While most battery powered vibrators come with a built in obsolescence, there are a few key things you can do to extend the life of your toy.

1. Don't Run It Too Long

With very few exceptions, most vibrators should only be run for 20-30 minutes at a time. The motors are small and need to cool down. They can overheat easily, and even if you do not it out the first time, the wear on the motor reduces the life span of the toy.

2. Remove the Batteries When Not In Use

This is important for two reasons. Firstly, it prevents you from leaving the vibrator on accidentally, which will burn out the motor. It also reduces the chance of the batteries corroding inside the vibrator, which will usually mean the end of the toy.

3. Use Condoms on a Plain Rubber Vibrator

If your vibrator is not made of silicone and is not hard plastic, it is likely made of an inexpensive, porous form of rubber mix. These toys are notoriously hard to keep clean, and they can get dirty and stay dirty from regular use. Using a condom on these toys will both reduce your chance of reacting to the material and make the material last longer as you won't have to be scrubbing it after each use.

4. Be Gentle

With attachment cords and battery caps it's important to be gentle with your toys. Don't pull on the cords, and never use a cord to retrieve a toy! Make sure not to screw the caps on too tight. If the cap is in two parts (often they are red and black) make sure to only use the dial to adjust the speed, not to open and close the toy.

5. Watch the Seal on Waterproof Toys

More and more vibrators are waterproof these days. This is made possible by a rubber O-ring that fits along the rim of the vibrator. Once the O-ring breaks your toy is no longer waterproof and you either need to keep it out of the water or replace the o-ring.