These 26 Homemade Sex Toys Take 'Do It Yourself' to the Next Level
You probably own all of them, anyway.
Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?
When you think of homemade goods and gadgets, you typically think of warm cookies or knitted blankets—not sex toys. But DIY sex toys can be an easy and inexpensive way to add new sensations into sexy time, as long as you choose wisely.
“Homemade sex toys featuring everyday objects are accessible,” says Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD, a social psychologist who specializes in relationships and author of Love by Design. Getting down with a DIY dildo, like a cucumber, or a makeshift vibrator, such as an electric toothbrush, are a low-cost, convenient way to experiment with what you like in terms of size, shape, texture, and more.
Plus, they can be a fun way to shake things up if you’ve already tried everything in your bedside drawer. Homemade sex toys “can bring lightness and laughter” to solo or partner play, Nasserzadeh says. It’s safe to say you’ll never look at a kitchen utensil the same way again.
Beyond pure pleasure, masturbation, like sex, also boasts tons of health benefits, from sounder sleep to orgasm-induced stress relief. So, finding new tools to make your toes curl can only improve your sexual health and overall well-being.
All that said, it can be difficult to know where to begin when you want to branch out from traditional sex toys. Because these household items aren’t necessarily designed for, ahem, intimate use, it's important to not just grab any old household object. Luckily, your search for the perfect pleasure product (that you probably already own!) ends here. These 26 homemade sex toys are all expert-approved, so you know they're both fun and safe to use.
How to Use Homemade Sex Toys Safely
Before you start getting it on with a seemingly ordinary household item, you probably want a little reassurance that doing so isn't going to land you in the ER.
“Generally speaking, it is safe to use household items that are made from body-grade or medical-grade silicone, ABS plastic, stainless steel, or glass,” says Gigi Engle, a sex and relationships psychotherapist and author of Kink Curious. (FYI: These are the materials that the best, highest-quality sex toys are made from, anyway.) Assuming there aren’t any nooks and crannies, items made from these nonporous materials can be completely and easily sanitized ahead of (sexual) use, decreasing the chance of introducing bacteria into your special bits.
Still, if you are using something internally, it’s best to put a condom on it, Engle says. This helps reduce the risk that the vaginal microbiome gets disrupted, which can lead to internal inflammation or yeast infections, and make you more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections.
On the other hand, when it comes to anal play, you cannot just go and put a random household item up the bum. “If you're putting anything in the anus, it's really important that you're only using anal-approved toys with flared bases,” says Engle. The vagina has an anatomical stopping point, called the cervix, that keeps toys from getting stuck—the anal canal does not. If you use a toy without a flared base, the second ring of your anus can open and the product can travel up the digestive tract, she says, which will result in you needing to go to the hospital ASAP.
To avoid that uncomfortable and awkward sitch, let the sex experts' recs guide your DIY desires...
26 Household Items That Double as Sex Toys
For obvious reasons (see: the shape), the cucumber has long been a punch line in jokes about dildos. But far more than quip fodder, the cucumber actually can be used as a dildo, says Engle.
“Just be sure to slide a condom on it ahead of time,” she adds. “Without the condom, there is the risk that you disrupt the vaginal pH and wind up with a yeast infection.” Also, because the cucumber does not have a flared base or any other mechanism that will keep it firmly rooted outside of the body, you should definitely avoid using it anally.
Fresh out of cucumbers? Put your refrigerator's crisper drawer to work! Try a carrot, eggplant, or other phallic-shaped vegetable instead, says Tyomi Morgan, a sexologist in Atlanta. Ultimately, your size and girth preferences are going to be what determines the best vegetable for you.
Once again, a condom is your best friend here, as forgoing one could result in disruption of the vaginal microbiome. Pass.
Want to get down and dirty while getting clean? Easy—just use your removable showerhead as a vibrator by pressing it up against, or spraying water toward, your clitoris, says Rachel Needle, PsyD, a psychologist and sex therapist in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Many [showerheads] can be used at varying pressures and spray settings, so you can experiment with what feels best.”
And if you want a showerhead specifically designed to double as a vibrator, try the Womanizer Wave. It features a water massage clitoral stimulator with three pleasure settings.
