Keeping It Clean. Your Sex Toys, That Is.

Hi Lovers, what’s the buzz?

We have a lot of people messaging us about keeping sex toys clean, so let’s chat about that.

OK.

Sex is not dirty, having sex toys is not dirty, and sexy juices are not dirty. But you do have to keep your sex toys clean. I think Mahatma Gandhi said that?

Not keeping your toys immaculate can lead to a shorter toy-life span at best, and the risk of an infection at worst. Spreading STDs through sex toys with a partner is a possibility. Someone with herpes or HPV could pass on a virus, through contact with the same toy.  For us women, it is particularly important. If you put your vibrator or other toys away without washing it properly beforehand, you could be risking later contact with bacteria left behind from bodily fluids. This bacterial buildup can bring on all kinds of infections.

And anal toys obviously require a thorough cleaning after a long night up your poop chute.

SO: if you do not find cleaning and maintenance instructions on the sex toy box or flier, check the manufacturer’s website. Also, check that your toy does not have any unique aspects to it that the instructions haven’t covered.

THERE ARE 2 MAJOR FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CLEANING YOUR SEX TOY:

1: Does it have a motor?

Don’t submerge any motorized toys in the water. Obv. Just use toy cleaner, or wipe them down with a warm, soapy cloth, remove the soap with another warm wet cloth, and then dry with a clean towel.

And keep a keen eye to make sure all the bits and pieces are still fitting together seamlessly so that not even a bit of moisture can seep in.

2: Is the material porous or non-porous? 

NONPOROUS TOYS include glass, silicone, and stainless steel. They can be safely shared as bacteria cannot penetrate their surfaces.

POROUS TOYS include materials like hard plastic, elastomer, jelly rubber, leather, and nylon. There are many different materials, all of them, absorbent. When shared, these should all be used with condoms.

Double-check the package or the manufacturer’s website if you’re not 100% sure of the material your toys made out of.

5 TOP TIPS WHEN CLEANING SEX TOYS MADE OF NON-POROUS MATERIALS:

1. Clean any of these with toy cleaner
2. Or wash with non-perfumed soap and water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
3. Silicone can be placed in the top rack of a dishwasher or disinfected in boiling water for 5 minutes.
4. Glass dildos are not dishwasher safe.
5. Stainless-steel toys like butt plugs should be boiled for 10 minutes, or ones that have only been used vaginally can pop into the dishwasher.

5 TOP TIPS WHEN CLEANING SEX TOYS MADE OF POROUS MATERIALS:

1. Clean with toy cleaner or 100% unscented soap and water.
2. Always make absolutely sure to rinse thoroughly.
3. Porous materials can warp in high temperatures.
4. Most nylon toys can actually be machine washed.
5. Toys made of porous materials must be cleaned more carefully to scoop the germs that may be lurking in little grooves that can form through regular use.

And of course, to ensure longevity for your little love machines, remember to keep your toys in places that are:

• Clean
• Dry
• Out of direct sunlight
• High enough for the dog or toddler to mistake it for a chew-toy.

Hope this blog post gave you some useful information? Please do leave a comment!

Oh, and if you are completely new to sex toys, please go immediately and read through our blog posts – there is so much to learn!

Yours in squeaky-clean love

Irit.

Related: Sex Toys: The Ultimate Guide