Raise your hand if you’ve ever tossed a sex toy back into your goodie drawer after a job well done so you could roll over and enjoy the afterglow.
Disinfecting and properly storing your sexccesories may be the last thing on your mind after getting off, but not taking the time to do it could mess with your health and your toy’s shelf life.
We hit up a couple of experts for tips to help keep your sex gear — and your tender parts — in tiptop shape.
What’s included
Anything related to sexual play — not just the usual top-drawer suspects — need to be properly cleaned and stored.
We’re talking everything from cuffs, straps, cock rings, and ball gags to vibrators, butt plugs, and strap-ons — and everything in between.
Different materials require different care. This handy little chart tells you how to look after your toys depending on what they’re made from.
If your item is made of a mix of materials, each material should be accounted for while cleaning.
For example, never submerge your motorized or battery-operated vibe in water. The same goes for your silicone ball gag: Don’t boil it if the strap isn’t also silicone.
*Crystal, stone, and wood can be porous or nonporous, depending on the type or the coating used. If it’s porous, clean with room temperature water and a soapy washcloth.
Why it’s important
Playing with an unclean sex toy that’s been stored incorrectly is kind of like eating a loose mint that’s been rolling around in the bottom of a purse or gym bag for a while — sticky and covered in lint.
Ick factor aside, improper cleaning and storage of sex toys could have health consequences, explains Laura Vera, sex educator and owner of feminist sex shop Unique Sensual
“You want to clean your sex toys every time you use them because dirty (used) toys can introduce bacteria and possibly cause infections,” she says. “They can also collect lint, dust, and other debris that you want to keep out of your bits.”
FYI: If you have pets, that “other debris” will likely include pet hair, and that gets on everything.
Depending on what the toy’s exposed to and whether or not you’ve shared it with others, you could be opening yourself up — sometimes literally — to bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
You also risk contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or other infection, including gastrointestinal infections.
After and before every use, TBH.
That might seem excessive, but when it comes to your health, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
If you’re going to get lax about it, your sex toys and related items should — at the very least — be washed immediately after use, and before and after sharing.
How to figure out your specs
Materials should be listed on the packaging of any toy. If not, consider it a red flag that it may not be body safe.
Same if the package says it’s “for novelty use only,” says Joshua Gonzalez, MD, a board certified urologist and sexual health adviser for ASTROGLIDE.
“This usually indicates that the manufacturer may be trying to get around certain standards of disclosure for personal products,” he says. “Seeking out toys designated ‘medical grade’ ensures the highest quality and safety.”
You may also be able to figure out what it’s made from based on certain features like flexibility, texture, and even smell.
For example, latex and rubber have distinct odors, ABS plastic is hard, and jelly toys look — and shake — like, well, jelly.
“Porous materials can be cleaned with soap and water or a toy cleaner. A gentle liquid soap, like you would use for your hands, is a fine choice for most toys,” Deysach says.
“Toy cleaners can also get your toys sparkling in a snap,” she says. “Sliquid Shine is my go-to cleaner. After you’ve washed your toy, let it air dry before putting it away.”
Keep in mind that porous toys are a lot like your skin in that they have tiny holes — or pores — that can harbor bacteria even after cleaning.
It’s best to reserve any porous toys in your repertoire for solo play, or enjoy shared use with a condom (unless you’re fluid bonded).
As for other kinky gear, “Leather accessories like dildo harnesses and BDSM equipment should be spot cleaned with gentle soap and water,” Deysach says.
“Note that leather is very porous, so be cautious of sharing these items with others if you aren’t fluid bonded.”
“100 percent silicone, glass, and steel toys can also be cleaned with liquid soap or a toy cleaner and then air dried,” Deysach says.
“If you’d like to give them a quick clean without leaving your bed, Afterglow Toy Cleaning Tissues are body safe (so you don’t have to rinse) and work great at keeping nonporous toys clean.”
The beauty of nonporous toys is that, as long as they’re not motorized, can even be boiled or run through the dishwasher.
“If you have nonvibrating silicone toys (like dildos or butt plugs) you can take an added step and boil them in water for up to 3 minutes to sanitize them thoroughly,” Deysach explains.
