Sex toys are designed to give you great pleasure, but only if they are safe for the health. Normally, toys are made with great care using materials that are safe for the body. Unfortunately, there are products that are inferior to others and this applies to sex toys as well. If there’s something wrong with your sex toy, you should throw it out and never use it again. So how do you know that your toy should be heading to the trash can (or the recycling bin)? Here’s what you should watch out for.

The smell

Majority of sex toys are made from materials like vinyl, rubber, jelly, and cyberskin. These materials each have its natural smell that should not be offensive. If your toy starts to emit a weird and foul smell, then something must be wrong with it. How do you know the natural smell from the bad one? Well, if the material starts to smell like burned tires or old gym stocks, then it’s time to get rid of the toy, pronto.

Visible damage in the material

Most sex toys are made of sturdy materials that do not break easily, but accidents do happen and they can cause considerable damage to your toy. Now you don’t have to wait for your toy to get totally wrecked just to ditch it. If your toy has tears and cracks that you can easily see, consider going for a replacement. Those little tears or cracks can become an entryway for harmful bacteria, which will certainly spell disaster for your body.

How your body reacts to it

Some toys can hurt you because of the size or the shape. This is understandable if the toy in question is too big for you or your body is just not accustomed to the shape or built. But it is a different story when you feel itching, burning, or tingling sensation whenever you use it. This can be caused by chemicals that are harmful to the body. Or maybe your body is not compatible with the material and you may develop an allergic reaction. Either way, this is a sure sign for you to stop using the toy.

Quality of the material

There are materials that do not have a longer shelf life and if your toy is made of such material, then you should watch out for the day that your toy becomes “expired.” Toys made from porous materials are usually meant for short-term use.