How to Clean Your Sex Toys & Pleasure Products – Our Ultimate Guide to Keeping Adult Toys Safe for Play

You've asked for it and we have delivered it! Lo and behold our one-stop spot for virtually all the adult sex toys cleaning information you'd ever need on the care, storage, and cleaning of your vibrators, masturbators, butt plugs, anal toys, cock rings, male chastity cages, realistic dildos, fantasy dildos, dragon dildos and other sex toys, adult novelties, and pleasure products.

In this comprehensive article on how to clean your sex toys and pleasure products, you're bound to learn and get to know the available sex toys materials, get to know the difference between porous and non-porous adult novelties and pleasure products and so much more.

Grab yourself a cup of coffee or a sip of Jack, if that's your flavor, sit back, relax and enjoy this comprehensive guide on how you can clean, store and keep your sex toys in perfect condition and always ready for your next exhilarating pleasure session.

What's the whole buzz about? Why should I clean my sex toys as I can simply take 'em in the shower with me?

The proper and thorough process of cleaning your sex toys is paramount in order to ensure your health, safety, and wellbeing, as well as the structural integrity, material resilience, and longevity of your pleasure product friends.

Please note that when it comes to the safety of non-fluid-bonded-partners, you should only ever share sex toys that can be properly sanitized, and if not, sex toys that are covered with a non-lubricated condom.

Fluid bonding refers to the decision to stop using barrier protection during sex and exchange bodily fluids with your partner, henceforth, non-fluid-bonding would be the total opposite of that.

Before we dive deep and in short, non-porous sex toys are the exception of pleasure products that can be safely shared without the need for a condom barrier.

We have no doubt you're comitted to cleaning your sex toys, however, are you doing it properly?

Different materials harbor germs or bacteria in different ways, so your pleasure tool could be full of microscopic abominations despite your bona fide cleaning efforts. In this article, we're going to show you how to keep your sex toys and pleasure products squeaky clean and perfectly safe to use.

How to clean your sex toy or pleasure product based on its material? Available methods of cleaning.

Sanitizing your sex toys

You can only sanitize non-porous sex toys such as those made from silicone, food-grade silicone, medical silicone, platinum-cured silicone, stainless steel, or borosilicate glass.

Regrettably, sanitizing a porous toy isn't feasible despite that ultra experience antibacterial sex toy cleaner says. We'd recommend the use of any sex toy cleaner should you be in the middle of a playful party and are sharing a myriad of sex toys, and in a desperate need to sanitize a non-porous sex toy in between sharing.

Alternatively, you could simply cover the toy with a non-lubricated condom for that same purpose, however, we wouldn't want to depreciate the true purpose of the available sex toy cleaners - to help you keep your non-porous toys squeaky clean when needed. You can also just cover it with a condom for that purpose.

Additionally, for sex toy materials such as silicone, metal, ceramic, wood, and ABS plastic, you can always rely on a quick dip in a 10% bleach solution. Don't forget to rinse it well after having dipped your pleasure toy in the bleach though, you wouldn't want any of this solution to come near your intimate zones.

There are borosilicate glass, metal and silicone dildos, and butt plugs that can be boiled for 2-3 minutes to kill any bacteria or germs that might have stayed on the toy's surface. Last but not least, feel free to run your sex toys through a quick Sanitize dishwasher cycle with no dishwasher detergent or other dishes. If your dishwasher machine does not have such a cycle, it'd be pointless to rely on this sanitizing method, of course.

As far as alcohol solutions go, you can wipe your metal, glass, or wooden pleasure products with it, however, we'd advise against using alcohol solution on your toys made from silicone as it may compromise their structural integrity and fortitude.

Quick Cleaning your sex toys

If you’ve got non-porous toys and you do not currently have a yeast infection or bacterial infection, then a quick wash with regular hand soap and water to clean lube and fluids off the toy is fine if you’re not sharing the toy. Silicone butt plugs and other booty-calling anal toys should get some time with boiling water just to keep that bodily smell outta place.

Dishwashing your sex toys

As previously mentioned, the dishwasher option would be feasible only in the scenario when you have the Sanitizing cycle on your dishwashing machine. Other than that, it's important to remember not to place any dishes whilst your pleasure toys are being taken care of.

Alcohol Solution

As far as alcohol solutions go, you can wipe your metal, glass, or wooden pleasure products with it, however, we'd advise against using alcohol solution on your toys made from silicone as it may compromise their structural integrity and fortitude.

How to clean my vibrators?

Cleaning a vibrator is pretty basic and a no-brainer, however, there are certain specifics that should absolutely be taken into consideration - you use the wipe-down method. Obviously, since your vibrator has a motor, you shouldn’t do any boiling/dishwasher methods, no matter what you've read in that overrated magazine.

