So, you just bought your first sex toy. Great decision! You’re probably thinking about how you’re going to enjoy it. Aren’t you? How about some temperature play? Or maybe pair it with your lover’s interactive toy? The possibilities are endless. But how about properly cleaning them? I bet it isn’t in your head. Fair enough, most people don’t think about cleaning when buying one, and heading down to the sink after a steamy session is the last thing on your mind.
No worries. This guide will focus on cleaning different materials and how often you should do it. We’ll also look into dedicated cleaning products and some do’s and don’t’s. So, read on.
Table Of Contents
- Find Out The Material And If It Has A Motor
- Cleaning Non-Porous Sex Toys
- Cleaning Porous Sex Toys
- How Often Should I Clean My Sex Toys?
- What About Sex Toy Cleaners?
- Can I Clean Them In A Dishwasher?
- Can I Clean Them With UV light?
- How Can I Clean A Vibrating Model?
- How To Clean Anal Sex Toys?
- How Should I Store Them Correctly?
Find Out The Material And If It Has A Motor
Your sex toy’s material determines what cleaning method to use. So, you’ll have to start by establishing yours before matching it with the proper cleaning technique.
To find out the material, check the manufacturer’s instructions or liaise with the sex toy store. It can either be porous – Acrylic, Cyberskin, TPE, TPR (Thermoplastic Elastomer), PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), or non-porous – Silicone, Glass, or Stainless Steel.
- Porous materials have microscopic air holes that trap water, dust, bodily fluids, and anything else the sex toys come into contact with. For this reason, cleaning is more challenging because you have to completely dry them to avoid bacteria replication in the tiny holes. Poor cleaning techniques can transfer bacteria, fungi, and dirt to your private parts, ultimately causing yeast infections, among other nasty things. So, dampen a clean cloth with warm water and mild, antibacterial soap/sex toy cleaner mix and wipe off any visible dirt marks.
- On the other hand, non-porous materials are easy to clean, and you can easily submerge them in water to simplify the process. You can even soak heat-resistant porous materials like silicone and stainless steel in water to sterilize them.
- How to clean a vibrator with a motor? For motorized products, consider wiping them with a damp cloth. Submerging motorized sex toys in water can cause damage.
I recommend buying only non-porous and medical-grade products to simplify cleaning your sex toys and keep your privates safe and infection-free.
Cleaning Non-Porous Sex Toys
1. Medical-Grade Silicone
Silicone is the best sex toy material because its flexible and non-porous qualities make it realistic and easy to maintain. Unlike other materials that might require special care, you only need hot water and mild antibacterial unscented soap.
Note: Don’t use scented soap because it can affect your vagina’s delicate PH balance.
For waterproof and non-motorized silicone sex toys, wash with hot water and mild soap before running tap water for about 20 seconds to rinse. For motorized and non-waterproof silicone toys, use a damp soapy washcloth to wipe the toy clean.
Silicone is also heat-resistant, making it easy to sterilize with hot water. Just boil the silicone toy for 10 minutes – non-motorized only.
Squirting sex toys: These products have internal tubing, meaning you’ll have crevices and hard-to-reach places to clean. So, check to confirm the toy has a way to flash soap water through for easy cleaning. Some squirting dildos come with tools to help clean out the crevices.
Pro Tip: For dildos with ridges and nodules, you can use a toothbrush to clean those.
2. Borosilicate Glass
Like silicone, wash your glass sex toys with mild antibacterial unscented soap and warm water before rinsing the glass toys with clean, running water.
I recommend going for borosilicate and annealed glass as it’s durable on its own and won’t crack easily. The annealing process subjects the material to thermal treatment and a slow cooling process, making it more heat-resistant. This way, you can be sure it won’t crack anytime soon, and you can sterilize it with boiling water. You can also use a 10% bleach solution to disinfect glass before rinsing it with clean water to wipe off any bleach residues.
Note: Inspect your glass dildo every time before use to ensure it’s smooth and crack-free. Any cracks and chips can store bacteria or cut you during use. Also, don’t expose it to extreme temperatures –10 minutes in boiling water is enough. Lastly, remember to place a washcloth in the water to prevent direct contact with the container that can cause scraping.
3. Stainless Steel
Medical-grade stainless steel is another non-porous material preferred by luxurious and temperature play enthusiasts. Its smooth and rust-free finish makes cleaning and overall maintenance very easy.
Simply wash it with mild antibacterial unscented soap and water or a sex toy cleaner. Once clean, rinse with running water for a sparkling clean shine.
If you want to go all the way, soak the steel toys in boiling water for 10 minutes. You can also soak it in bleach and water solution – 1:10 ratio for disinfection.
Note: Ensure you confirm the material before using a bleach solution. The highly corrosive solution can initiate rusting and material damage when used on poor-quality materials. If you are unsure about the quality, do not use it.
4. Wood Toys
Unlike the previous three non-porous materials, wood sex toys are usually coated with specific finishes. I recommend finding out which finish yours has before buying.
Some finishes last longer than others. For instance, oil finishes wear off a lot faster than polyurethane.
In terms of cleaning, you only need water and a mild antibacterial unscented soap for your wood toy. Most importantly, never use hot water, alcohol, or bleach solution to avoid damaging the wood.
5. ABS Plastic
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is hard plastic. Dampen a clean cotton cloth with warm water – mild soap solution and wipe the toy clean. Then, rinse the cloth and wipe it clean before leaving it to air dry.
The only precaution? Never boil it or use alcohol to disinfect it. Boiling hard plastic causes material deformation, while using alcohol degrades the plastic’s shiny luster.
