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We love our fancy, high-tech sex toys, but sometimes — for example, when you’re getting a little frisky in the kitchen — there’s just not enough time to run into your bedroom and unearth your favorite paddle or dildo. This is where grabbing a homemade sex toy like a spatula or cucumber might come in handy. Using a household item for sexy things might feel a bit weird at first, but can also be a fun way to spice things up inside and outside of the bedroom, while also being cost-effective.
“A big draw of household items is the budget aspect. Basically, we’re all trying to save money and most of us don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on sex toys so if we can get creative and save, that’s a big win,” Gigi Engle, a certified sex and relationship psychotherapist and sex expert at the LGBTQIA+ dating app, Taimi, tells SheKnows. “[Household items] can also be fun because often we use a household item rather spontaneously which can add some spice to your sex life. Plus, we’re getting really creative and essentially playing an erotic game with ourselves and our partners when we’re thinking about non-sexual items in a sexy way.”
Another benefit? When you use a regular, household item as a homemade sex toy, you’re injecting a little bit of passion into your everyday life. “Any time that object is seen or used outside of the bedroom, it will spark a memory of the shared sexual exploration,” sex coach Jenna Switzer tells SheKnows. “This is an epic way to keep the passion alive even during mundane daily chores.”
How to Use Homemade Sex Toys Safely
Before we go through the list, remember that safety and cleanliness are key! Prior to putting any foreign object in your body (including your vagina, mouth, anus, or anywhere else), it must be sanitized and ideally covered with a condom. Otherwise, it could cause irritation or abrasions (not at all sexy, folks). For good measure, get in the habit of cleansing anything you use sexually post-game too. And yes, you should also be cleaning sex toys (and keeping in mind that we have to say goodbye to every good vibe eventually.)
“Our bodies’ natural bacterial balance can easily be thrown off by the foreign bacteria lodged in the crevices of toys or food,” Switzer says. “Be mindful that you clean items thoroughly with a non-scented soap and use condoms on any objects that you use for penetration.” Another bonus of using condoms, Switzer adds, is that they’ll reveal any hidden, sharp edges on the object.
Some of the household sex toys we recommend here aren’t specifically designed for skin contact (think candles, vegetables, and ice). In those cases, “be very mindful about application and use,” Switzer says. “Gently test temperature items on a small area of skin to gauge sensitivity.” If you have any concerns about an object, run it by your ob/gyn (awkward conversation, we know, but better than an infection!) or skip it.
Besides considering the safety and hygiene aspects of using homemade sex toys, ASTROGLIDE’S resident sexologist Dr. Jess O’Reilly notes that many of the suggestions below involve kinky play, so you’ll want to ensure you’re communicating before, during and after the interaction. “Discuss your desires and boundaries ahead of time. If you’re getting kinky, you may want to select a safe work or safe signal,” she tells SheKnows. “Safe words and safe signals are coded responses that allow you to clearly and immediately communicate your limits and needs.” For example, O’Reilly says, you can snap your fingers or raise your hands to indicate that you are feeling uncomfortable and want to stop. “Safe words and signals should be clearly defined and if you want to stop or have changed your mind about any activity, you shouldn’t hesitate to use yours with the expectation that your partner will respond immediately.”
22 Best Homemade Sex Toys
Keeping that in mind, continue reading to check out some of our favorite homemade sex toys that, if used correctly (and safely), will give you a mind-blowing orgasm and leave you impressed with your own sexual ingenuity. Warning: you might not look at your spatula the same way again.
A version of this story was originally published in August 2017.
T-Shirt
To find out if being blindfolded is something that sexually excites you, Engle recommends starting with things you have lying around the house, like, for example, a cotton t-shirt. “Place it over your head and pull up the neck to just above your nose,” Engle explains. “The rest of the tee-shirt should be covering your eyes and forehead. See? A homemade blindfold just like that.”
