What does an 18+ article cost after purchase? Cleaning product, lubricant and batteries included
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
The purchase price is on the product page, but subsequent costs are not. We pass on the cost of cleaner, lubricant, batteries, and storage at a yearly rate — with actual prices per milliliter.
The price of an 18+ article is prominently displayed on the product page. The subsequent costs are not: the cleaner you use with it, the lubricant that goes with it, the batteries that are replaced twice a year, and the bag or box it’s stored in. Individually, these are all small expenses. But added up over a year, it quickly amounts to a sum larger than you might expect — and to choices you can easily make differently.
Below, we calculate this using products and prices as they are currently in the store. The quantities we use are an example: enter your own usage, and you'll have your own total within five minutes.
The four recurring cost items
For almost every item with a motor or made of soft material, the same four cost items recur:
Cleaning — toy cleaner or a neutral wash gel, plus water.
Lubricant — hardly any for some items, every time for others.
Power — separate batteries or a charging cable that needs to keep working.
Storage and replacement — a bag or box, and eventually a new item.
The first two items are consumables: you buy them again. The third is partly a one-time expense. The fourth determines how long the item itself lasts, and thus represents the largest cost item of all.
Cleaning: calculate in milliliters, not bottles
You buy toy cleaner by the bottle, but you use it per spray. Therefore, compare by price per milliliter, just as you would with toothpaste or dish soap.
The difference between the two cleaners is small; the difference with a large bottle of wash gel is significant, simply because you are buying more volume. Be mindful of what you use it for: a toy cleaner is intended for the item, a wash gel for yourself. These are two different things, and you don't simply substitute one for the other.
What you consume per use depends on the size of the item. For a calculation example, assume two sprays per use and two uses per week: then a 150 ml bottle will last you more than half a year. Two bottles per year is then a realistic assumption, or about € 18.
Lubricant: size determines the price, not the brand
For lubricants, the price per milliliter varies widely, and not always in the direction you'd expect. A few examples from the range:
The difference between the cheapest and most expensive example in this table is more than a factor of two. If you use three milliliters per use and twice a week, you're looking at roughly 300 ml per year: two 150 ml bottles. At € 4.15 per bottle, that's just over € 8 per year; at € 9.95, it's almost € 20.
If you're buying in bulk for a group, a store, or a goodie bag, the calculation is different. A box of Lubricant Sachets 7 ml - 120 pieces costs € 59.95, or exactly € 0.50 per sachet. Per milliliter, that's more expensive than a bottle, but you're buying something different here: single-use, sealed portions that you can distribute or give away.
Power: batteries are the silent cost
If your item runs on AAA batteries, the package size determines what you spend. A set of Dynamic Energy batteries R03 AAA 16 pieces costs € 5.95, or about € 0.37 each. A pack of Panasonic AAA Zinc 4 pieces costs € 9.95. That's a difference you notice as soon as you have multiple devices in your home.
For an item that charges via USB, this cost is eliminated, but another risk arises: the cable. A cable that kinks at the plug is the most common reason a rechargeable device seems "broken." A set of Cable Protectors - Set of 4 costs € 1.95 and largely prevents that problem. If you don't want to rely on a nearby power outlet, a Powerbank 3000mAh for € 14.95 is a one-time purchase you'll use for more things.
Calculated over a year
If you list the items for someone who uses one product regularly, it looks something like this:
Item
Economical option
Generous option
Toy cleaner (2 bottles)
€ 17,90
€ 17,90
Lubricant (2 x 150 ml bottles)
€ 8,30
€ 19,90
Batteries (8 AAA pieces)
€ 2,98
€ 19,90
Total per year
approx. € 29
approx. € 58
So the difference is not in what you use, but in the format and package size you buy. Around thirty euros a year in consumption is a realistic figure for most people — and that's precisely the amount you can factor into your purchase decision.
What yields the biggest saving
Not the lubricant and not the batteries, but the lifespan of the item itself. An item that you rinse after each use, store dry, and don't leave loose in a drawer will simply last longer. A separate bag or a lidded box prevents scratches, dust, and contact with other materials. That costs a few euros once and, in the best case, saves an entire new purchase.
Two practical rules: do not store items made of soft material against each other, and do not leave batteries in a device you are not using for months. Both cost you nothing, and both prevent the most common reason for replacement.
How to do your own calculation
Note down three figures: how often you use something per week, approximately how many milliliters of lubricant you need, and whether the device runs on batteries or via USB. Multiply by the prices per milliliter and per battery above. You'll then have an annual amount that matches your situation instead of an average.
If you want to look further: the complete range of cleaners is under Toy Cleaners, bottles and gels under Lubricants, care products under Intimate Hygiene, and separate batteries, power banks, and cables under Batteries & Chargers. The full 18+ assortment can be found in the Erotic collection. If you are unsure which size suits your use or want to know what stock is available for an item, feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we are happy to help you calculate it.
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