Toy Care
How do I sterilize SquarePeg toys?
First, I must advise you to seek the advice of your doctor on what is needed to properly sterilize any surface. I am not a doctor and can only advise you on what type of techniques will not damage the structural integrity of your toys. Certain viruses need pressure along with heat to destroy them. As a rule I do not share butt toys so my sterilization experience is only for cleanliness.
The silicone I use can safely withstand heat up to 350 °F. In fact, I have placed them in the oven to sterilize them before. Place them upright on a glass baking dish or line any pan with aluminum foil and bake. Don’t worry about them going limp, they will still be the same firmness going out as they were going in, one reason silicone is so widely used in industrial applications today.
Boiling is also an option as water will not harm the material. Recommendations for boiling would be to stand them upright on a grate in a tall pot. Because silicone is such a good insulator they should be off the bottom as heat can build up and damage your pan or the toy. They should have water freely flowing around them at all times as well. It follows as well that they are completely dishwasher safe, top or bottom rack. Just keep them upright so they don’t pickup any impressions from the racks.
I want to display my toys. Can they be left out?
Yes, but I recommend using a coaster to protect the surface of your furniture as they will leave a ring, the effect of which diminishes with time. No other precautions are necessary. Using a powder of cornstarch or talcum to lightly dust them with makes the surface more pleasant to handle and helps keep dirt and dust from sticking.
Can I fix my toy if it has a crack or tear?
Unfortunatley not. The good news is that the silicone won’t crack on its own. Guarding the integrity of the surface against knicks, crimps and undo stress is the best insurance. I never recommend throwing them in a drawer or chest, upright on a shelf is best.
What kind of lubes can I use?
I personally prefer a mix of water-based and Crisco, but I have found that water, j-lube or oil based lubes are all safe to use on my toys. The word on silicone based lubes is that I must advise caution and perhaps to avoid using them altogether.
A few other manufacturers of silicone toys have not recommended their use. I have not had any short-term adverse effects on my own toys by using silicone lube, nor have I yet to receive negative feedback from fellow players. It does raise the question however of what the effects might be over the long haul. I personally don’t prefer silicone lubes simply because I cannot ever get it all off once play is over. There is always some lube left on the toys to attract dirt.
But, there are literally thousands of different types of silicone, so maybe those manufacturers are using one that reacts adversely to silicone based lube. I did read on one site that they used a microwave to “cure” their product, which indicates to me they are using a silicone completely foreign to me. No heat is used in my production process. Another plausible reason would be that they know how well silicone adheres to itself in casting, but this only applies to silicone in the uncured state, not in the state you find the toy or lube. As a result, this could just be a precautionary measure on their part.
