How To Clean My Sex Toys

How To Clean My Sex Toys

It's vital that you clean your sex toys properly to prevent the risk of bacterial infections or transmission of STIs. While some STIs become inactive once their carrying fluids dry, others, such as hepatitis and scabies, can survive for weeks, even months, outside the human body. If preventing pregnancy is your aim, it's crucial to wipe off any sperm that might be present on the sex toy before using it in or close to the vagina. It cannot be overstressed how important it is to follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions that come with your sex toy. Considering a different toy might be a good idea if you find the cleaning process too tedious or inconvenient. Please remember that the following cleaning tips are general guidelines for various types of materials and do not replace the manufacturer's specific instructions. 

First things first: you should always remove any batteries from your toys before cleaning. Electrical components and water don’t mix, so never immerse these parts in water. To clean your electric toys, use a damp, soapy washcloth, preferably with antibacterial soap. Store your toys in a pouch or container to keep them dirt-free and in a cool, dry location. 

Cleaning Guidelines for non-porous materials: glass, stainless steel, hard plastic, and silicone 

• Glass: Clean glass toys with just soap and water. Pyrex toys can be washed safely in a dishwasher. Remember, do not expose glass to extreme temperatures.

• Stainless Steel: If your toy has electrical parts, use warm, soapy water, but be careful not to immerse any electrical components. In case there are none, you have three viable methods: Boil, soak it in a bleach-water solution (10%) for 10 minutes, or place it in your dishwasher.

• Hard Plastic: Use anti-bacterial soap and warm water to clean hard plastic toys. Never boil these toys.

• Silicone: Silicone toys can be cleaned in three ways: either boiling them for about 5-10 minutes, using your dishwasher, or washing them with antibacterial soap and warm water. Silicone vibrators should never be boiled because this can damage the vibrating mechanism.

Cleaning Tips for porous materials: rubber, vinyl, cyberskin, nylon, and leather 

• Rubber materials: Rubber is a porous material that can be challenging to clean thoroughly. Additionally, the composition of the material might not always be known and could potentially contain harmful phthalates. Hence, condoms are recommended for these types of toys.

• Cyberskin and Vinyl: Cyberskin, a popular material used for dildos, is soft and porous, similar to vinyl. These materials should be washed gently, using warm water only. After air drying, apply a light dusting of cornstarch to prevent the toy from becoming sticky.

• Nylon: Nylon harnesses and toys can be hand or machine washed with a gentle antibacterial soap.

• Leather: Clean leather products with a damp, soapy cloth or use a designated leather cleaner. Avoid soaking leather. After cleaning, you should retouch your toy using a leather conditioner. To prevent any metal parts from tarnishing, apply a coating of clear nail polish.