Let's talk about keeping your toys clean and safe for use.
Cleaning your sex toys before and after each use is essential to avoid bacterial infections like yeast infections, UTIs or bacterial vaginosis, or transmission of STIs. Contrary to popular belief, STIs can in fact be transmitted by sharing sex toys. While some STIs die once bodily fluid dries, others like hepatitis and scabies can live for weeks or even months outside of the body. Sex toys come in contact with intimate areas of the body that can harbor harmful pathogens if not properly cleaned. Keeping your sex toys clean promotes good hygiene and sexual health, and also extends the lifespan of your toys by preventing material degradation.
The following guide will give a general overview on how to clean different types of toys. This guide is not meant to replace the manufacturers instructions on how to clean specific toys. Always read the instructions!
HOW TO CLEAN SEX TOYS
How you clean your toys depends on the material (porous or non-porous), as well as electrical mechanisms that your toy may have. Below are a few different methods of cleaning your toys:
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Hand wash: Use warm, mild hand soap and water to wash your toy before and after use. Avoid using harsh soaps like dish soap.
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Use a sex toy cleaner: You can use a sex toy cleaner for a deeper clean. Some cleaners are fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and paraben-free, and are safe for latex, rubber, and silicone.
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Dishwasher: Put non-motorized toys in the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle with plain water. Make sure nothing else is in the dishwasher with your toys.
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Boil: Place stainless steel and glass toys in boiling water for a few minutes. You can also boil non-vibrating silicone toys, but not plastic toys.
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Use a UV sterilizer: Some pouches have a UV light inside to clean your toys.
- Store: Keep your toys in a cool, dry place in a container or pouch.
If you are looking for material-specific instructions, read below for more detailed do's and dont's of cleaning your toys based on its material. Remember that this is a general guide, and to always follow specific instructions from the manufacturer of your toy.
How to Clean NON-Porous Materials:
GLASS:
- Wash glass toys with soap and water
- Pyrex toys are dishwasher safe
- Do not expose glass to extreme temperatures
STAINLESS STEEL:
- If attached to an electrical device, use warm soapy water, being careful not to submerge any electrical components.
- If there are no electrical components, you can put in the dishwasher or boil in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes
HARD PLASTIC:
- Clean with antibacterial soap and water. Do not boil.
SILICONE:
- Boil for 5-10 minutes or put in top rack of dishwasher
- Another option is to wash with anti-bacterial soap and warm water
- Do not boil silicone vibrators because you will destroy the vibrator mechanisms
How to Clean POROUS Materials:
RUBBER:
- Rubber materials are porous and difficult to clean
- Rubber's composition is not always known or may contain phthalates, chemicals which have been shown to be harmful to your health
- Using a condom is recommended when using rubber toys
CYBERSKIN AND VINYL:
- Cyberskin is soft and porous, often used for dildos
- Wash cyberskin and vinyl toys delicately with warm water only
- Air dry and powder a small amount with cornstarch to keep them from getting sticky
NYLON:
- Nylon harnesses and toys can be machine or hand washed with a mild anti-bacterial soap
LEATHER:
- Wipe leather products with a damp, soapy cloth or with leather cleaner. Do not soak leather.
- After cleaning, you may recondition your toy using a leather conditioner.
- Protect metal parts from tarnish by applying a clear coat of nail polish
Q: How often should I clean my sex toys?
You should clean your sex toys regularly to prevent the buildup of residue, material degradation, and harmful pathogens. Not cleaning your sex toys properly can lead to infections like urinary tract infections, yeast infections, or bacterial vaginosis.
Q: How do I know what material my sex toy is made of?
The only sure way to know what a toy is made of is to refer to the manufacturer or the toy packaging. Usually you can reach out to the company and ask for the material make-up of the toy you have. If you can't find this information, it's best to avoid the toy altogether.
HOW TO PROPERLY STORE YOUR SEX TOYS
You might want to keep your toys all together in one space, but it's much safer to keep each toy in their own little bag or box. Sex toys are safe for bodily use, but they can be quite reactive when put next to other materials. We can't stress enough how important it is to store your sex toys separately! Having different sex toys within close proximity of each other can cause the toys to become melted or misshapen.
DO...
- DO clean your toys before you store them
- DO inspect toys for damage before stowing away
- DO store every single sex toy separately, preferably in antibacterial bags
DON'T...
- DON'T store your toys all together
- DON'T allow any of your toys to touch each other
- DON'T put toys away before they are completely dry