Everything you need to know about cleaning your sex toys

Sex toys are super fun and get all kinds of fluids on them, so cleaning sex toys is an important step to keep you healthy.

Saliva, squirt juice, cum, lube; these are just a few of the liquids that are going to wind up all over your sex toys. They’re not always cheap and a good one can be hard to find, making cleaning sex toys a vital skill to keep your fun alive.

Not sure if you’re cleaning sex toys properly? Worry no more, because we’ve got all the tips you need. We’re going to look at:

• Everything you need to be able to clean your sex toys
• The different methods for cleaning sex toys
• How to dry your sex toy after cleaning
• Storing your vibrators, dildos, and other toys

So your sex toys can be clean, even if your sex sessions are pure filth.

How do I start cleaning sex toys?

Before you start cleaning sex toys, you need to know what it’s made of. The most common materials sex toys are made of are:

• Silicone
• Borosilicate glass
• Metal
• Hard plastics

These sex toys are super durable and can be cleaned with any of the methods we’re going to cover.

There are other sex toy materials, like cyberskin, also known as softskin or ultraskin, which is porous. This means that stuff like bacteria and fungus can get inside and grow – you don’t want that stuff on your dick or in your pussy or ass. Leather sex toys are also porous and have this hazard.

The only safe way you can clean porous sex toys is with a cloth and warm soapy water. It’s best to avoid this type of material in your fuck sessions if at all possible.

You should also check the box of your vibrator or anything that’s battery-powered. There are two things to look out for which will determine how you can wash it:

1. Waterproof means it can be fully dunked in water
2. Splashproof means you can get it wet but not put it all the way into water

Now you know what your toys are made of, you need to decide which cleaning method is best.

Tips for cleaning sex toys

We’ve got some practical methods for you to follow and some handy hints for you as you go. Always follow the instructions on the box or that the manufacturer gives you about keeping your sex toys clean and shiny new.

Tip #1: The simple way to clean sex toys

When it’s just having a quick play or one partner with who you already share fluids has joined you, you should only need to give your toys a simple clean.

You’re going to need:

• A sink or a bowl
• Warm – not hot – water
• Gentle soap, unscented hand soap works great
• A soft cloth

Mix the soap and water and simply wipe down your sex toy or toys with a wet cloth.

Tip #2: Disinfecting your sex toys

Multiple partners sharing sex toys or using sex toys between different holes – like pussy and ass – will require a deeper clean. You can disinfect your sex toys as long as they’re waterproof.

Gather together:

• A pan and a stove
• A cloth
• Everything you needed for the first tip
• Tongs

Set water to boil in the pan and add the cloth to the bottom if you’re disinfecting a glass dildo.

Start cleaning the sex toys as per tip one. Once you’ve washed off all the soap, gently place it into the boiling water.

Leave it in the water for around three minutes, then remove it from the pan.

Tip #3: Cleaning sex toys using bleach

The aim of disinfecting and bleaching sex toys is the get rid of nasties in your bodily fluids. Bleach is known to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi, all of which are a risk.

You’ll need:

• 1/3 of a cup of bleach
• A gallon of water
• A spray bottle or plastic bowl

Mix together the bleach and water and you can either spray your sex toys with bleach or leave them to soak in the mix for ten minutes. Spraying works for splashproof toys, but only soak waterproof toys.

After bleaching, head back to tip two and boil them. This is being extra safe to get rid of as much bacteria and stuff as you can.

Tip #4: Brush it all away

Textured sex toys can be super fun and add a whole new sensation to your sex. They also require an extra step with cleaning.

Grab a soft-bristle toothbrush – and remember to not store it in your bathroom – and use the same soapy water mix you made in tip one. Give all the textured, nobbled, ribbed, and bumped areas of your sex toys a good scrub so nothing gets missed.

Tip #5: Wipe and run

Used your sex toy on the fly? A quick way of cleaning sex toys is to use special wipes.

They’re not a whole lot different than washing your toys with soap and water so generally, not worth the extra expense. However, if you’re into quickies in cars, bathrooms, one-hour hotels room, and the like, having some wipes to clean off most of the juices is useful.

Tip #6: The only time you want a dry sex toy

Every time you use a sex toy, you probably want to be reaching for the lube. It just makes everything a whole lot better, don’t you think?

However, after cleaning sex toys, you need to make sure they get dried properly. The best way to do this is to let them air dry. Find a dry light area to leave them to drip away.

This makes sure that every nook and cranny dries out and you won’t get lint stuck on them from cloth drying.

Tip #7: A dildo’s place is in the dishwasher

Any sex toy that doesn’t take batteries or is mains powered can even go in the dishwasher. Although, maybe not in the same load as your spag bol dishes.

Set your dishwasher to its sanitizer mode and add in your plastic, silicone, metal, and glass dildos.

Tip #8: Avoiding cleaning sex toys

Does all this seem like a bit too much work?

To reduce the amount of deep cleaning your sex toys need, you can use condoms with them. You’re still going to need to do the soap and water thing, but condoms reduce the fluids that get on the toys.

Handy hint: Using condoms when switching your sex toys from ass to vagina also reduces the chances of moving bacteria from one hole to the other.

Tip #9: Storage after cleaning sex toys

Once everything is clean and dry, you need to store your sex toys properly.

Lots of toys come with pouches or boxes that you can store them in that are non-porous. However, you’ll want to keep your anal sex toys in porous pouches like a cotton bag in case it can hold a smell.

Top tips for cleaning sex toys

That’s everything you need to know about keeping your sex toys clean and keeping your vagina, penis, and anus safer.

Don’t scrimp on keeping your toys well. You can end up with a UTI or a vaginal infection like bacterial vaginosis (BV) if you don’t keep everything clean.

For ideas about the different sex toys you can try, check out our guides to sex toys that are perfect for making porn, ones that are great for lesbians, and sex toys that couples will love.