“Body-safe” is a marketing phrase, not a standard. What matters is whether a material is porous: porous materials trap bacteria in microscopic holes and cannot be fully disinfected, no matter how well you wash them.
Non-porous (safe for internal use)
- Platinum-cured silicone — the standard for quality toys. Odourless, non-porous, boilable.
- ABS plastic — hard, non-porous, common for handles and bullet bodies.
- Glass and stainless steel — non-porous and effectively sterile after washing.
Porous (external use only)
- TPE / TPR — soft and cheap, but porous and often sweats oil. Fine for a stroker sleeve you replace; not for internal use.
- PVC and “jelly” — avoid. Frequently softened with phthalates.
Cleaning, briefly
- Wash with warm water and a mild unscented soap, or a dedicated toy cleaner.
- Silicone, glass and steel can be boiled for 3 minutes or wiped with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- TPE should be washed and dried thoroughly, then dusted with cornstarch to stop it getting tacky.
Two rules that prevent most problems
- Do not store silicone against other silicone — they can melt into each other. Keep them in separate pouches.
- Use water-based lubricant with silicone toys. Silicone lubricant degrades the surface.