Cleaning your sex toys: a complete guide
Once you find the perfect sex toy, you naturally want it to last as long as possible. You also want to keep your toys as clean as possible to prevent nasty infections or even STDs. We’ll give you all the dos and don’ts when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your sex toy!
This article includes:
- The basic rules – what you should always do!
- Cleaning sex toys: this is how you do it!
- Cleaning masturbators
- Taking care of your sex toy
The basic rules – what you should always do!
Most people set their toys aside right after using them, only to find a few days later that they still need to clean them. Avoid doing this at all costs! If you don’t clean your toy right away, the material it’s made of can become damaged. And of course, you don’t want any mould to develop inside or on your sex toy!
When buying a sex toy, we recommend inspecting it thoroughly before using it. Chances are small, but it’s possible that your toy could have. minor damage or sharp edges due to a manufacturing defect. Also, bacteria can find its way into small holes and cause nasty infections. So remember to always do a check first!
Sharing a sex toy?
Do you want to share the sex toy with your roommate? Then make sure it’s a non-porous sex toy. Porous products (those made of jelly, cyberskin, or rubber) are often soft and have small openings or pores in the material where bacteria can settle. Only when using a non-porous toy can you be sure that you cannot transmit an STI after cleaning the toy.
“Porous products (those made of jelly, cyberskin, or rubber) are often soft and have small openings or pores in the material where bacteria can settle.”
Cleaning sex toys: this is how you do it!
Not every sex toy needs to be cleaned in the same way. Below we discuss the different sex toys and the cleaning methods that are right for them.
💧A toy cleaner
There are sex toy cleaners on the market. A toy cleaner often comes in a bottle with which you can easily apply the cleaning agent to the toy. A toy cleaner contains no alcohol, but has an antibacterial ingredient that combats unpleasant odours, fungi and bacteria.
Apply the toy cleaner to the toy and use a cloth to rub it. Let the toy cleaner soak in for about a minute before you rinse it off. You want to make sure that no antibacterial substance is left on the toy. Then, dry the toy with a clean cloth and your toy is ready for use again!
💧The dishwasher
Many sex toys can also be cleaned in your dishwasher! Electric sex toys such as vibrators are not suitable for the dishwasher, as it damages the electrical parts. Dildos and butt plugs generally tolerate the dishwasher best. If you want to be sure that all bacteria are killed, use your dishwasher’s hot programme (65 degrees or higher).
Do not use a dishwasher tablet if you want to clean your toy in the dishwasher. The chemical components in such tablets can damage the material of your toy.
Please note! Electric and porous sex toys cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher.
💧Water and mild soap
The easiest way to clean your toys is with warm tap water. Hold your toy under the warm tap immediately after use, using mild soap if necessary. An antibacterial soap like Dettol also works well. Make sure you rinse the toy thoroughly after cleaning. It’s very unpleasant to get antibacterial soap on or inside of your sensitive parts! Ridges and indentations are places where dirt can easily get stuck. It’s best to use a cotton swab to make sure these areas are completely clean.
💧Antibacterial wipes
Cleaning your sex toy with an antibacterial wipe is a quick and effective way to keep things clean. It doesn’t matter what material your sex toy is made of. Wipe the sex toy with the cloth and rinse with warm water. Dry the toy with a clean cloth or some kitchen roll and you’re done!
💧Boiling
To kill any bacteria, you can also boil your sex toy in water. Put the toy in a pan of boiling water and boil it for about 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure the toy doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan to avoid burning it.
Be careful with glass sex toys. These often can’t be exposed to high temperatures for too long. Leave a glass sex toy in the boiling water for a maximum of 1 minute if you want to clean it this way
Please note! Keep in mind that some toys are not waterproof. Porous toys are also not suitable for boiling.
Cleaning masturbators
Cleaning a masturbator requires a slightly different approach. Masturbators are best turned inside out to properly clean the inside. Next, apply a toy cleaner to the inside of the toy before rinsing it off with warm water.
Wipe the toy with a dry cloth and let it dry in a well-ventilated room. If the inside of the toy is not properly dry, there’s a risk that mould could grow. Do you see black dots on the inside? That’s a sign of mould. If this is the case, you have no choice but to throw your toy away.
Taking care of your sex toy
Watch out with batteries
Always remove the batteries before cleaning your sex toy. You don’t want these to corrode. Water can seriously damage the electronics of your electric sex toy.
Lubricant
Naturally, lube and sex toys are a good combination. However, be careful not to combine silicone toys with a silicone-based lubricant. The silicone lubricant affects the material of the toy, making it harder to keep your toy clean. Do you use a silicone toy? Then always use a water-based lubricant.
Storing your sex toy
Remember, if you don’t choose where you store your sex toy carefully after cleaning, it can attract a lot of dust and hair. To avoid this, we recommend buying a storage bag. Do you want to store several toys in one bag? Only do this with toys that are 100% silicone. Plastic toys, for example, can stick to each other when they’re touching. For optimal cleanliness, it’s best to keep each toy in its own storage bag.
How do you keep your sex toys spick and span? Share your cleaning tips in a comment below!
Respond or ask a question
3 comments
March 30, 2021 6:22 pm
Very nice article with great tips.
February 10, 2022 8:24 am
Is there a way to speed up the drying process for masturbators
February 11, 2022 11:39 am
Hi Dombresky,
If you can turn your masturbator sleeve inside out, you can use a clean and lint-free cloth to dab it dry. However, if that’s not possible, you just have to let it dry on its own. Make sure the room is ventilated, but not too cold to speed up this process. Never place your masturbator on the radiator and don’t use a hair dryer. This can damage the material.
Good luck!