Home LivingWellnessAdultHow to clean a sex toyKeep ‘em clean, keep ‘em mean – and, y’know, avoid putting horrible bacteria where it really shouldn’t beWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessAdultHow to clean a sex toyKeep ‘em clean, keep ‘em mean – and, y’know, avoid putting horrible bacteria where it really shouldn’t beWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Keep ‘em clean, keep ‘em mean – and, y’know, avoid putting horrible bacteria where it really shouldn’t be
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: IFONNX Toys / Unsplash)
(Image credit: IFONNX Toys / Unsplash)
If you’ve used a sex toy – whether it be one of thebest sex toys, thebest vibrators, thebest dildosor something else entirely – it’s going to end up warm and damp. It’ll also be covered in bacteria which absolutely loves to thrive in that kind of environment. Depending on where and how you’ve used it, this might be a pretty extensive amount of gross stuff. Later, reintroducing that gunk to your most intimate areas is simply a bad idea.
Using a dirty toy could lead to a risk of fungal or bacterial infection, or a UTI – particularly if you’re dealing with the sensitive chemistry of the vagina or if it may have been introduced to different areas on your previous go-around.
Guys aren’t excused, either. Keeping clean is vital no matter what toy you’re using; check out our guide onhow to clean a Fleshlightto ensure your male-centric toy is sparkling after every use.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean your sex toys.
Basic cleaning tips
After every toy session, or before switching from one place or person to another, wash your toys with a mild soap and warm water. You don’t have to use antibacterial soap, but it may give you extra piece of mind.
Rinse the toy, then allow it to dry thoroughly in the air: place it on a towel while it initially dries, then keep it somewhere cool, dark and dry – a drawer, perhaps – to deal with the final drips.
That’s really all you need to do to keep the majority of pure silicone, steel or glass toys clean, and it’s quite possible to stop there, particularly if you’re saving your toys for your own use. That said, you may want to take extra precautions, so let’s break down other potential cleaning options – these may be helpful if you’re particularly sensitive to infection.
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UV Light
UV-C is a fantastic (and expensive) method for sterilizing toys. b-Vibe produces a UV Sterilizer Pouch for this very reason. Problem is, it’s absolutely useless for actually cleaning them. Exposing a compatible toy to UV light will blast away any bacteria or infection vector, but you’ll need to make sure it’s fully clean first.
Dishwasher
An example of a Sex Toy Care Kit from Lovehoney(Image credit: Lovehoney)
An example of a Sex Toy Care Kit from Lovehoney
An example of a Sex Toy Care Kit from Lovehoney
(Image credit: Lovehoney)
Toy cleaners
Sprays and tinctures for cleaning toys come in all forms, and they’re generally a great idea as long as their formulation matches both your toy and your body. Read the ingredients carefully, because what you’re putting on your toy is also going to be going in your body.
Toy wipes
Many toy manufacturers offer wipes, and these are largely fine for a quick refresh in the middle of a session, but we wouldn’t recommend them as a one-and-done solution. Wash your toy manually after using it, even if you’ve thoroughly wiped it and, again, be careful that the chemistry of any wipes is compatible with that of your toys and body.
Deep cleaning
Sometimes, you’ll want to really get in the corners for a deep clean. Again, the methods you use will depend on the makeup of the toy.
Electronic toys usually need a little more care: since you can’t (or at least you shouldn’t) usually submerge them, give them the most thorough surface cleaning you can, using a toothbrush to get in any crevices.
It’s worth considering bleach for those toys that can’t be boiled. Clean and dry your toy, then spray on a very dilute mix of bleach and water. Leave this for a little while, then thoroughly wash it off and dry the toy.
Alcohol is also effective for extra cleaning. Try to find at least a 75% mix, and spray it on as you would bleach. Allow it to dry (this won’t take long) then wash once again. Bear in mind, though, that some materials (particularly shiny coatings) may not like alcohol, so it could dull the finish or accelerate deterioration.
(Image credit: Anna Shvets / Pexels)
(Image credit: Anna Shvets / Pexels)
Beware porous toys
Not all toys are created equal. If your favourite toy is made of a hard plastic or jelly-like rubber material, it may well have a porous outer. This is an issue: anything which could potentially soak up water could also harbour bacteria, and these kinds of toys (usually from the cheaper end of the market) are very difficult to clean reliably.
In this case, consult the instructions that came with the toy for specific tips. In the absence of these, wash it with a mild antibacterial soap and warm water before – and this is the critical bit – storing it somewhere where it can become fully dry, away from other porous toys. That should be enough to keep the toy safe for personal use.
However, if you’re likely to share with a partner, use it anally, or you’re really susceptible to yeast infections, consider covering any porous toy with thebest condom. This should stop anything untoward getting in into its surface, and all it takes is to switch that condom out, and you’ll be good to put it somewhere else without worry.
When not to clean
There comes a point in every toy’s life when there’s no sense in carrying on. Cleaning can help to reduce stains or odours, but it can’t stop cracks or material damage – in fact, when those things start to happen, a thorough cleaning could make them worse.
If your toy is starting to look tatty, that’s a sign that you’re really not going to be able to get it fully clean. It’s absolutely time to retire it and get yourself an upgrade. Perhaps we can interest you in some of thebest sex toysand thebest sex toys for menas a replacement?
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We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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