“Be sure to not boil soft porous toys or anything that turns on,” she says. “I find a washcloth makes it easy to clean nonwaterproof toys safely.”
As for motorized toys, remember to take the batteries out before giving it a good clean.
“Then close the toy back up and take care to keep water out of the battery compartment,” she says. “After the toy is rinsed, open it up again and let it dry with the battery compartment open.”
There are some handy-dandy sex toy storage containers you can buy, but chances are you have something lying around the house that’ll work just fine, like:
- a lint-free fabric bag
- a makeup case
- a sock
- a different nonplastic container
Got a gaggle of sex toys and gear? Get creative, suggests Deysach.
“I’ve seen people use over-the-door shoe hangers, file drawers, or locking tool boxes,” she says. “A lot depends on how handy you need them to be and how much you have to hide them from prying eyes.”
Speaking of prying eyes, a discreet and lockable medication case, like this one, is perfect if you have curious little ones or nosy house guests.
When storing your toys, keeping them separate is a good idea, especially when it comes to certain materials, according to Laura.
“If you have jelly or other soft, nonsilicone toys, you want to be sure they are each stored separately, as they can melt together if they’re touching while stored,” she says.
Some final advice from Laura about storing your sex toys: For the sake of longevity, store any battery-operated toys with the batteries outside the toy. Batteries can drain or corrode if left in toys too long.
If you have rechargeable toys, make sure you charge them periodically to keep them working best.
And always keep your toy’s manual. You never know when you may need it.
Putting in a little effort to properly clean and store your sex toys helps keep you and your partner(s) safe and your sex toys in tiptop shape.
Sticking with toys made from quality materials can help, too.
If in doubt, throw a condom over the toy before use, and wash it after with a warm, soapy washcloth.
What’s the best way to clean sex toys?
Proper cleaning of sex toys is essential to avoid bacterial infection or transmission of STIs. While some STIs die once the fluid they live in dries, others (such as hepatitis and scabies) can live for weeks or months outside of the body. If you want to prevent pregnancy, it is also important to be remove sperm that may be on the sex toy before using near or in the vagina. It’s important to keep the instructions for cleaning the sex toy and to follow them carefully. If you feel that cleaning the toy properly would be too time consuming or unrealistic for you, think about buying a different toy. The information provided below gives a general overview for cleaning different types of toys and isn’t meant to replace the manufacturer’s instructions.
For basic toy care, remove any batteries. Never submerge electrical components in water. Use a damp, soapy washcloth to clean your electric toys, preferably with anti-bacterial soap. Keep toys stored in a container or pouch (to keep them clean) and in a cool, dry place.
Cleaning non-porous materials: glass, stainless steel, hard plastic, and silicone
Glass: Wash glass toys with soap and water. Pyrex toys are dishwasher safe. Do not expose glass to extreme temperatures.
Stainless Steel: If attached to an electrical device, use warm soapy water, being careful not to submerge any electrical components. If there are no electrical components you have 3 options: Boil or soak in a 10% bleach-water solution for 10 minutes, or place it in the dishwasher.
Hard Plastic: Clean with anti-bacterial soap and water. Do not boil.
Silicone: You can choose from 3 options to clean a silicone toy. Either boil for 5-10 minutes, put it in your dishwasher (on top rack), or wash with anti-bacterial soap and warm water. Do not boil silicone vibrators because you will destroy the vibrator mechanism.
Cleaning porous materials: rubber, vinyl, cyberskin, nylon, and leather
Rubber materials: Rubber materials are porous and difficult to clean. In addition, their composition is not always known or may contain phthalates, chemicals which have been shown to be harmful to your health. For these reasons, it is recommended to use condoms with these types of toys.
Cyberskin and Vinyl: Cyberskin is soft and porous, often used for dildos. Wash cyberskin and vinyl toys delicately with warm water only. Air dry and powder a small amount with cornstarch to keep them from getting sticky.
Nylon: Nylon harnesses and toys can be machine or hand washed with a mild anti-bacterial soap.
Leather: Wipe leather products with a damp, soapy cloth or with leather cleaner. Do not soak leather. After cleaning, you may recondition your toy using a leather conditioner. Protect metal parts from tarnish by applying a coating of clear nail polish.
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