Sex toy materials split into two groups: non-porous ones that can be fully sanitized, and porous ones that cannot. Silicone, borosilicate glass, stainless steel and ABS plastic are non-porous. TPE, TPR, PVC jelly and latex are porous. Price follows that split closely, which is why a $19 toy and a $79 toy of the same shape are different objects.
Porous means the material has a structure that takes in fluid and holds it below the surface. Washing cleans the surface. It does not reach what is underneath, which is why porous toys are treated as single-user items and are often used with a condom.
Silicone
Silicone is the default for good-quality toys. It is non-porous, holds heat well, has some give, and tolerates boiling if there is no motor inside. It comes in two cures.
Platinum-cure silicone
Platinum-cure is the higher grade, the same family of silicone used in medical tubing. It cures without leaving residues behind and is the version premium brands name on the box. A toy that says platinum-cure is making a specific claim, and it is the better-supported one.
Tin-cure silicone
Tin-cure silicone is cheaper to make and is still non-porous once fully cured. Most mid-price silicone toys are tin-cure even if the box just says silicone. It cleans the same way as platinum-cure and is a perfectly sound material.
The silicone blend problem
Silicone blend, silicone-like and silicone-feel all mean the same thing: not 100% silicone. The rest is usually TPE, PVC or a filler nobody names. A blend behaves like its worst ingredient, so treat it as porous. If the listing does not say 100% silicone, it is not 100% silicone.
TPE and TPR
Thermoplastic elastomer and thermoplastic rubber are soft, cheap and easy to mould into realistic shapes. They are usually phthalate-free, which is true and also beside the point, because they are porous. They cannot be boiled, they degrade with oil and some silicone lubes, and they go tacky as they age. Cyberskin, realistic skin and many brand-name soft materials are TPE variants.
TPE is close to unavoidable for strokers, where silicone would be too firm. For anything inserted, there is almost always a silicone version available.
PVC and jelly
PVC is rigid on its own. It becomes the soft, translucent jelly used in cheap toys only when plasticizers are added, and phthalates are the traditional plasticizer. That chemical smell when you open the box is the plasticizer. PVC jelly is porous, degrades over time, and is the material most worth avoiding. The sex toy safety page covers what the phthalate rules do and do not restrict.
ABS plastic
ABS is the hard, glossy plastic used for vibrator housings and some bullet toys. It is non-porous and easy to clean, but it cannot be boiled and it has no give. It is often the inner shell under a silicone coating, so a toy described as silicone may be silicone over ABS.
Glass
Borosilicate glass is the type used in lab glassware and oven-safe dishes. It handles temperature change well, can be warmed or chilled in water, can be boiled, and is non-porous. It works with every type of lube. Check it for chips or cracks before each use and throw it out if you find one. Soda-lime glass, the ordinary kind, is not suitable for toys.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel toys are usually 316L, a surgical and marine grade with good corrosion resistance. Steel is heavy, non-porous, works with all lubes, and can be boiled. It holds temperature, which some people like and others find cold. People with a nickel allergy should note that 316L contains nickel, though it is bound into the alloy.
Latex
Latex is porous and a common allergen. It turns up in older and cheaper toys and in some inflatable products. Oil-based lube degrades it. Unless you know you have no latex sensitivity, skip it.
Full comparison
| Material | Porous | Boil if no motor | Water-based lube | Silicone lube | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum-cure silicone | No | Yes | Yes | Patch test first | Yes |
| Tin-cure silicone | No | Yes | Yes | Patch test first | Yes |
| Silicone blend | Treat as yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| TPE / TPR | Yes | No | Yes | Varies | No |
| PVC / jelly | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ABS plastic | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Borosilicate glass | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stainless steel 316L | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Latex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Silicone lube on silicone toys is not always a problem. Some combinations are fine and some leave the surface sticky or pitted. The safe approach is a small test on the base of the toy, or water-based lube and no testing at all. Oil is safe on silicone itself but breaks down latex condoms, so it rules itself out whenever condoms are involved.
How to read a material label
Trust specific claims over general ones. 100% platinum-cure silicone is specific. Body-safe silicone is half specific. Body-safe material says nothing. Phthalate-free is true of TPE and still tells you nothing about porosity. If the listing names no material at all, assume the cheapest one.
For definitions of the terms that turn up on packaging, the sex toy glossary covers them one by one.