As for what to do after you’re blindfolded, Engle suggests having your partner kiss you all over your body or massage you with essential oils, too. “Your partner can use their hands to restrain you, if you’re comfortable with that. Pinning your hands above your head while they feel all over your body with their free-hand can be very hot.”
Plastic Spatula
Engle says a plastic spatula can be great for impact play and that “it works better than wood because you won’t get splinters.” For beginners, you might want to work up to the intensity of your strokes, and as always, check in with your partner. As mentioned above, having a safe word and keeping communication open is key when experimenting with anything involving kink.
Pillows and Cushions
Apparently your sofa cushions are just waiting to be used for your pleasure. According to O’Reilly, they can be used for sensory deprivation, sound restriction and a variety of positions.For example, she suggests covering your face with cushions to muffle your sounds and/or block out the light. Also, she says, “You might want to try lying between cushions to experience the heightened physical and visual sensations associated with auditory deprivation.” Lastly, use a pillow or cushions to grind against during any sex act or use them to prop up your hips to experiment with new angles.
Neck Tie
O’Reilly suggests using a tie as a restraint if you’re curious about bondage. She recommends leaving some space for circulation and ensuring the ties “can move around a little without pain or discomfort. And if you’re playing with restraints, make sure you’re checking in throughout the experience.”
Makeup Brush
Believe or not your makeup brushes can be used for sensory play and hot wax application. O’Reilly suggests blindfolding your lover and experimenting with different sensations, including swirling a dry brush across their body slowly and sensually, painting their inner thighs with lube or body oil (she recommends using Astroglide O for a formula you can use across the body and on the genitals), and alternating between soft brushstrokes and the warmth of your breath across their bod.
Butter Knife
This item isn’t for penetrating, but to amp up your foreplay, Switzer says. Tracing the edge of a butter knife or the prongs of a fork along your skin will help to “stimulate [it] with new sensations,” Switzer explains. Try it on your inner thigh, the inside of your forearm, or your belly.
Electric Razor
So this might seem scary but don’t worry — you remove the razor part of it and use the smooth back part that vibrates to get yourself or your partner off. And if you’re kind of into the stealthness of this option, I will say that you can scoop a razor that is actually a real body-safe vibrator (by design) too.
Massage Candle
Another way to play with temperature? Use warm candle wax, Switzer says. You simply burn the candle, then carefully drip the wax on yoru partner’s skin — and yes, it’s possible to do this safely. “Be very careful to use soy, beeswax, or a candle specifically designed for massage,” Switzer says. “Standard candle wax is not designed for skin contact and can produce an extreme sensation that may not be enjoyable.”
Sleep Mask
You may have one of these masks floating around from a spa gift box or an attempt to block out light while you sleep. It’s also a super cool beginner-friendly kinky toy — just use it on yourself or your partner to get a little bit of powerplay by removing one of your senses and heightening the others.
Clothes Pins
You may not be in the market for some nipple clamps, but if pain play is something you like mixed with your pleasure, you can always use a pair of garden-variety clothes pins to add that pinchy pressure. It doesn’t even have to be on your nipples; just place them “on sensitive areas and [tap] for an intense zap of pleasure sensation,” Switzer says. They’ve been used by kinksters for years and all you need to do is listen to your body and know when the pinch is too much for you!
Wooden Spoon
Before you buy your first spanking paddle, you might want to retire an old kitchen tool and see if it does it for you. You can easily use a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula for impact play. But, as always, talk things through with your partner and experiment to figure out how intense of a hit you like or can handle. Don’t overdue it, practice using safewords, and be sure to only spank safe places (buttcheeks! nowhere near the spine!) and have your aftercare plan worked out.
Tights
If you’re looking to try some power play or BDSM, grab a pair of soft tights, nylon stockints, dress ties, or even leggings, Switzer says. They “can be used both as gentle restraints and sensation exploration.” If you’re with a partner, make sure to talk through any boundaries and establish safe words before you start tying anyone up.