Worth mentioning: Regular, non-removable showerheads can be used to enhance shower sex, too, according to Jessica O’Reilly, PhD, a sexologist, author of The New Sex Bible, and host of the Sex With Dr. Jess podcast. They can be used to massage your partner’s back while you soap (or otherwise tease) them elsewhere. Plus, they make for easy cleanup for golden showers and other water sports, she says.
Expand your definition of "vibrator" to include a household item. Whether it’s an electric toothbrush or the bladeless end of an electric razor, put a condom over it and you or a partner can press it against your clitoris, testicles, or butthole, says Eric M. Garrison, a clinical sex counselor and author of Mastering Multiple Position Sex. (If you go the toothbrush route, just make sure to wash it thoroughly before it goes near anyone's mouth.)
A wooden spoon is a perfect DIY toy for impact play because you can go soft or hard, depending on your partner’s preference, says Debra Laino, DHS, a sexologist and sex educator in Wilmington, Delaware. The back of the spoon will deliver a spanking sensation slightly more intense than a palm, adds Engle.
Just don’t let your excitement get the best of you and start smacking without chit-chatting about boundaries ahead of time. And even if your partner has previously expressed that they like a lot of impact, start slow. “Work your way up to more intense strokes. Always ask your partner if something feels good or is too rough,” Engle says. “It can take some time to get your bearings.” Basically, you want to give your partner plenty of time to adjust to the new sensation.
Oh, and avoid using this vaginally or anally, she adds. “You wouldn’t want to wind up with a splinter internally.” Facts!
If you don’t have a wooden spoon, or the receiver prefers a sharper spank, use a silicone spatula for a different sensation, says Morgan.
Enjoy the sensation of having your nipples bitten or pinched? You'll likely like nipple clamps, so why not start with something that’s already in your desk drawer? Behold, the secretly sexy power of paper clips!
These will provide a much more subtle sensation compared to other kinds of nipple clamps, says Garrison. Simply clip them onto your nipples (or a partner's), and see if the sensation is something you're into.
Another DIY clamp option? A chip clip can double as a nipple or skin clamp, says O'Reilly. (Ditto for hair clips.)
But be warned: This sensation can be intense, so make sure the person controlling the clamp releases the two sides gently, and that the person being clamped can use their mouth or hands to communicate if it is too tight.
If you don’t have clip enclosures, another option is to tie chopsticks together with rubber bands. Just make sure to stay away from traditional bamboo chopsticks to avoid uncomfortable and painful splinters.
Behold, another nipple clamp substitute! Clothespins can also work in a pinch, says Rachel Wright, LMFT, New York-based psychotherapist specializing in sex and relationships. They can be used almost anywhere on the body, so get creative, she adds.
Unless they're crotchless, you have to take off your nylons to have sex, so why not involve them in the fun instead of tossing them on the floor?
If you have consent from your partner, use these to tie their wrists and/or ankles for some light bondage, says Needle. Then, you can give them a lap dance, graze parts of your body on their lips, or tease them however you like, she adds.
“All other senses are heightened when sight is deprived,” says Needle. So, taking away someone’s vision can help make every touch, kiss, and lick feel a little more intense.
Good news: You don’t need a sexy silk blindfold. “Just grab a cotton t-shirt from your drawer, slip it over your partner’s head (or yours) like you’re going to put it on for real, and then pull the shirt up so that it’s covering your eyes,” says Engle.
This t-shirt trick is especially good for blindfolding beginners because it's really easy to remove. “If anyone is feeling nervous or uncomfortable, you can slip off that bad boy with little effort,” Engle says.
Maybe your go-to tee is still in the wash when sexy time rolls around. If cotton isn’t an option, a silk shirt will also work, says Terri Vanderlinde, MD, an ob-gyn and sex counselor in Dover, New Hampshire. You can use it as a blindfold, wrap it around your partner's neck to pull them closer to you, or even tie them up with it, she adds.
Another at-home option for beginner-friendly bondage play: A silk tie. Not only do you or your partner likely already own one, but it’s also a safer option than rope, according to Engle.
