When you were growing up,
your mother probably told you to share your toys
... but for sex toys, forget it! Anything that
goes into a rectum or vagina can transmit HIV or
other STDs. Any toy that draws blood is a risk.
If you're a submissive, get your own toys and
have your Domina use them on you. If you're a
Dominatrix, have your sub bring his or her own.
And don't worry, you
don't need a chemical engineering degree to
really clean your toys. Soap and hot water, one
part household chlorine bleach to nine parts
water, or a 10% hydrogen peroxide solution (the
strength that's printed on the label) will do.
What if you don't mean to
draw blood but do? Don't throw away your toy.
Wash it with soap and hot water, let it soak for
20 minutes in the bleach solution, rinse it in
hot, clean water, and then let it dry thoroughly
(preferably overnight) before using it again. For
leather toys (whips, floggers, or leather
dildos), first wash the tips with a strong
foaming cleanser (Lysol Tile & Tub works
well) using a hard bristle brush to get at the
nooks and crannies, then spray everything with
hydrogen peroxide. Or dip the ends into a
hydrogen peroxide solution that's been poured
into a small bowl, wipe away the excess with
clean towels, and let air dry for several hours
(preferably overnight) before using.
Cleaning dries leather
quickly, so treat your toy with a leather
conditioner immediately afterward or it will
become brittle and crack. It's a lot easier to
clean a dildo after playing if you put a latex
condom on it before you use it — which every
responsible professional Dominatrix does even
though she thoroughly sterilizes and disinfects
Her toys. Make sure you remove all bleach or soap
by flushing it with clean water.
HIV, passed from one
person to another when infected blood, semen or
vaginal secretions goes from one person's body
into another, can be avoided. Common sense will
make all play safer.
There's no shame in using
a safeword. You should respect it and your
partner's limits and feelings at all times. Know
your playmates. If you wouldn't feel comfortable
giving them a key to home, don't give them
unrestricted access to your body. Discuss
interests, pleasures and needs. If you're unsure
about any activity, hold off until you're
familiar with its safety aspects or until you can
experience it at the hands of a skilled
Dominatrix.
Lubricants can be fun,
whether used for play or insertion, but use only
water- based, unscented brands like K-Y,
Astroglide, or Wet. Never use oil-based lubes
(like Vaseline); they weaken latex condoms and
gloves, making them more likely to break. Buy
small portions and throw the packets away
afterwards or put enough lube for playtime in a
disposable paper cup. Or buy a pump jar, which
ensures nothing will come in direct contact with
a toy.
Remember for most of you
BDSM is only part of your life, keep it in its
proper perspective and it will keep you safe!
Lady Scorpion
© 1998