Cellphone
Is there anything an iPhone can’t do? You can turn your phone into a vibrator simply by downloading a vibration app like iBrate or iVibe. Most of these apps have various intensity levels to play around with. It’s simple, innocent-looking, and great for beginners who want a little less intensity than a standard-issue sex toy offers.
Remember to use it over clothing or try putting your vibrating phone in a sock and using it directly on your skin to prevent infection — definitely don’t try to place your phone in your vagina or anywhere else in your nether regions.
Select Foods
Specifically, fruits and vegetables. There’s a reason they use bananas to teach people how to put on a condom. Pretty much anything resembling a penis can be used for penetration: Cucumber, carrot, banana, zucchini and Japanese eggplants are all great choices.
You can also try rolling a medium-size round fruit like a plum, tomato or clementine, in a circular motion over your clit for some fruitful stimulation. Just avoid hot peppers, as any capsaicin leakage could cause severe pain in those super-sensitive regions.
Remember that hygiene is super important if you try this option. “Clean thoroughly, check for sharp edges or nubs, and use a condom to cover any part that goes inside your body,” Switzer says.
Electric Toothbrush
The same vibration capabilities meant to keep teeth clean can also be used to get you off. Using the non-bristled end, the vibrating handle of a toothbrush can be laid against the space in between your labium when in the “on” position. The gentle vibrating sensations can provide just as much pleasure as any Rabbit can.
(You can even pick up a vibrating head attachment for your regular toothbrush if the idea of using the brush head squicks you out.)
Pearl Necklace
It’s not just a fashion accessory — though using fake pearls is preferred (and definitely not a family heirloom you plan on re-gifting anytime soon).
Take a string of pearls, roll them into a ball, and place them between your labium and on your clit. Then move them all around in circular motions. Each light movement of a pearl against this sensitive area creates a huge amount of stimulation.
Hairbrush
Good for penetration, the handle of a hairbrush is great to use on yourself or with your partner. Make sure not to use handles that are sharp, pointy, or too hard at the end (ouch) because you don’t want to tear any of that delicate tissue. Stick with a rubber handle and remember to put a condom over it to prevent infection. Use plenty of lube, too!
If you don’t want to use it for penetration (because, like, fair!), the right hair brush can also be used for impact play.
Ice cubes
Want to explore temperature play? While perfect to chill your favorite cocktail, ice cubes are also great to tease and tantalize yourself or your partner.
During foreplay, slowly run a cube over nipples, then down the torso, then down the happy trail, and see how long you or your partner can withstand the icy-cold sensation. Also, try sucking on an ice cube before kissing or giving oral for a whole new sensation.
Electric Exfoliator
An electric exfoliator is one of the best ways to cleanse your skin… and it makes for a pretty sweet sex toy, as well. When on, lay the bristled end over your clit for ultimate stimulation.
The bristles may feel rough, so it’s best to use over clothing or underwear. And since it’s designed to work in the shower, try using the vibrating handle part inside of you (with a condom). Just remember to clean it well before and after, whichever part of your body you’re using it on.
Spoon
Find a tablespoon and place the rounded bottom part on your clit and rub it out in a circular motion. What’s nice about the spoon is that there are no sharp edges and it’s super-smooth against the skin. Just wash it after use and maybe relocate it to your bedside drawer once you’re done.
Couch
A couch has nice, soft edges that are perfect to grind up on. Straddle the arms or sides of the cushion and hump away.
We would recommend leaving underwear on… out of respect for whomever might be sitting on that couch later.
Shower Head
An obvious one, but your showerhead makes for a fantastic clitoral vibrator. While a handheld showerhead is easier, if you don’t have one, just lay or sit on the floor of your shower with your legs spread and make sure the shower is on a harder-pulsating mode.
Be sure to keep the water on the cooler side so you don’t burn anything.
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