toycare3

Lavicka says: make sure you're using only water-based lubes for use with latex toys for their longer life expectancy

Lavicka says: i suggest if you plan on using different material types that you switch to all water-based products to avoid grabbing the wrong bottle at the wrong time. it could end up being a costly mistake.

Lavicka says: as for products that contain noxynol-9 (i think thats what it's called), i did't find anything that said anything about it and toy life expectancy

Lavicka asks: nonoxynol?

Lavicka says: something like that

Beethoven says: okay

Lavicka says: you know what i'm talking about :)

Beethoven exclaims: yup!

Lavicka says: personally, it doesn't matter. i'm allergic to the stuff, so i avoid it like the plague :)

Lavicka says: with all these materials, once you have given them a thorough cleaning, you should dry them with a soft cloth.

Lavicka says: most bacteria need a warm, moist place to live and cannot survive on a clean, dry surface.

Lavicka says: exposure to light and air are highly recommended after towel drying, if possible.

Lavicka says: now on to some other fun stuff :)

Lavicka says: special care should be used with leather items, as prolonged exposure to soap and water may cause some items to become dry and crack over time. water may also discolor some leather finishes

Lavicka says: and as expensive as good leather toys are, that's not something we want to deal with.

Lavicka says: to clean leather, you can wipe down with a wet cloth and mild soap.

Lavicka says: but again, use sparingly to preserve your leather items.

Lavicka says: this will remove most traces of blood and other body fluids, but not ALL of them.

Lavicka says: for this reason, you may want to consider using leather items on only one special preson in your life (or one per person), as they are terribly hard to clean and easily ruined if cleaned wrong

Lavicka says: it is nearly impossible to clean soft, unfinished leather items such as suede, so special care should be used to avoid contact with body fluids.

Lavicka says: once you've wiped down your leather items, they should be left to air dry for as long as possible.

Lavicka says: air-drying will help kill any microbes you may have missed in cleaning, so the longer the better.

Lavicka says: sunlight is good for leather items, but as with soap and water, too much is a bad thing.

Lavicka says: too much exposure to sunlight can give your leather that 'weathered' look... some like it, some don't

Lavicka says: you can also use spray disinfectants on leather items, but be creful not to use too much as this can stain or discolor the leather.

Beethoven nods

Lavicka says: there are also many items sold specifically for the cleaning of leather. none of the articles i read while setting up this discussion mentioned anything about them, and that leads me to think you can probably get along without them. but if you would choose to go this route, i leave it to you to follow the directions on the packages and use your best judgement in which treatments you use.

Lavicka says: another little note about leather...