The Rampant Rabbit is 20 years old this year and to celebrate, Ann Summers decided to find out how much we actually know about sex toys.

Not a lot, it turns out. To set the record straight, here are the 7 things you absolutely need to know about what NOT to do with your sex toys.

1. Never use it as contraception.

A surprising 30% said they think lubricants can also act as a contraceptive and protection from STI's. THEY DON'T! A further 45% wrongly believe that you can't catch a Sexually Transmitted Infection if you share a toy with someone who is infected.YOU CAN. Excuse the caps, but this is an important issue right here. Look after your sexual health peeps.

2. Don't chuck it in the dishwasher…

Yep, apparently this is a thing, people chucking their vibe in with their dirty cottage pie baking dish (yes, we live glamorous culinary lives). Don't believe us? An astounding 40% of Brits believe that sex toys can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Even if they could (which they can't), for the love of God, please stop. Whether it's food juice on your toy or the other way around (ew), just… no.

7 things you should NEVER do with your sex toypinterest
Buzzfeed/webmup

3. …And don't use this stuff either.

Prepare yourselves… 20% of people surveyed admitted to regularly using furniture polish to clean their toy. Unless you plan on selling it on Antiques Roadshow, not necessary (or safe).

Ann Summers recommended that all sex toys are cleaned with specialist antibacterial wipes, because liquids, such as water, chemicals or oil based lubricants, can erode or damage silicone toys. This also means face wipes are a no no.

4. Don't limit your enjoyment…

A third (33%) of Brits claim that using a toy during a woman's period is 'unsafe', but it's fine. As long as you make sure it's cleaned properly before and after, feel free to get your kicks any time of the month.

5. …But don't leave your batteries in.

Okay, you want your sex toys ready to go at any given moment that the horn overtakes you, we get it. But hold on! If you want the battery life to last longer (and let's face it, who doesn't), take the batteries out between each use. Also, saves it turning on when it's in your drawer/suitcase/glove box. Awks.

7 things you should NEVER do with your sex toypinterest
Tumblr

6. Don't replace it with a vegetable.

It might seem like an obvious one, but 45% admitted they have used an 'alternative' method when it comes to self pleasure. Of these, 52% said they've used a vegetable, 20% a home appliance, 10% have used a kitchen utensil and 8% admit to using a candle.

Please stop the madness. Just because there's a toy called the Rabbit, it doesn't mean it's a good idea to get friendly with a carrot.

7. Don't just chuck it away.

Donate it to a charity shop or to a friend in need. Only joking. Surprisingly, a huge 80% think that sex toys can't be recycled after the user is finished with it, but they CAN! And not in a gross way.

Sex toy recycling services are free in all Ann Summers stores, who will recycle the toys on the customer's behalf. The products are sent to approved-recycling centres and are broken down and all recyclable or reusable parts are recovered and reprocessed.

* Ann Summers' survey was carried out among 25-34 years old, of which 67% were female and 32% were male.