How To Clean Sex Toys: Popular Methods & Expert Tips

How to clean sex toys? This is a widespread question for kinky adults who are all about playing in their bedrooms and beyond. Sex toys are extremely popular among US consumers. Based on Statista, 89% of females and 76% of males have sex toys in their homes. 56% of them use them on a regular basis. While having different props for kinky games is great, you will need to care for them properly to avoid their damage and unpleasant consequences for your health. This is where our expert tips on how to clean silicone sex toys will come in handy. Scroll down to discover different methods of maintaining good hygienic conditions for your props for sex. 

How to Properly Clean Sex Toys: Reasons to Disinfect Sex Toys

It goes without saying that proper hygiene for your sex toys is crucial. Nevertheless, what are the reasons for that? 

1. 👀Removement of bodily fluids. If you leave any kind of fluid on the surface of your sex toy, you will promote the environment for microorganisms to spread. The disinfection of your props allows you to get rid of potentially harmful pathogens that may cause infections and bacteria in your body. 
2. 👀Decreasing the chance of getting partner-sharing infections. If you share the toy with your partner, there is another reason to be cautious. It eliminates the chance for STIs transmission and potential harm to the health of the other partner. 
3. 👀Maintaining the long duration of the operation. Once you care about your toys properly, you prolong their lifespan and your satisfaction. The presence of different kinds of fluids on the surface can damage the toy over time, especially if it is made of wood or silicone.
4. 👀Confidence during the next session. Once you disinfect your toys regularly, you will get confidence that you will have a clean and protected experience during your next sex game. Therefore, you can focus on your satisfaction rather than thinking about potential negative consequences. 

How to Properly Clean Your Sex Toys: Most Effective Methods to Know

Sex toys are usually made from silicone, metal, and plastic, which are favorable surfaces for different kinds of bacteria. That is why it is essential to know the effective methods of cleaning your kinky toys to maintain hygiene and a proper level of disinfection. Once you follow this concise guide, you can easily bring your toys back to their original state, ensuring both their hygiene and your excitement from the session. 

Remember, that it is crucial to clean toys after every use to get assured they don’t include any bacteria from bodily fluids, especially when you share them with your partner. In another case, sex toys become the environment for STIs and STDs transmission. The last thing you want is to find out that you are infected with chlamydia, herpes, or urinary tract infections after using sex props. 

Familiarize yourself with the effective methods of how to clean silicone sex toys, you will easily make your toy box disinfected and will focus on your pleasure rather than worrying about their sterility. 

Determine the materials 

The first and foremost thing in knowing how to deep clean sex toys is to discover the material they are made of. Various material types require different cleaning approaches. Study the list to choose the option that suits you most. 

• Silicone. In case you don’t have a specially formulated toy cleaner at hand, you will need to wash silicone props with warm water and mild soap. Don’t use silicone-based lubes during your sex games since they will damage the surface of your toy.  
• Hard plastic, glass, and metal. These materials are sturdy, so you can use deeper cleaning with brushes, for instance. Anyway, it is advisable to use mild soap and clean it with warm water. 
• TPE, TPR, rubber. These are porous materials that require a gentle approach and more thorough cleaning since they are used to absorb more bacteria. If you have a TPE, TPR, or rubber toy, use a specifically-designed liquid for cleaning. 
• Wood. Water and harsh cleaning agents don’t work well for wood toys. In this case, it is necessary to follow the manual that comes with the device. If you don’t have one, use a damp cloth to wipe the toy. 

Related reading: Female U Spot: Top Ways To Increase Its Effectiveness

Mind the battery and consider your safety

If your sex toy is operated with the help of a battery, you will need to ensure its safety. It isn’t allowed to immerse such toys in the water. While this may seem like common sense, you will need to be extra cautious when dealing with toys that require batteries, vibrate, or connect to electrical outlets. Instead, opt for a wipe-down using warm, soapy water, which will effectively clean the toy without risking any water damage or electrical issues.