A lot of vibrators are going to have cracks & crevices either where different materials meet, such as the silicone shaft and the ABS plastic holder part, or where two parts of the toy meet like battery ports or charging cords.

These crevices, grooves, ridges, and similar spots require special attention to detail when you are cleaning. We'd strongly recommend opting in to use a soft toothbrush, those toothbrushes one would use if they had gum disease, as well as your fingernail used in conjunctions with a toy wipe or an intimate wipe.

We're sure you remember but silicone and ABS plastic vibrators are non-porous and can be sanitized. If your vibrators aren't made from non-porous materials such as silicone and ABS plastic but other porous materials such as jelly, rubber, or PVC, please note that they can never be 100% clean and will always have some sort of residue.

How to clean my silicone sex toys?

Pure silicone can be fully sanitized and is non-porous, meaning bacteria and germs can't thrive on its surface. You can use any cleaning method to keep your silicone sex toys squeaky clean and in perfect shape. Clear silicone is usually a cloudy-clear, never crystal clear. Items that are clear and look like jelly (or candy) are never going to be silicone.

You have a lot of options here. Just how thorough you clean depends on the item. If it’s meant for anal play, consider giving it a good boil every few uses if possible, especially if you wish to keep that butt scent at bay.

While silicone is considered non-porous, it’s actually microporous and can catch certain odors, especially those coming from your erogenous zones. If it’s a vibrator and not covered 100% by a silicone skin, then you need to pay special attention to the groove between the silicone portion and the plastic portion, around the buttons, the battery ports, or the charging cords.

Make sure to get to know the design of your vibrating pleasure tool so as to really understand where caution needs to be exercised during the cleaning process. If fluids can get trapped in the aforementioned crevices and grooves, then bacteria can grow on the surface. If you share your toys, then you’ll want to consider the cleaning options that sanitize, like boiling for dildos and plugs, or 10% bleach solution rinse.

How to clean my wooden sex toys?

Made from a sustainable material, well-made and cared-for wooden dildos can last a lifetime. Wood is beautiful, it makes every dildo unique, and often can be made solely from scrap wood. Wood sex toys are often sealed with a medical-grade finish that makes them nonporous; however, always double-check with the specific manufacturer.

Clean using a mild soap and warm water or a damp, soapy washcloth. Think about cleaning a wooden cutting board. A wood sex toy shouldn’t be tossed around, unprotected in a drawer or overnight bag.

We would absolutely recommend that you store your wood dildo in a pouch that is made from a slightly padded or thicker material such as cotton or velvety satin. Please know that most high-quality wooden sex toys have a special medical-grade finish that protects the toy and anything abrasive can ruin the finish.

Scrubby cleansers or rough clothes shouldn’t be used. If you decide to take the risk and buy a naturally finished dildo (with a sort of mineral oil), you should avoid using plenty of soap and you might consider re-doing the coating (especially if its mineral oil) yourself every 5-6 times uses to ensure that it remains as waterproof and as non-porous as it can be.

How to clean my metal, stainless steel or borosilicate glass sex toys?

Metals such as medical-grade stainless steel and gold are non-porous, as are borosilicate glass (aka shatter-resistant Pyrex glass) and some other types of glass.

For a regular wash, clean using a mild soap and warm water or a damp, soapy washcloth. If the product is labeled waterproof and is not motorized, you can boil underwater for three to four minutes to disinfect. To be on the safe side, we wouldn’t want to expose ceramic or glass to the high temperatures of boiling water or a dishwasher - you just never know and you’d be really sad to ruin a hella good toy.

Most glass toys would be fine in boiling water or the dishwasher, but please keep in mind that the glass used in sex toys holds onto temperature really well, so it will be extremely hot for a little while. Treat your freshly sanitized glass sex toy like a cup of tea you've just taken outta the microwave - with extra caution!

The best practice for boiling would be to include a small hand towel in the pot to prevent the glass dildo from cracking up against the side of the pot. While borosilicate glass is better at withstanding temperature changes and the high heat of a dishwasher or boiling water, soda lime glass may not be.

A 10% bleach rinse should be fine for these, as would a simple soap and water wash if you have no reason to sanitize.

How to clean my porous sex toys?

Porous materials are more sensitive to temperature and prone to warping, so most should be washed the same way: with soap and warm water, either in the sink or with a soapy washcloth. Nylon toys are the exception, which can be machine washed. Again, porous materials are hard plastic, Cyberskin, nylon, neoprene, jelly rubber, vinyl, and soft vinyl, acrylic, elastomer, and leather.

How to store my sex toys to keep them squeaky clean?

Sex toys are meant to be a fun way to add spice to your intimate lives. They let you get creative, enhance your experiences, and are just downright hilarious sometimes.

