Which lube with which toy

Silicone lubricant permanently damages silicone toys. It is the single most common way a good toy gets ruined, and it is not covered by warranty because it is not a manufacturing fault.

The short version

Toy material	Water-based	Silicone-based	Oil-based
Silicone	Yes	No	No
TPE / TPR	Yes	No	No
Glass	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stainless steel	Yes	Yes	Yes
ABS plastic	Yes	Yes	Care — check the finish

Water-based lube is safe with everything. If you keep one bottle, keep that one.

What silicone lube actually does

Silicone bonds to silicone. The lubricant fuses into the surface of the toy and softens it, leaving patches that stay tacky and gradually degrade. It happens on first contact and it cannot be washed off or reversed.

If you are unsure whether a lube is silicone-based, look for ingredients ending in -methicone or -siloxane — dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane.

Not sure what your toy is made of?

Patch test. Put a drop of the lube on the base of the toy, where it will not be in contact with you, leave it ten minutes, then wipe it off. If the surface has gone tacky, dull or soft, stop.

Condoms

Oil-based lube destroys latex condoms — it weakens the latex within minutes. Water-based or silicone-based only with latex. Oil is fine with polyurethane.

A few other things worth knowing

• Water-based lube dries out. Add a little water to reactivate it rather than adding more lube.
• Silicone lube lasts longest and is best in water — good for glass and steel, good in the shower, never with silicone toys.
• Anal play needs more lube than you think. A thicker water-based gel holds up far better than a thin one.
• Avoid lubes with glycerin if you are prone to thrush, and avoid warming and tingling lubes internally until you have tested them externally.