We all want our sex toys to be hygienically clean and it’s easy with the right techniques and products. Cleaning your toys is hardly a chore when you know it will lead to so much satisfaction.
How to sanitise (most) sex toys
Before you learn ‘how to’, note that you should always clean your sex toys before and after every use.* This will help to maintain the toy’s materials, keep the storage place clean and ensure optimal hygiene before your next play session.
For most sex toys, you will need:
- warm water,
- a purpose-made sex toy cleaner,
- a clean, lint-free cloth,
- if your toy is waterproof, a mild soap (optional), and
- if your toy has stubborn areas, a cloth for scrubbing (optional).
First, check if your sex toy is rated as waterproof or only splashproof (meaning it should never be submerged in water) and if it is battery operated. If your sex toy takes batteries, remove them from the compartment and close it tightly. If your sex toy has components that need to be separated for individual cleaning, do so.
Taking into account your toy’s level of water resistance, rinse it with warm water. Spray toy cleaner all over your toy and leave it for a few minutes. Use a cloth to gently scrub any stubborn areas then rinse off the toy cleaner.
If your toy is waterproof, you can also wash it with mild soap and warm water after sanitising with toy cleaner, provided the materials allow for this
After cleaning your sex toy, let it air dry on a clean, lint-free cloth or use the cloth to pat it down. Never dry your toy using a heat source or leave it near one.
When your sex toy is completely dry, store it (reassembled if needed) in a cool, dark and safe place without contact to other toys – or have fun using it!
How to maintain real-feel toys
Some sex toys are made from ‘real-feel’ materials formulated to be as lifelike as possible in look and texture. The most common examples are dildos, dongs, realistic masturbators and sex dolls.
Real-feel materials usually include a mixture of special plastics and rubbers, which makes them wonderfully soft and squishy but porous. Look out for terms such as thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), Superskin by Fleshlight, Fanta Flesh by Pipedream, and Ultraskyn by Doc Johnson.
Because real-feel sex toys are porous, they can trap bacteria and hold moisture so extra care is needed. Always sanitise your real-feel toy using toy cleaner. If it is waterproof, check the manufacturer’s advice for whether mild soap can also be used.
After cleaning your real-feel sex toy, allow it to dry completely then dust with talc-free, cornflour-based, renewer or refreshing powder. This will combat moisture and maintain its quality. Your sex toy is ready to store.
Get into your sexy housekeeping costume
Now that you know how to clean sex toys, make it a non-negotiable part of each play session – and have fun!
*This how-to guide is general in nature and applies to most sex toys. Always check the manufacturer’s directions for how to clean your sex toy if you are unsure.
Credits
Main photo by Dainis Graveris on Unsplash