If you’ve been shopping for sex toys online, you’ve probably seen the words “waterproof” and “splashproof”. But what are waterproof sex toys, and how do they differ from splashproof? Both sound like they’d be pretty solid in water.
But of course, like everything else in life, there’s a difference between the two.
To understand the difference between the two, whether we’re talking about a Rose Sex Toy or a sex machine, it helps to understand the Ingress Protection System. (I swear, it’s not as complicated as it seems!)
What Does “IPX” Mean?
Turns out, electronic devices – whether designed for your coochie or your TV – are all sensitive to water. To get us all onto a standardized system to understand how sensitive to water each item was, the International Electrotechnical Commission created a system in 1976 they call the Ingress Protection System. (We all call it “IPX” for short.)
This system tells you how sensitive an electronic device is to water.
This scale goes all the way from IPX0 to IPX9.
“0” means the device has zero protection from water. It’s essentially a sponge.
“9” means that you could shoot high pressure and high temperature water directly at it, and it’d be fine. (We’re talking well beyond your standard shower and bath water!)
Since sex toys (and most electronics you own) are primarily enclosed already, most of the lower numbers on the IPX scale don’t apply. After all, if a single water droplet off your soda can could completely destroy your new prostate massager, you’d be really upset.
In case you’re curious, here’s the full sex toy IPX system numbers and their meanings:
- 0 – No protection
- 1 – Protected against vertically falling water droplets
- 2 – Protected against vertically falling water droplets when enclosure tilted up to 15-degrees
- 3 – Protected against spraying water
- 4 – Protected against splashing water
- 5 – Protected against water jets
- 6 – Protected against powerful water jets
- 7 – Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water
- 8 – Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water
- 9 – Protected against high pressure and high temperature water jets
(Sidenote: I’m simplifying a bit. If you want to understand the full system, the Ingress Protection System actually designates sensitivity to both solids – like dust – and liquids. That’s why we always use the “X” after “IP” when discussing sensitivity to liquids. In a full Ingress Protection System, that “X” would designate the sensitivity to solid particles. i.e. It would look like: IP46. Since we generally don’t care about the sensitivity to manufacturing dust with our sex toys, we just half-ass the whole thing, throwing an “X” in there and simply focusing on the final number: the number that tells you how sensitive the item is to water. Nerd out a bit here.)
What are Waterproof Sex Toys on the IPX Scale?
The terms “waterproof” and “splashproof” are simply easy-to-understand, buyer-friendly words that correspond with IPX7+ and IPX6 protection, respectfully.
What are waterproof sex toys? They are toys that rate as an IPX7 or above on the Ingress Protection scale. Almost every waterproof sex toy out there is IPX7. I only know of a single sex toy that’s above IPX7: the Le Wand Dive is an IPX8.
IPX7 (i.e. waterproof adult toys) can withstand being submerged in relatively calm water up to 1 meter in depth (slightly above 3 feet) for up to 30 minutes. That pretty effectively describes a bathtub, pool, or jacuzzi tub (with jets off).
A waterproof sex toy can hang out with you, actively in the water while you use it. If you’re nice and comfy in a private pool (jealous), you can hold that sex toy under the water while you’re relaxing. A waterproof toy is designed for it. That same experience would destroy a splashproof toy.
The waterproof rating really makes a difference during cleaning, though. When you’re done with a waterproof toy, you can submerge it in a bath of soapy water or hold it under a slowly-running tap to wash it. You don’t have to handle it with kid gloves; it can be near and tossed into water as much as you need to get it fully cleaned up.
What are Splashproof Sex Toys on the Ingress Protection Scale?
Splashproof toys, on the other hand, are IPX6 (or very, very rarely, IPX5).
Effectively, that means that splashproof toys can be lightly splashed on. If you want to be nerdy about it, an IPX6 sex toy can have water projected at it at all angles through a 12.5mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 liters/min at a pressure of 100 kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.
That’s, uh, a lot to take in.
In use, that effectively means that your IPX6 sex toy can handle the occasional splash, but you should not actively try to use it in or around water. It can’t go in the pool, hot tub, or bathtub.
