AboutMaddix Expertise If you have questions about what kind of sex toys might be best for you, the proper way to wash/clean your toys, what kind of lubes are okay to use for certain kinds of toys, what kind of lubes are skin irritants and different kinds of toys made of different materials (such as silicone, elastomer, rubber, glass, plastic, jelly, wood, stainless steel, etc.) and what the different materials might offer you. If you have questions about safe sex including (but not limited to): latex and non-latex condoms, dental dams and gloves.. Then I've got the answers you're looking for. I am also knowledgable in gender play related products used for sex or everyday life which include a wide variety of dildos, harnesses and soft packs.
Experience I work for a local sex positive business in California. www.babeland.com
Organizations Many FTM and trans-friendly online forums, groups, clubs and websites.
Question Maddix,
I just recently bought a plastic waterproof vibrator for my girlfriend to use for some experimentation. I feel a little paranoid in terms of STD's and HIV being transmitted from the toy. The store from which I purchased the vibrator expresses a no-hassle return policy, so I am not completely sure if the vibrator had any prior use. I guess what I am looking to know here is whether the HIV virus or any other STD's can live upon the surface of the vibrator for an extended period of time. I was very careful and made sure to wash it with warm water and antibacterial soap before I washed it in 80 proof alcohol. After all that I cleaned it in chlorox bleach for 15 minutes. Was this enough to remove all the viruses upon the plastic surface? I don't think I could live with myself if I accidentily gave my girlfriend an STD without knowing. Your help is much appreciated.
-Don
Answer There is (roughly) a 99 percent chance that it was NOT used prior to you purchasing it from a store. Though I do not know where you purchased the vibe, I still highly doubt it was used prior to purchase. It is illegal to sell a toy that is used if buying from an adult toy store. If the vibe is made of hard plastic then the surface is not porous at all and I wouldn't worry about any STD's or the HIV virus. I would contact the store directly and ask what the details of the return policy are. Most stores do not except toy returns unless they were just bought and obviously don't work or unless the sealed package of the product is not broken.
I feel that the way you've cleaned the toy, you wont have any problems with any viruses what so ever. I would also recommend to use a condom with every use just to make sure.
also, if you are interested in buying another toy. It should be purchased from some place like www.babeland.com. I say this because I personally know how the toys there are treated before shipped or bought, never are they used prior to purchase and they always remain in package from the factory it was made in, to you (or whoever the purchaser would be)
