We recently conducted a comprehensive survey of Brits that revealed some people are turning to household items like hairbrushes, bottles and TV remotes as makeshift sex toys.
As a luxury sex toy brand, we were curious about the sexual wellness habits of people in the UK. We partnered with Centiment to ask 1,001 UK adults who had used household objects for pleasure to share their sex toy alternatives.
With two in five respondents saying DIY options aren’t as good as purpose-made sex toys, we wanted to discover what people were using for sexual pleasure at home and why they opted for these items. Let's dive into the results!
Surprising DIY Sex Toy Substitutes
The research found that the most popular household items to use as sex toys are as follows:
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Hairbrush — 13%
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Cucumber — 12%
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Toothbrush — 8%
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Bottle — 7%
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Banana — 4%
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Pillow — 4%
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Spoon — 3%
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Deodorant —3%
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Carrot — 3%
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Rolling Pin — 3%.
More unconventional favourites included TV remotes (2%), spatulas, and even vacuum cleaners (both 1%).
Some of these results are more surprising than others. We've seen depictions in film and TV of women using alternative sex toys, like Aimee in Sex Education masturbating with a pillow or the electric toothbrush scene in Ginny & Georgia. But what can we learn from people reaching for household alternatives?
“These findings highlight how creative people can be when it comes to exploring their own pleasure, which is great,” said Damien Muretti, Co-Founder of Bed Nerdz. “I’m all for embracing curiosity and trying new things, and I think everyone should experiment with incorporating accessories into their sex lives. That being said, it’s really important to keep in mind that purpose-made products are designed with safety and hygiene in mind. Household items weren’t built for this, so it’s not surprising that two in five respondents preferred sex toys!
Why Take the Risk?
When it comes to why Brits are experimenting with household items, 40% of respondents said they wanted to “try something different”, while 29% mentioned not owning a purpose-made sex toy. Some people don't know where to start when it comes to buying sex toys, so we've put together plenty of useful blog posts to help! Whether you're curious about the best sex toys for women or how to use sex toys in your relationship, you should feel empowered and knowledgeable enough that you don't end up reaching for a rolling pin.
Also, 28% of people answered that they were simply curious about using their household item of choice. Curiosity is great when experimenting with sexual wellness products, but it's much safer to experiment with a range of sex toys than with different DIY items!
Do DIY Alternatives Measure up for Sexual Pleasure?
Despite the wide variety of items mentioned in the survey, not everyone found the substitutions satisfying. Two in five respondents (39%) admitted that household items aren’t as satisfying as purpose-made sex toys. However, 43% said they were equally satisfying while only 12% admitted that household items were more satisfying.
They might feel good in the moment, but are DIY sex toys an okay alternative? Not really. Masturbating with foods like cucumbers and carrots is especially risky as there are pesticides, germs and even soil remnants that can lead to infection. Incorporating food into your sex life can be fun, but not inside the vagina. Avoid inserting germs, potentially affecting your pH balance, not to mention the mess when a banana splits.
The Bed Nerdz team asked respondents how private they kept their experiences with household items. Over half (54%) of respondents kept their choices completely private, indicating that some aspects of sexual exploration are unfortunately still considered taboo in the UK. However, 41% felt comfortable sharing their experience with a partner or close friend, suggesting Brits might be feeling a little more open when it comes to sex.
Why Purpose-Made Sexual Wellness Products Are Worth It
To avoid disappointment and stay safe when masturbating, it's wise to stick with the real deal. We've been through the list of alternative items most respondents admitted to using and have made safe recommendations for the best luxury sex toys that will provide similar experiences but with more pleasure!
Luxury Bullet Vibrator
Using an electric toothbrush for sexual pleasure is really all about the vibrations. If it's the quick buzz that gets you off, switch out your toothbrush for a bullet. The best luxury bullet vibrator will have multiple vibration settings to help you discover your favourite speed and intensity. Try Sandy, our remote-controlled bullet with 10 different vibrating modes — and no abrasive bristles getting in the way!
Hit the G-Spot
For those reaching for a hairbrush handle or rolling pin, a g-spot vibrator will help hit the spot! Miki is made from premium liquid silicone, offering a luxuriously smooth texture that you can't achieve with a plastic or wooden household item. Its curved design follows the natural contours of your body, resulting in a more comfortable and effective experience.
It's not just women who admitted to using hairbrushes, rolling pins and other household items for sexual pleasure. For the men who insert household items for g spot stimulation, it's safer — and better — to switch to a prostate massager. The ergonomic design means more targeted pleasure than a hairbrush’s straight and rigid handle.
Clitoral Stimulation
For respondents who listed pillows as their DIY sex toy of choice, you can achieve the same external stimulation with a luxury wand vibrator. Many people enjoy clitoral stimulation from a flat surface like a pillow, and the large flat head of our Cali wand provides direct clitoral stimulation that will outdo a pillow hump.
For a more intense clitoral vibrator, try the Kai dual dildo and clitoral vibrator with combined targeted sensations for maximum sexual pleasure.
What We Learnt About Sexual Wellness
Commenting on the findings from the survey, Co-Founder Damien Muretti said, “Experimenting with sex should be safe and enjoyable, which is why Bed Nerdz products are made to be easy to clean, safe to use and are shipped in discreet packaging. Overall, I hope our research inspires more people to feel more confident in experimenting with different toys and erotic items, but with products made for the job.”
EXPLORE OUR FULL RANGE OF LUXURY SEX TOYS.