Cleaning Porous Sex Toys
1. Acrylic
For acrylic sex toys, wash with warm and mild soap water. The material is porous, and I’d recommend soaking a soft cotton cloth in soapy water and wiping the toy. Rinse the cloth and wipe gently.
2. Cyberskin/Ultraskin/Softskin
Sex toy manufacturers sometimes use Cyberskin material in cock rings and dildos, mainly because of its lightweight, human skin-like feel. As far as cleaning goes, use mild, antibacterial soap and warm water to gently wipe off visible dirt marks. You can also wipe it with alcohol regularly for disinfection purposes – alcohol won’t leave residue marks.
Pro Tip: Like any other porous toy, completely drying your sex toys after cleaning is crucial. I recommend air drying it or using a clean, lint-free towel or paper wipes if you have to.
Storing porous toys before they are completely dry promotes bacteria and mold multiplication, which can cause a yeast infection. Once it’s dry, sprinkle a little Renewing Powder or cornstarch to prevent the material from getting sticky.
3. Elastomer/TPR/TPE
As you’d expect, cleaning elastomers and thermoplastic rubber can be challenging because of their high porosity nature. Regardless of how much you clean, it’s nearly impossible to remove all the gunk from the deep-lying pores.
The warm water and mild, antibacterial soap mix do the trick here, but I highly warn against elastomers. The material is highly porous and unhygienic.
4. Jelly
Probably, the least favorite material on the market, jelly rubber, is porous and smelly. In addition, jelly toys have phthalates/added minerals that can irritate the skin. Unsurprisingly, most serious sex shops have stopped selling them by now.
Wipe with a soapy cloth and warm water. After drying it thoroughly, store the adult toys separately because it can cause chemical reactions with other materials like rubber, ultimately degrading the toy’s material.
5. Leather
Sex toy brands sometimes use leather on straps for strap-on harnesses and slings because of how soft and comfortable it feels on the skin.
Use a damp soapy cloth to clean the leather. For additional toy care, you can also wipe it with 70% isopropyl alcohol regularly for a ‘brutal’ cleaning experience.
Note: Avoid submerging them in water. When you submerge leather in water, the natural oil in the material binds water molecules together. Then, as the water dries up, it evaporates with the oil. Thus leather loses its natural suppleness giving it a brittle feel and look.
6. Neoprene
Wash the material with mild soap and warm water before air-drying it. Also, store in a clean, cool, and dry place.
7. Nylon
The best thing about nylon is you can hand wash it or use a machine. However, if washing with a machine, use a cold water setting and a gentle cycle to protect the material’s integrity.
8. Vinyl
Wipe with a soapy cloth. For disinfection, wipe the vinyl with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
How Often Should I Clean My Sex Toys?
You should always clean them as soon as you’re done using them. However, I also recommend doing it before every use. For instance, if you rarely use the toy and might have gathered dust in storage, it’d be a great idea to clean it before every use. You should also wash new sex toys before the very first use after delivery.
What About Sex Toy Cleaners?
Brand sex toy cleaners are just as good as your mild antibacterial soap but useful for a quick cleaning experience. It doesn’t hurt to have a bottle with you, but that doesn’t mean making it your primary cleaning agent.
If you decide to buy one, make sure it’s water-based, alcohol-free, and paraben-free. I recommend the spotless Lelo Premium Cleaning Sex Toy Cleaner Spray.
Can I Clean Them In A Dishwasher?
No. I don’t recommend tossing your sex toy in the dishwasher because the dish soap leaves a residue on the material, which can cause infections in your sweet spots. What’s more, not all materials can withstand the heat!
Can I Clean Them With UV light?
Like alcohol and bleach solution, you can use UV light as a disinfectant for your sex toy. So, yes. You can disinfect your sex toy with a UV light after cleaning. Protect yourself from germs and infections with UveeClean.
How Can I Clean A Vibrating Model?
For battery-operated toys, start by removing them first and closing the lid before wiping it with a damp cloth. Open the cover again and leave the toy to air dry.
If it’s USB rechargeable, check if it’s waterproof or not. Clean under running water if it’s waterproof, and wipe it clean with a soapy cloth if it’s not.
How To Clean Anal Sex Toys?
You need to take particularly good care of your anal sex toys, like butt plugs and anal beads, because you use them in the anal cavity. In addition, never share them with your partner before cleaning them, and it’s always a good idea to use a condom.
Wash your anal toy with warm water and antibacterial soap. After rinsing, ensure all lube and fecal matter are completely removed and that the device has no smell except the natural silicone odor. Dry your nonporous toys with a paper towel and let them air dry for a bit. Store them separately.
How Should I Store Them Correctly?
When it comes to storage, you should be aware that certain toys can’t be stored together, as materials can react and warp the surface if they’re touching.
For instance, you should never store rubber and jelly plastic together because they may react. However, if you’re using a glass or metal toy, there are no risks to storing them together.
If you’d rather be on the safe side, we recommend that you separate them using a toy bag, small pillowcase, makeup bag, or a clean sock. Or better still, have separate storage boxes for all your sex life toys.
The storage space should be clean, cool, dry, and not directly exposed to sunlight. Direct exposure to sunlight may discolor or damage the material, and your bedside drawer is a good place. Also, make sure the toy dries before storage. More on how to store sex toys here.
For vibrating sex toys: remove the batteries when storing them. Batteries tend to leak, which could damage the product.
Thanks for reading 🙂
/Rachel
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