last longer even if they are battery-operated toys, given that their motors and other parts are sturdy and well-made. However, if you have a low-quality toy made out of some porous material that you aren’t cleaning well, then you’ll have to change vibrators almost as often as your toothbrush.
Why Materials Matter
When you’re picking your first ever sex toy, you’ll hear a lot about how you need to pay attention to the material. Material is vital not only because it changes the subjective feel of the toy but also because it affects the cleaning process and the toy’s overall longevity.
In fact, the material is the number one factor that contributes to the toy’s life span. If you have some glass or stainless steel toys at home, you probably already know that they don’t really show wear and team (at least not as much as plastic ones do). However, if you have been using a toy that’s made out of other, more porous material for some years now, it’s probably time to throw it out.
Plastic toys, as well as silicone toys that aren’t 100% medical-grade silicone, have a shorter life span. Both the plastic and the silicone that’s blended with PVC or TPR will develop microscopic tears in it that quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria. No amount of proper cleaning and storing of your toys can save you from a yeast infection caused by bacteria.
Jelly toys rank the lowest when it comes to withstanding the test of time. If you bought your jelly magic wand more than two years ago and it’s your favorite vibrator, throw it out immediately and buy something that’s sturdier.
Proper Hygiene Keeps the Toy Running
We know that retiring your favorite vibrator is difficult. After all, it’s been a faithful companion to you for many years, right? You’ve been through thick and thin together (sometimes literally), and saying goodbye is somber.
However, consider sniffing your close companion a bit. Can you smell that acidic, pungent smell? Yeah, that’s not a good sign. Saying goodbye just got much easier, right?
Even if you clean your toys properly (with a sex toy cleaner or mild unscented dish soap and water), your toy can still look worse for wear after several years of frequent use. Of course, it would look much worse had you not been cleaning it properly.
Washing your toy, letting it dry completely, and then storing it in a sealed container or a pouch is vital for its longevity. See this guide on how to properly clean your sex toys.
And What About the Motor?
There are a lot of things you can do to make sure your silicone best friend stays with you for a long time. Unfortunately, there really isn’t much you can do about the motor. When it comes to battery-powered vibrator tricks for prolonging their life, there’s little you can do about the motor.
Just like any other motor, the one that powers your magic wand is prone to wear and tear. You can treat your vibrator with the utmost respect and still end up with it dying on you right before the big finale because the motor decided to give up.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, keep an eye on how well the toy holds up, endurance-wise, compared to when you first got it. Also, make sure you remove the batteries after each use (and before the cleaning).
The Pleasure Is Just Not There Anymore
Aside from the general look and the material of your toy, there’s also another thing you should be on the lookout for. If your toy isn’t really doing it for you anymore, then it’s definitely time to replace it.
Look, sometimes we simply outgrow our silicone friends. That doesn’t mean we’ve lost interest in sex toys in general. Of course not! But, we can get bored by using the same old toy over and over again.
If that happens, consider retiring (or at least semi-retiring) your toy and getting a new one. New toys are always exciting because they are novelties. You’ll have a blast trying out their features and settings and finding the ones that work best for you.
New isn’t always better. There’s a lot to be said for the established routine you probably have with your last toy. But, if nothing else, new toys are thrilling and provocative. And we all need a little bit of that in our lives, don’t we?
So don’t be shy! Explore sex toys and find yourself a new best friend!
