The unofficial rules—from casual sex to open relationships.
Coming out of our cage
With over a year of lockdown measures under our belts, most of us are just about to stop wearing pants entirely. But though you may have taken all the necessary covid precautions for sex with more than one person, don’t forget that the standard sexual health practices still apply.
Vibrators and devices are a great way to heat up experiences with all kinds of partners, from the casual to the committed. But for people with multiple partners, or partners with multiple partners, compartmentalizing vibrators can pose a financial and logistical challenge. Sometimes, it just makes sense to share.
No matter how eager you are for sexual experiences outside your pod, it pays to take a few simple steps to ensure you aren’t contracting or sharing STIs through your shared devices.
The cleaning basics
Any time you get semen, vaginal secretions, or fluids from STI sores on a body part or device, that matter can be spread to other people. If you’re not fluid-bonded with your partner(s), this can be a hygienic or safety concern when sharing devices.
Body-safe devices, like vibrators, are made from non-porous materials that can be sanitized, like silicone, glass, Pyrex, or stainless steel. Clean before and after using them with fragrance-free soap and warm water. (Avoid antibacterial soaps, as they can leave a residue). You can boil silicone, Pyrex, or steel, or even throw them in the dishwasher. Swipe your leather and hard plastics with isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
Storage matters, too
Make sure your devices are completely dried before putting them away so they don’t get mildewed. Separating them from each other in plastic containers or cloth bags is another way to cut down on contact.
If you’re concerned about the confusion of multiple devices among multiple partners, take an afternoon to go through them and decide which belong to who—whether it’s just you, you and a partner, or a partner and someone else. Organizing them in labeled containers so it’s clear which belongs to who will make it easy to grab and go. Set up ground rules for cleaning (“If you use it, it’s your responsibility to boil it within 24 hours.”) so everyone can be accountable.
Go the extra mile
There are lots of ways to cut down on your possibility of sharing STIs beyond keeping your devices clean. Using condoms on your porous devices, getting tested regularly, and knowing your partners’ statuses are just a few ways to keep yourself safe.