Some manufacturers will state that IPX6 sex toys can be actively used in the shower, but that’s a risk tolerance you will have to decide. In an industry that’s full of waterproof options, I, personally, don’t think that risk of ruining a splashproof sex toy with a shower is worth it for me.
It’s a bit like my fitness wrist watch: it is technically IPX6, but if showering sends it to an early grave, it’s really not worth the extra time savings I get from not taking it off for a shower. I appreciate that it has that protection if I accidentally get caught out in the rain while shopping, but I try to avoid water exposure that’s unnecessary.
Splashproof sex toys really shine when it comes to cleaning. Their splashproof design makes for much easier cleaning. Instead of worrying that an errant water droplet may ruin your entire toy, you can clean it near the sink. You can hold it near your water spigot, and you can use your hands to splash water onto spots that need cleaning. This is so much easier than having to use a washcloth and worrying about water droplets.
For best results with a splashproof toy, when cleaning, avoid getting water anywhere near the toy’s control buttons, battery compartment, or charging ports. Those tend to be the weakest, water-sensitive areas.
Keep in mind that virtually all sex toys exclude water damage in their sex toy warranty. If a toy is injured by water, you will likely void your warranty. That’s partially why I really recommend aquatic caution around toys that aren’t waterproof: being without your expensive sex toy sucks.
Is the Rose Sex Toy Waterproof?
Any sex toy can be waterproof! It’s up to the exact manufacturer as to whether that toy is waterproof.
As the Rose sex toy has gained in popularity, hundreds of manufacturers now make a version of their own “Rose”, making for lots of different Rose toys out there.
If you want to check whether a Rose toy is waterproof, you’ll have to check your own copy of the toy. Every single Rose is a different toy, and your manufacturer may (or may not) have equipped your particular Rose with waterproof capabilities.
If you haven’t picked up a Rose yet, this The Rose Toy is waterproof.
How Do I Determine if My Sex Toy is Waterproof or Splashproof?
If you’ve owned a sex toy for awhile and want to know if it can go on an aquatic journey, you’re in for a little bit of an adventure.
For best results, look at the packaging on the exact toy model you purchased. If the packaging says it’s waterproof, you’re good to go! If you still have it around, you can also look at the instruction manual that comes with your toy. If its water resistance isn’t specifically mentioned, look at the cleaning information. If it mentions any sort of caution near water, it’s not waterproof.
If you don’t have the packaging or the instruction booklet, you can also look up the exact toy name OR check the website or retailer where you bought it. Exercise caution with this one. Especially if you’ve owned it for awhile, it’s possible the manufacturer has updated the design or waterproof capabilities since your purchase. The toy listing may no longer be accurate to your model.
Sometimes, you just can’t remember what the toy was, and you don’t have access to your order history. If that’s the case, look at the sex toy itself. Name-brand sex toys tend to embed their brand name somewhere on the toy. If you can find that, you can do a Google search for the name (or a Lens search if it’s just an logo). Use the contact form to reach out to the manufacturer and ask for details about your toy’s capabilities.
As a last resort, you can guess. This is a risk-aware method. You may accidentally guess wrong, and you may accidentally harm your toy. For the least risk, if you can’t confirm the waterproof capabilities, assume your toy is not waterproof. Again, water damage voids most sex toy warranties.
If your toy was cheap or you’re open to the risk, though, here are some generally accurate statements:
- If you can change out the batteries (like C, AA, or AAA), it’s almost never splashproof or waterproof. It may claim to be waterproof, but many a battery-operated vibrator has died an early death due to marketing claims.
- If you can see holes on the toy (surrounding the buttons, where the charging cable goes), it’s almost never splashproof or waterproof.
- If it has a “cover” for the charging hole OR the charging hole is invisible when the pin charger isn’t actively plugged in, it’s likely splashproof.
- If your sex toy charges magnetically and doesn’t have any visible holes, it’s likely at least splashproof and potentially waterproof.
- Air suction toys or inflatable toys tend to be a wildcard. I wouldn’t guess at those because of their air intake valves. Check with the manufacturer.
