WATER-BASED

lubricants are the safest and most popular of lubes.  They are generally compatible with both the body* and the various tools of pleasure that you may employ.  Water-based lubes are good for use with barrier products (condoms, diaphragms, etc.) as well as toys made of latex or silicone (pretty much any toy).  They rarely cause irritation and the water-based formula makes cleanup quick & easy.  The only down side to water-based lubes is that they tend to dry out more quickly than other lubricant products and when they do they can get a little sticky.  Water-based lubes are typically made of water, glycerin, and propylene glycol (ingredients that are generally safe to ingest).  Available in both flavored and unflavored formulas, water-based lubes are your best all around multi-purpose lubricant.

SILICONE-BASED

lubes are extremely slippery and they stay slippery for a long time.  For this reason they are very popular.  These lubes have the added benefit of being waterproof, should your sensual adventures include a pool or hotub.  Silicone lubricants are safe to use with products made of latex but may cause damage to toys made of silicone.  If silicone lubes are your thing and nothing else will do, try using a condom on your silicone** toy (please note that pre-lubricated condoms often have silicone in the mix).  Another thing to consider when using silicone lubes is that these products do tend to stain (careful with those brand new satin sheets). 

PETROLEUM-BASED

lubricants are things like Vaseline (aka Petroleum Jelly) and baby oil (Crisco falls into the same category).  These products should never come in contact with anything made of latex.  The oil in these products will eat latex alive.  If you ever get the idea that you can use your favorite massage oil as a lubricant, think again!  These products can cause tremendous irritation in the vulva region.  Petroleum or oil based lubricants are best used on penises that won't be going inside of anything.  And yes, just like any other oil product, this oil will stain.

NATURAL OIL-BASED

lubricants, unlike Petroleum products, are derived from natural ingredients (nuts & plants).  However, natural oil lubes are very similar to Petroleum-based products when it comes to latex.  Anything with an oil ingredient is a latex enemy.  I myself like to stay away from products that contain oil when it comes to my femalehood.  However, I have read that natural oil products are good for both men and women for masturbation and other sex acts that do not require latex barrier protection. This oil will stain.

SILICONE TOYS

The quick and easy way to clean these toys is in warm soapy water.  If you want to sterilize your silicone toy (which is what we at wetlandsonline.com recommend) you can boil it in water on your stovetop.  If you have a dishwasher you can throw your silicone toy in on the top shelf -- but avoid harsh dishwashing detergents.  Silicone can also be cleaned by a good soaking in one of our toy cleaner products or rubbing alcohol.  If your silicone toy has some sort of electrical feature you must modify your cleaning method so that the toy is not submerged in any form of liquid. A cotton ball with toy cleaner or alcohol may do the trick but just make sure that any area involving electricity stays completely dry. And of course never use any electrical product in or near water unless it is waterproof. 

Silicone toys can provide many adventures in the sensual realm if they are cared for properly.  After cleaning, dry thoroughly before storing.  If possible store your silicone product in an upright position.  This helps the toy to keeps its shape. 

Be extremely careful when using a lubricant with silicone products.  Lubricants that contain silicone can destroy silicone toys.  Stick with a water-based lube and you should be fine.  Using a condom on your silicone toy is another thing we recommend as it helps to keep your toy clean.  But… be careful of lubricated condoms that contain silicone lubricant.

GLASS TOYS

Wonderful hygienic glass products are often beautiful works of art.  They can be sterilized in boiling water or in the dishwasher.  Toy cleaner or alcohol may also be used for cleaning.  Glass toys are durable and virtually non-porous (unless they get scratched).  Glass products retain temperatures for added sensation. Put your toy on ice, or heat it up in the microwave.  Think of your glass toy as a fine piece of lead-free Pyrex-crystal and take good care of it.  Though very sturdy for the activities glass sex toys are designed for, if you do something crazy like throw it out a window, it's glass and it will break.

CYBERSKIN, FUTUROTIC, JELLY &
OTHER HIGH-TECH SKIN-LIKE MATERIALS

These products tend to be quite porous and difficult to clean.  Using a condom is your safest and easiest option for effective sanitary hygiene with these toys.  If condoms are not your thing, just make sure that a toy made of this material is your toy only and not for sharing.  Warm water (not anywhere close to boiling) is the best thing to use for cleaning these materials, but skip the soap as some of the chemicals in soap can damage these high-tech skin-like materials.  These toys come with manufacturers instructions, which we strongly recommend reading and following.  The manufacturers of these products are the only ones who know what is actually in these top-secret patented formulas, and therefore will know the best cleaning methods.  The proper storing of these products is also very important. Again you'll want to follow the manufacturers instructions for each individual product.  Often times dusting the toy with talc or cornstarch is recommended to prevent the material from becoming tacky during its down time.  If you use the talc or cornstarch make sure you rinse your toy thoroughly before using it again. And always let the toy air dry as excessive rubbing with cloth can damage the toy.