Unfortunately, sex toy storage is often overlooked but shouldn't be! Being able to enjoy sex toys while exploring your own boundaries or sharing with a partner is equally as amazing, but it can't all be fun and games. Taking care of your sex toys is an important part of being a sex toy owner. They need to be kept clean, maintained, and stored properly while you're not using them.

When taking your toys out of storage, don't just start using them immediately. Give them a good soap and water cleaning again.

Once you’ve cleaned your sex toys, it’s important to store them properly so they stay clean until their next pleasurable use. Many sex toys come with a fabric pouch, case, or box they can be stored in when not in use, but any sealable pouch or case is fine for a non-porous pleasure toy. This will keep your toy dust- and lint-free.

We strongly recommend storing your silicone sex toys in a breathable 100% cotton-made pleasure product container to minimize any possible odors.

Generally speaking, sex toys should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place, away from the reach of children and other prying eyes. Please ensure your toys are out of direct sunlight as exposing them to sunlight may compromise the structural integrity of your sex toys.

Additionally, avoid storing your toe-curlers in the bathroom.

I've had this playful fantasy dildo since my college years but something seems off?

If you have had your toy for a long time, keep an eye out for any deterioration, warping, or discoloration. These can all be signs of chemical breakdown. If you have glass-made or metal toys, check for chips or sharp edges, especially after a particularly wild session!

If you have hard plastic toys beware of sharp seems. Vibrators need to be checked around the battery seem. If the toy is waterproof, make sure the rubber seal is intact and well closed.

Please note that it is always safer to remove the batteries when storing your toys.

5 Incredibly Useful Tips Everyone With Sex Toys Should Know

Wash your sex toys before and after each use.

Yep, even if you're only using it on yourself and not sharing it with a partner. Toys that are washed every time last longer. If you don't, the material can degrade or become discolored. That, and if an unwashed toy is stored with other toys, it can contaminate them with bacteria.

They can come in contact with lint, pet hair, or other bacteria while they're stored, and then if you insert them, they go into your body. With your health, wellbeing, and safety, you can't really go too safe.

Don't submerge any battery-operated toys in water to wash

If your toy has batteries, plugs into the wall, or buzzes in any way, you have to take extra precautions. Wiping it down with a warm, soap washcloth is all you need to do.

In short, here's how to clean your non-porous toys

• Silicone: Wash with soap and water or place it in the top rack of your dishwasher. You can also put it in boiling water for 10 minutes to disinfect it
• Glass: Wash with soap and water, and don't expose it to extreme temperatures (like in the dishwasher), to avoid warping
• Pyrex: Pyrex is basically heat-resistant glass, so it can be boiled, put in the dishwasher, or washed by hand
• Stainless steel: Boil for 10 minutes, soak in bleach and water (then make sure to rinse thoroughly), or wash in the dishwasher

In short, here's how to clean your porous toys

Porous materials are more sensitive to temperature and prone to warping, so most should be washed the same way: with soap and warm water, either in the sink or with a soapy washcloth. Nylon toys are the exception, which can be machine washed. Again, porous materials are hard plastic, cyberskin, nylon, neoprene, jelly rubber, vinyl and soft vinyl, acrylic, elastomer, and leather.

Use a condom with your porous toys

Some porous toys can't be completely disinfected, so you should always use a condom when using it with a partner. If you're only using your sex toy on yourself, you should be fine as long as you wash it after every use.

There is an exception to this, though, and we suggest always using a condom if your toy is made of jelly, since jelly toys contain potentially dangerous chemicals called phthalates. Granted, there's not conclusive information on the health effects of them, but better safe than sorry.

Take the batteries out of your vibrator when you're not using it!

Leaving the batteries in can actually corrode the toy and drain the battery life, since they're conducting at a low charge when in the toy. And there's nothing sadder than the halfhearted buzz of a vibrator on low batteries, and the thought of having to flick the bean when you really need that fast kick.

Conclusion

Sex toys are awesome and an excellent addition to your sex life, both solo and with a partner. But sex toys also become a lot less awesome if you don't care for them properly. Not washing your toy, using the wrong lube, or storing it incorrectly can all lead to problems, whether that's a shorter life span or distortion of your toy or a risk of an infection for you.

Like doing laundry and loading the dishwasher correctly, cleaning your sex toys properly is a necessary skill to learn, and one that most could stand to exercise more often. After all, your sex toys and pleasure products get extra-intimate with the genital region (an area definitely worth keeping squeaky clean), and many mistakes can be made in the process of properly sanitizing and disinfecting your pleasure tools.

Since these mistakes can lead to a rather yucky and unwanted yeasty ordeal, it's important to make sure you're clear on the best methods to go about it. And that begins with truly committing to cleaning your sex toys.