Cleaning Your Sex Toy: The Most Important Sex Toy Practice

Both toy companies and consumers often overlook the importance of cleaning a sex toy after use. Sex toys often don’t come with instructions on how to clean them, but this is one of the most important practices when it comes to using your toy.

Why should I clean my sex toy?

Sex toys come into contact with the most sensitive parts of our body. While our bodily processes keep the bacteria in these areas at healthy levels, when the fluids come in contact with the material of a vibrator or dildo, the bacteria are no longer regulated.

Nasty bacteria, including thrush, can multiply rapidly on a solid or porous surface, and reintroducing these bacteria into your body can cause infections in the most sensitive places. It is important to clean your sex toy after each use for the reasons mentioned above. To prevent the spread of nasty bacteria during sessions, your toy should be cleaned after anal use (before using it in another orifice) and before using it with your partner.

How should I clean my sex toy?

You should invest in an antibacterial cleaner to remove fluids and microbes from your toy. These cleaners are strong enough to kill bacteria, yet gentle enough to use after every toy session. All toys must be cleaned, even those that do not come into direct contact with liquids or are used in the mouth.

Sex toy cleaner should be sprayed on the toy and gently wiped with a cloth to remove any residue; then they should be allowed to air dry.

Vibrations and dildos can also be cleaned with warm soapy water (preferably antibacterial soap), but remember where the toys will be used and keep this in mind when choosing a soap. Sex toy cleaners are pH balanced that does not interfere with the body’s natural harmony; however, some hand soaps do not have this benefit, so toys should be rinsed thoroughly after cleaning.

If your toy is made of silicone, read the instructions carefully as some can be placed in boiling water or in your dishwasher to clean them thoroughly.

If your toy is battery operated or electric, never submerge it in water as this can damage it as well as you. Wash under running water away from the battery or electronic compartment.