Free Tool
Lube compatibility checker.
The wrong lubricant ruins a £100 silicone dildo in weeks and breaks a latex condom in minutes. Pick your toy material or condom type below, get the safe lubricant in plain English.
Pick both options to see the verdict.
Get the full lube compatibility chart
The complete 4-material x 4-lube matrix as a downloadable PDF, plus a 10% first-order code. Useful as a kitchen-drawer reference.
The full matrix
Every material we stock, against every lubricant type. Green is safe, amber needs a caveat, red is a hard avoid.
| Material | Water-based | Silicone-based | Oil-based | Hybrid (water + silicone blend) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone (platinum-cure) The most common premium toy material. Fjord, Lelo, We-Vibe, Doxy attachments, most modern dildos. | Safe The universal safe default. Reapply with a drop of water. | Avoid Bonds molecularly with the toy surface. Causes permanent tackiness and degrades the silicone over weeks. Never use. | Avoid Penetrates and degrades platinum silicone over time, even coconut and almond oil. Avoid. | Test first Depends on silicone percentage. Anything above ~5% silicone behaves like full silicone lube on the toy. Patch test on the base. |
| Borosilicate glass Pyrex-grade lab glass. Non-porous, dishwasher-safe, takes temperature beautifully. | Safe Safe with every glass toy. | Safe Excellent. Long-lasting slickness on a non-porous surface. | Safe Safe with glass itself; oil can stain fabric and bedsheets. | Safe Safe. |
| Stainless / surgical steel Njoy, Le Wand attachments, most weighted toys. Non-porous, body-safe. | Safe Safe. | Safe Excellent. Slickest combination, ideal for weighted insertables. | Safe Safe with the metal. | Safe Safe. |
| ABS plastic (hard plastic) Common in bullet vibrators, vibrator caps, prostate massagers with hard-plastic shells. | Safe Safe. | Safe Safe with ABS itself. | Caveat Generally safe; some heavily-plasticised ABS can cloud over time. Wipe off after use. | Safe Safe. |
| TPE / TPR / jelly Soft, porous, lower-cost. Cannot be sterilised; replace every 6-12 months. | Safe The only fully safe option for TPE. Use generously. | Avoid Causes the surface to weep silicone droplets and feel tacky. Avoid. | Avoid Penetrates the porous surface and traps bacteria. Avoid. | Avoid Treat the same as silicone lube. Avoid. |
| Latex rubber clothing Catsuits, latex briefs, dress / hood pieces. Shines with silicone polish, ruined by oil. | Safe Safe; will not shine the latex but will not damage it. | Safe Excellent. Silicone polish is how latex catsuits are dressed. | Avoid Catastrophic. Oil breaks the cross-links in natural latex within minutes. Never use any oil-based product on latex clothing. | Caveat Mostly safe but check the label for any oil/petrolatum content. When unsure, default to pure silicone. |
| Sealed hardwood Premium dildos and pleasure objects, must be properly sealed with body-safe finish. | Safe Safe. | Safe Safe and long-lasting. | Caveat Safe on the wood itself; can darken or marble the finish. Wipe off immediately. | Safe Safe. |
| Latex condom Durex, Mates, Pasante. The default UK condom. | Safe Safe. | Safe Safe and slickest combination. | Avoid Oil breaks latex within minutes. Includes baby oil, coconut oil, massage oil, and any oil-based moisturiser. Never use. | Caveat Most hybrid lubes are latex-safe; check the label for any oil content. |
| Polyurethane condom Durex Avanti, Mates Skyn, latex-allergy alternative. Thinner and stronger than latex. | Safe Safe. | Safe Safe. | Safe Polyurethane is one of the only condom materials that tolerates oil-based lubricants. | Safe Safe. |
| Polyisoprene condom Skyn Original, Durex Real Feel. Synthetic latex; behaves like latex chemically. | Safe Safe. | Safe Safe. | Avoid Polyisoprene degrades with oil the same way natural latex does. Avoid. | Caveat Generally safe; check label for oil content. |
Frequently asked
- Can I use silicone lube on a silicone toy?
- No. Silicone-based lubricant bonds with platinum-cure silicone toys and degrades the surface over weeks. Use water-based lube on silicone toys, or use silicone lube with glass, steel, ABS plastic, or sealed wood toys.
- What lube can I use with latex condoms?
- Water-based or silicone-based lubricant only. Oil-based lubricants (including coconut oil, baby oil, and most massage oils) break down latex within minutes and dramatically increase the risk of breakage.
- Is coconut oil safe to use as lube?
- It is body-safe but damages latex condoms, polyisoprene condoms, and platinum silicone toys. Use it only with glass, steel, or polyurethane condoms, and never with a partner who has a latex allergy in close contact.
- Why does silicone-on-silicone bond?
- Both the toy and the lubricant share the same siloxane molecular backbone. When they meet, they form weak chemical bonds at the surface, leaving the toy permanently tacky and faster to degrade. The reaction is irreversible.
- What is the safest "default" lubricant for any toy?
- Water-based lubricant. It is compatible with every body-safe toy material (silicone, glass, steel, ABS, TPE, wood), every condom type, and every barrier method. The trade-off is that it needs reapplying every 5 to 15 minutes.
- Are hybrid lubricants safe with silicone toys?
- It depends on the silicone percentage in the blend. Anything above roughly 5% silicone will behave like a full silicone lubricant on a silicone toy. Patch-test on the base of the toy first, or default to pure water-based for peace of mind.