“Rope is never a great plan for first-time bondage,” she says. “Tying someone up is dangerous and, when done incorrectly, can lead to cutting off the circulation in wrists or ankles.” Of course, you can also make a silk tie too tight, so it’s best to have fabric cutters nearby, just in case.
If ties don’t make an appearance in either your or your partner's daily wardrobe, no big! You can also use a scarf as a blindfold or bondage tool, says Needle. Bonus points if the scarf is silky to the touch, she says, as that material tends to feel sexier than wool.
If you want to take your hand job game to a new level, this tool—er, jewel—is for you. “Slowly wrap it around your partner's penis and jerk them off,” says Laino. “The texture of the pearls gives the penis a very different and unique sensation.” Added pleasure bonus: Kiss and suck on the tip while you’re at it.
Don't already own a pearl necklace? There's no need to splash out on the real deal, especially if you're only planning to use it during sex. A faux necklace will do the trick for a fraction of the price.
Ice Cubes
The beauty of sex toys is that they can help you experience new sensations, like sexy shivers down your spine. Grab an ice cube or two to try temperature play, which is a type of play where you use temperature to heighten sensitivity to touch and sensation, says Engle. Feeling something cold (or hot—more on this below) on or in certain areas sends a shock through the system, she explains. “That shock and surprise increases blood flow and heart rate…only furthering our sexual intensity and desire.”
Your move: Take an ice cube and run it along your partner’s skin. “You can put it on any part of the body, any of your erogenous zones," says Morgan. She suggests using an ice cube to make trails down your partner's body, and then using your breath to emphasize that cool feeling.
Sure, the crescent-shaped cubes that most freezers create will feel good. But just as different dildo shapes can introduce wildly different sensations, so can different ice cube shapes! That’s why Morgan recommends grabbing whatever ice cube trays you have, filling them with water, then using the “cubes” once frozen.
Your stainless steel utensils aren’t just for eating. Pop some (non-sharp) stainless steel silverware in the fridge or freezer. Then, when it’s playtime, bring them out for a little temperature play, says Engle.
Dragging a cold fork along your partner’s back can be an incredible sensation, she adds. Meanwhile, circling their nipples with a frozen spoon and a dab of lubricant can also feel amazing.
No doubt, cold toys can be fun to play with—but so can hot and warm ones! Heat can also ignite your senses, says Engle. In particular, the juxtaposition of the warmth against the cool air of the bedroom can be thrilling, she adds.
One option is to run a washcloth under warm water, wring it out, then drag it all along your partner’s body, letting the cloth leave a trail of hot-hot-hot pleasure in its wake. “Just be sure to test it out on your arm before making contact with the rest of your body to ensure it’s not too hot,” says Engle.
Meet the Experts
- Sara Nasserzadeh, PhD, is a social psychologist who specializes in relationships and author of Love by Design.
- Gigi Engle is a COSRT-certified sex and relationships psychotherapist and author of Kink Curious.
- Tyomi Morgan, ACS, is a certified sexologist in Atlanta.
- Rachel Needle, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist in West Palm Beach, Florida, and the co-director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes.
- Jessica O’Reilly, PhD, is a sexologist, author of The New Sex Bible, and host of the Sex With Dr. Jess podcast.
- Debra Laino, DHS, is a board-certified clinical sexologist and AASECT-certified sex educator in Wilmington, Delaware.
- Terri Vanderlinde, MD, is an ob-gyn and AASECT-certified sex counselor in Dover, New Hampshire.
- Eric M. Garrison is an AASECT-certified clinical sex counselor and author of Mastering Multiple Position Sex.
- Rachel Wright, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex and relationships in New York.
Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) is a sex and wellness journalist who writes at the intersection of queerness, sexual health, and pleasure. In addition to Women’s Health, her work has appeared in publications such as Shape, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Health, Self, Men’s Health, Greatist, and more! In her free time, Gabrielle can be found coaching CrossFit, reviewing pleasure products, hiking with her border collie, or recording episodes of the podcast she co-hosts called
I Tried Lelo’s New Red Light Therapy Vibrator
Enjoy Your Best O Ever With These Clit Vibrators
An Honest Review of the Iconic Magic Wand
An Honest Review of the Maude Vibe Bullet Vibrator
