Curious situation with my Aneros Syn model

Have you washed it yet? If so, how did it come out? If not, let us know when you do.

@cr4zyOne, more info:
What lube do you use.
Have you tried cleaning it with rubbing alcohol
Have you tried soaking/ washing it in vinegar and baking powder.
Is the surface pitted.
Is the box clean.
Why salt?
Looks like a fungal infection, ?try an anti fungal cream?
Silicone is very resilient except to silicone lubricants

Lol have you photo shopped an image of an underwater aneros? Somehow i don't belive this, but if i am wrong "DO NOT" use that aneros anymore return them and get refund. That is an odd occurrence. Also where did you buy them? The Aneros co. should be alerted to this.

When I click on the image to zoom in, I see crystals, mostly triangular, some rhomboid, but certainly not fungus-like spots. This looks suspicious, but I'll play along...

I wash with soap and water, then use olive oil as a very mild solvent, rub it well with my fingers (but not scrape with fingernails), then wash again with soap and water to remove the oil, blot-dry with a soft cloth, wrap it in a dry soft cloth, and store it where air can circulate, not in an enclosed space. Don't store it with salt, talc, or any other powders. After two months, my Eupho Syn and Helix Syn still look (and smell) like brand new.

Let us know if that helps!

Strange for sure. I would sterilize it some how before using again.

looks like crystals are forming on the syn, possibly from that packet you have under it? You don't need that thing, no telling how it is reacting with the silicone. Do a rewash and dry it out and wait a day and see if it stays normal.

DO NOT EXPOSE ANY SILICONE TO ALCOHOL OF ANY TYPE!!! Although it says silicone it may not be 100% silicone and could actually be silicone rubber. The rubber WILL break down once exposed to alcohol.

Teeder

@Teeder, we absolutely use 100% medical grade silicone which is certified.

@cr4zyOne, I have never seen anything like this before and truly apologize for this issue, regardless of what caused it. Please send an email to support [at] aneros.com so that we can provide instructions to return to us and replace it under warranty as well as further test the item to see what may have caused this.

@Teeder,
I've used isopropyl alcohol as an occasional wipe on my 'SYN', 'VICE' & 'DeVice' models since I received them and have not detected any deleterious effects from such use. Could you please provide a link to any literature citing negative effects of silicone-alcohol interaction. I found this link which did not indicate any problem. I also found this quote : "Silicone rubber also has excellent resistance to solvents and other chemicals. It is essentially unaffected by polar organic compounds (aniline, alcohol, etc.) or dilute acids or bases, with the increase in volume due to swelling in the range of only 10%–15%." (see pg. 6 of Characteristic properties of Silicone Rubber Compounds). I don't want our readership to be unnecessarily alarmed that their cleaning regime may prove harmful to their marvelous little massagers.
Good Vibes to You !

Why does he store his Aneros in the freezer?!?!!!

I can clearly see that that are ice crystals....

Thanks for your replies so far.


I try to answer all of you:


@isvara: Since I got my Syn Models I only use shea butter ( http://www.amazon.de/Bio-Sheabutter-unraffiniert-Organisch-zertifiziert/dp/B008CP13HO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400791482&sr=8-1&keywords=shea+butter ) with coconut oil. For insertion sometimes a little water based ID Glide.
Yesterday I washed the Eupho really thoroughly with warm water and soap (about 3 times), then used an alcohol spay (the kind doctors use to desinfect skin).
After washing the surface looked normal. Also the box was clean, normally it is used to store food. I only took it because I thought it was influenced from the outside (bacteria or fungus in the air).
The "salt pack" (I dont know the right term for it) is used to keep something dry, mostly you (or better I) get them with electronic articles like hard drives.
I never gave vinegar and baking powder a try. Actually its the first time I hear about it as an option. I read the posts about 'how to clean your aneros' and I remember most of the forum members agreed water and soap would do the job quiet good.
But as you mention it. After all the washing, I smelled on the device. I still smelled slightly like shea butter. Maybe it isnt clean after all.




@trei: unfortunately it is NOT a joke. I wouldnt bother any of you if it isnt important to me.
I dont think that the problem is with the aneros surface itself. Both my Syn Models have that problem. I bought them last year here on aneros.com.
I also checked my traditional Helix and MGX, both never had such stain on them.


@thruster: will the oil help to remove shea butter leftovers? I will give it a try.
Storing it in the box with the salt pack was a test. Before I stored it in a cupboard in our bedroom. I guess the air cant circulate there very good either. But cant let it lie around, because someone might see it.


@inverknew: I hope the alcohol spray helped. It looked clean anyways and I used it yesterday. Maybe I shouldn't, but was looking forward to this session so bad, so I just had to.


@CT: Thank you I will send you an email. I hope this helps to find out what causes it.


@akira: I dont...

@cr4zyOne the salt bag as you call it is actually Silica. I have not read up on it but I would say it would be toxic. At the very least ingested.Yes it is used to remove moisture from electronic goods. I used to see thousands of them in the electronics industry.
I have seen these crystal formations on the surface of electronic goods too, not to say that it is the same.
Would suggest storage would be best in a plastic container with no lid and no Silica.
Take CT up on his offer as he is the CEO of Aneros.com

I understand you tried lots of things, maybe it is a good idea to just start a fresh.

