When it comes to sex toy materials, the difference between a toy that lasts years and one that becomes a health risk often comes down to one word: porosity. Understanding what porosity means—and why it matters—can completely change how you shop for sex toys.
What Is Porosity?
Porosity refers to the presence of microscopic pores throughout a material. Some materials—like medical-grade silicone, glass, and stainless steel—are non-porous. Their molecular structure is completely solid and uniform, with no microscopic spaces where contaminants can hide.
Other materials—like jelly, rubber, TPE, and TPR—are porous. Even when they look smooth to the naked eye, their surface and internal structure contain countless tiny holes. These pores are too small to see, but large enough to trap bacteria, fungi, body fluids, and environmental contaminants.
Why Porosity Matters for Sex Toys
When you use a porous sex toy, bacteria from your body gets pushed into the pores during use. Washing only cleans the surface—the pores remain contaminated. No amount of soap, boiling, or toy cleaner can reach inside the pores. Over time, contaminants accumulate and mold can grow.
With a non-porous toy like liquid silicone, the surface is completely smooth at a molecular level. Washing removes 100% of surface contaminants. Boiling or toy cleaner reaches every part of the toy. With proper care, the toy remains hygienic indefinitely.
Materials to Avoid: The Porous List
- Jelly: Among the most dangerous. Highly porous, often contains phthalates, strong chemical odor from off-gassing. Never use for internal play.
- Rubber (non-medical grade): Porous and often treated with chemicals that can cause skin reactions. Unless explicitly labeled medical-grade, avoid.
- TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer): Often marketed as “body-safe” but is porous. Cannot be fully sterilized. Oils can leach out over time.
- TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber): Similar issues to TPE. Porous, shorter lifespan, degrades with oil-based lubricants.
- PVC: Requires plasticizers (usually phthalates) to maintain flexibility. Phthalates are linked to reproductive health concerns. Avoid entirely.
- “Silicone Blend” materials: Usually a mix of silicone and TPE. The porosity of the TPE component remains.
Materials to Choose: The Non-Porous List
- Liquid Silicone (LSR): The gold standard. Non-porous, hypoallergenic, can be boiled for sterilization, odor-free, long-lasting.
- Glass (borosilicate): Completely non-porous, can be boiled or run through dishwasher, pleasing weight and thermal conductivity.
- Stainless Steel (316L medical grade): Non-porous, extremely durable, can be autoclaved.
- Hard Plastic (ABS): Non-porous when solid. Ensure any coating is also body-safe.
How to Check Your Toys at Home
The squeeze test: Squeeze a small portion and hold 30 seconds. Non-porous silicone rebounds immediately with no visible marks. TPE/TPR shows whitening that slowly recovers.
The smell test: Any chemical or rubbery odor is a red flag. Quality liquid silicone has no smell when new.
The price test: A dildo claiming to be silicone for $8-15 is almost certainly TPE or jelly. Quality liquid silicone costs more to manufacture.
The Bottom Line
Porosity is the single most important material property in sex toys—more important than price, color, or features. A porous toy is a risk you’re taking with your body every time you use it. A non-porous toy is an investment in both your safety and your long-term satisfaction.
At Mutanttoys, every single toy is made from 100% body-safe liquid silicone. No exceptions, no compromises. Browse our full liquid silicone collection to shop with complete confidence.