do you know what you're putting up there?!

(this information provided by Miko Learning and Resource center at www.mikoretail.com)

While playing should be good, clean fun, the fact is that there is no regulation panel determining what sex toys can be made of. The consequence? Your toy has the potential to cause serious harm!

Here's the lowdown on what you should keep in mind: if you take a toy you just purchased out of its package and it is scented or has a shower curtain smell to it, it's bad news. This smell signifies that the toy is most likely made with ingredients that many studies have shown to be cancer-causing agents.

eeeek!

What should you do if this is the case? Throw a condom over the toy each and every time you play with it and throw it out after 6 months.

For the future, ask the salesperson what type of material your soon-to-be purchased item is made of. If the box or the salesperson states any of the following materials, put your toy down and run far, far away.

- Jelly Latex - TPR (thermo plastic rubber)
- Mystery Rubber - Jelly Rubber
- Jelly Vinyl - PVC
- Silicone Blends - Latex

If you want to buy a toy that you are sure is safe for your precious bod, here is a list of key phrases you want either the package or the sales person to say:

- 100% Silicone - Elastomer
- Elastomed - Pyrex
- Stainless Steel - Hard Plastic
- Stone

Silicone and Elastomer are softer materials, which feel more "life-like." Silicone is non-porous and can be sterilized either by boiling or by a bleach or alcohol solution. Elastomer is porous and cannot be sterilized, but can be thoroughly cleaned using antibacterial soap and hot water and an antibacterial toy spray. Elastomer toys are vag-only toys, and should be one-person toys.

Stone, Pyrex, Hard Plastic, Stainless Steel and Elastomed are all firm materials. This means that they are great for G-Spot or P-Spot stimulation too! Pyrex and Stainless Steel can be sterilized.

What if the salesperson doesn't know what the toy is made of? That's a warning sign for you to pay attention to. If the person who is selling you the item isn't schooled on different materials, they they probably aren't going to know the good from the bad.

While sex toys are nice and pleasure is good for you, be a good consumer and know what you are playing with!