If you’re uncertain about the toy’s water resistance capabilities, refer to the product packaging or search for the product page online. This information will specify whether the toy is classified as “splash-proof” or “waterproof.” It’s essential to consider this distinction, as it determines the level of water exposure the toy can safely withstand. By being aware of these details, you can clean your sex toy appropriately and prioritize your personal safety.

Choose a soap properly 

If you want to discover how to clean anal sex toys (or vaginal ones) made of silicone, glass, and stainless steel, you will need to know that gentle soap, and water is usually enough to remove fluids. However, it is crucial to opt for the right soap for intimate use. Many regular soaps and washes contain harsh ingredients, perfumes, and irritants that can result in irritation, disrupt the natural microbial balance, and potentially cause infections.

Intimate washes and sex toy cleaners sometimes include ingredients like glycerin, which may be dangerous for some people and can trigger excessive growth of candida. Additionally, surfactants, the foaming agents that are often included in the content of multiple cleansers, including SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), have been recognized as those that cause irritation, especially in sensitive areas and genitals. 

Perfumes or synthetic fragrances often contain various kinds of chemicals. Methylene chloride is just an example of such artificially-created materials. They can cause symptoms like headaches, coughing, vomiting, dizziness, and rash. These ingredients rarely offer any advantages and are usually unsuitable for human skin’s needs. To avoid potential issues such as itchiness, infections, and irritation, it is best to carefully rinse your device with water and ensure it is completely dry after cleaning. This approach helps maintain the hygiene of your toy while minimizing the risk of any side effects, uncomfortable feelings, or complications.

Store your toys in a dry environment 

Once you get to know how to clean sex toys after STD, you will need to create a proper environment for their storage. First and foremost, you will need to make sure that your device for kinky games is completely dry. To get the optimal level of hygiene and avoid any extra fibers or particles on the surface, you will need to use a clean paper towel or a fabric specifically designed not to shed fibers. Avoid using a fluffy towel. Even though it is gentle on the skin, it still shades fibers, which doesn’t work well for the toy. The last thing you want is small fibers that will end up inside your vagina or anus and cause irritative sensations. Storage also plays a big difference when it comes to operating a sex toy. Make sure you keep it in a dry environment. In this case, the plastic box will be the best option.

Related reading: What Is Pegging in Sex?—Meaning, Features, and Main Tips Outlined 

How to Сlean Your Sex Toys: Surface vs Deep Cleaning

While surface cleaning is good after each use, sometimes it is advisable to perform a deep cleaning of sex toys. Here are some differences between surface and deep cleaning for you to have a better understanding of which method will work for your next sex toy game. 

Surface cleaning🤗	Deep cleaning🤗
Use liquid or castile soap. Don’t use harsh or dish soap.	If it is suitable for your device, you can boil it for a few minutes.
Dry your toys with paper towels or non-fiber clothing.	Combine boiling with bleaching to kill the pathogens in your toys.
Use specifically-designed liquids for cleaning that are suitable for your device.	Disinfect your toys in the dishwasher if it is allowed based on their manuals.
	Use specific solutions for deep cleaning that are compatible with your toys.

How to Choose the Cleaning Method?

Even though you can apply basic ideas on how to clean sex toys described in this article, it is always a good option to use the manual to discover the best and most effective way for cleaning. Anyway, it is necessary to follow these steps to make the most out of the process and do it properly. 

1. Remove the fluids from the surface of the toy by using surface cleaning. 
2. Disinfect the toy to kill the bacteria and make the environment appear less pathogenic and more hygienic. 
3. Sterilize your sex toy to get rid of all possible bacteria and infections. 

Keep in mind that applying these methods is especially essential if you share your sex toy with your partner or if you combine vaginal sex with anal sex. 

Conclusion

Even though the topic of how to clean sex toys isn’t that well-discussed in modern society, it is a vital practice to safeguard both yourself and your partners. Just like with any product or device you buy, you will need to treat your sex toys with caution. The essential part of caring for sex toys is their cleaning. Therefore, you will help them function properly and longer. Moreover, it allows you to avoid getting infected with STIs or other bacteria. By incorporating regular cleaning into your routine, you actively contribute to the longevity and optimal performance of your sex toys, prioritizing your overall sexual well-being.