Any toys made of wood (we're mostly talking about paddles here) need to be maintained if you want to keep them for a long time. Most paddles are coated with some form of varnish and, depending on how many coats were originally applied and how often you use it, the varnish can eventually wear thin or bare in some areas.

VARNISHED WOOD

Most of our paddles are made from exotic woods (some are made from poplar) and all have been sealed with a high quality varnish . This not only seals the porous woods from unwanted bacteria but it also brings out the beautiful colors of the wood. Very little care will need to be taken with these paddles other than wiping them with a disinfectant wipe after use. Please look at the description of each paddle to determine the hardness of the wood. Some paddles, such as lacewood, are not recommended for hard play. If you use a lacewood paddle with strong force, it will break. These paddles are used for erotic play with soft to medium force. Other woods like padouk and maple are good for harder force. You may need to re-varnish your paddle someday but it will take a lot of playing and possibly several years before that happens. If it does, follow these instructions:

1. When you notice the varnish wearing thin, hand sand the entire paddle with a fine grit sandpaper (between 100 and 150 grit works well). If there is a wrapped handle, you need to make the decision to leave it alone or remove and replace it. If it is leather, please refer to our section on leather cleaning.

2. Wipe down the entire paddle with a damp cloth/rag to remove any dust.

3. Most varnishes can be used but we recommend using a marine grade, UV resistant Spar polyurethane. Try to find one that goes on clear. Most varnishes have an amber colored hue to them and can change the color of the wood from its' natural shades. Paint a thin coat of polyurethane or varnish over the entire paddle (you may find it easier to do one half or one side of the paddle at a time to make drying easier and cleaner). A good quality sponge brush works well, just watch for air bubbles in the varnish from the sponge. Follow all the appropriate safety and application instructions of the product you are using.

4. Once dry, lightly sand the paddle with an extra fine grit sandpaper (220 grit works well).

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining coats. The polyurethane product should have a recommended number of coats (typically 2 or 3 is good).

6. Replace handle if needed and have fun!

This type of maintenance generally only needs to be done once every two or three years but, again, it depends on storage and frequency of use.

UNVARNISHED WOOD

For wood that has not been varnished, extra care needs to be taken for the sake of safety more than anything else. Non-varnished wood can splinter easier than wood with varnish and wood is very porous, making it easy to trap all kinds of bacteria and germs.

We highly recommend that you varnish your paddle unless it is used exclusively on one person. These paddles should be cleaned with antibacterial wipes after each use and checked periodically for rough edges or splinters. They can be sanded with a fine grit sandpaper such as 200 grit. Always sand in the direction of the grain for best and smoothest results. If an unvarnished paddle comes in contact with bodily fluids, especially blood, it should be cleaned with an antibacterial spray as best as possible and then sanded to remove any stains. The paddle should then be placed in a tightly tied bag and stored for at least 21 days to kill off any bacteria soaked into the wood that was missed. Do not play with bloody toys. It isn't worth it!

©The Leather Girls