Something about this is quite malodorous! Methinks this may be the result of butthole chemistry (home made lube making). This could also be some sort of ruse. JMO

I had the same thing happen to my Syn. It seemed to happen after having used vaseline. I cleaned them again and have not had the problem since. I figured there was an oily coating that didn't wipe off unless I used hot water and soap rather than just water and soap.

A while back I remember someone else posting that their Syn had some residue after drying like this as well.

@cr4zyOne,careful viewing of your photo shows that the little bag that the Eupho is resting on is marked "SILICA GEL". This is a well known and commonly used desiccant, used to prevent deterioration of all sorts of goods, by moisture. I even find a little pack of it is enclosed in the container of one of my medications, (pills for hypertension), so I very much doubt it is poisonous or toxic.

I did wonder if some of the crystals in the packet might have migrated to the surface of the tool and are simply sticking to it.

BTW, I did find that the surface of my SYN tools seemed to have a thin whitish film on them after a few days of not being used. Like you, I am an exclusive user of shea butter as my preferred lube, but I have found that, after a few months, the problem simply seemed to go away, as did the odour!

@Pommie static cling from the silicone, I can see that possibly

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@Anerico


What do you mean everything?
Do you think I throw my Aneros in acid, or what? Thats ridiculous.


You're calling me a liar? Why because I had problems with the coating of the Syn before? That's why I started a threat back then. To ask the forum why it could have happened.
I learned that vaseline might be bad for the coating, so I stopped using it.
Did you read here. I have 2 Syn Models and both have the same problem.
Of course I still use my Eupho Syn. After a few washings I couldnt even see
My Helix Syn on the other hand was never in contact with vaseline or with condoms as you mention.
BTW I never said that my condoms are silicon lubed.


Anyways lets say you are right. Can silicon lubed condoms or vaseline grow white cristals on a device? I dont think so.
Just because you dont know how to explain doesnt mean someone is lying.




@Pommie: Yes youre right. It is silica gel. But I read in wikipedia that only the blue silica crystals are harmful. Thank god.
I truely beliefed it was some sort of salt. Next time I have to be carefull though.

@cr4zyOne. Do you scrub the SYN. Try using soap and a nail brush give it a good frothing brush to get through to the silicone surface, then dry with a tissues.
Is the surface at all pitted? It should be very smooth.
I just used left over shaving foam on mine while I'm in the shower.
Every now and then I coat mine with tree tree antiseptic cream, leave for a while, wash off.

just as a side note, I use A&D ointment on my eupho syn all the time, no damage whatsoever.

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For now the devices are both clean and look ok. They lie on a shelf in a good ventilated room. Last time I used the Syn in the pic was about 1-2 weeks ago.
I will wait and see what happens.




@isvara
No pits, the skin is smooth. During washing the water just rolls off the skin, which is btw a very nice effect the silicon has.
I have one like this http://www.amazon.de/Hofmeister-Holzwaren-Nagelbürste-Handwaschbürste-Fibre/dp/B002L1I972/ref=pd_sim_beauty_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=148YGF3RAMFRRHTYYK1K
But its kinda stiff bristled. I wonder if it's good for the coating. Maybe I can get a softer one. I'll keep in mind for the future, thanks.




@Anerico
I remeber your "lot of bullshit advice" threat. You seem to be the kind of guy likes to use strong words to act up. I wont get offended by that.
Dont bother to post in any of my threat again. I wont pay attention to your "
".

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Some time has past since my last post and I just want to inform you and put some things right.


First I want to apologize for the bad title again. I can see why some forum members were offended. I wasn't meant to blur the reputition of the Aneros Company. That was not my intention.
I just wanted to get opinions on the situation. I was shocked, afraid and in a rush for answers. So I started this threat without thinking long enough for a fitting title.
So let me say it again: IMO it is not the fault of Aneros Company.


With that said I want to ask a forum official to change the title to a more fitting and less offending one.


I'm thankfull for all the help though. I used the nailbrush (+ warm water + soup) to clean and the result were much better.
But I do need to wash the Aneros twice (directly after use) and the white dots dont grow (so far). So it must have something to do with stain that is left there.
That is also the reason I didnt send the device in. I wanted to at first, but since AneRico accused me I changed my mind. I dont want to cost the comany money (and get something for free), because it is not their fault.
Even though I would want to know what exactly is causing them white dots to grow, even more since I am the first one with that issue.




I think this discussion here wouldnt have gone so far without the barrier of speech, since english is not my mothertongue.

I can also confirm having this happen to me as well with my Helix Syn!

I have also made the observation that, it looks more crystalline than organic/moldy, and seems to dissapear slowly when run under hot water.
I was under the assumption that it is caused by oil based lubes (particularly Vaseline) that are not easily scrubbed clean off the silicone and harden/dry/crystallize in a peculiar way.
However, the fact that it seems so rare for others to experience this effect,
considering how popular Vaseline or other oil lubes seems to be, I am
less sure about this..

After the times it has happened I have made efforts to make sure the device is sterile (boiling or bleach). And very thorough cleaning/sterilization seems to stop it from happening.
I think I might try to replicate this effect by using vaseline or even coconut oil and not scrubbing well enough, but I also would like to know if anyone else has any more hypotheses.

I don't think this has anything to do with the Silica packet, as I don't store mine with Silica, and I'm no scientist but those packets are filled with Beads which soak up moisture, they aren't tiny salt crystals. Also I believe their danger to health has more to do with swallowing a ton of moisture-sucking beads than the chemical they're made of (Although the blue colour-changing ones ARE bad but are mostly not used for things anymore)