How to clean your sex toy? Here are some practical tips!
It’s not the most fun job, but it’s very important to clean your sex toy after use. At least, if you don’t want to get any nasty infections between your legs. Read all about how to clean your sex toy in this article.
Fighting bacteria
Perhaps you spend time with your silicone friend several times a week or maybe you’re saving it for special occassions. No matter how often you use it, it’s important to clean it regularly to give bacteria no chance of causing any trouble.
Many people put their sex toy back in their bedside table drawer and forget to clean it. This is really a no-go. It doesn’t just damage your toy in the long-term, but also creates the perfect environment for bacteria.
Clean your sex toy before and after use
It’s recommended not just to clean your toy after use, but before use as well. Sure, your vagina knows how to keep herself clean. But the bodily fluids that stick to your toy contain bacteria nonetheless. And you don’t want them to nestle in every tiny hole of your toy and multiply to their heart’s content. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly clean your toy after every use.
But even if your toy is clean, it’s still a good idea to rinse it off with warm water before you use it again. If you’re just as messy as we are, you probably store your toy in your nightstand next to nail clippers, dusty hair accessories, and other miscellaneous items. Chances are your Rabbit isn’t that clean anymore, even if you’ve thoroughly cleaned it not that long ago.
Damage check
Always check your new toy before you use it and make sure there are no sharp edges and it’s not damaged in any way. Tiny holes and cracks are the best hiding places for bacteria, which can cause infections if you insert them into your body. So always do a damage check beforehand!
Sex toys made of rubber, stainless steel and everything in between
Another pro tip? Find out what material your toy is made of. The material, and whether or not your toy has a motor, determines how you should clean your toy. You can usually find this information on the packaging or the user manual, but you can also often find it online.
Porous or non-porous?
If you are a bit of a germaphobe, it’s definitely a good idea to keep your body far away from porous materials. These types of materials, like jelly, rubber, or cyberskin, are often very soft and have many small openings that bacteria can hide in. You need to clean toys made of these materials very thoroughly, but that’s not great for your toy either. The more you use and clean your toy, the more porous and weak the material becomes. So you need to keep checking your toys very regularly.
Non-porous materials, like silicone, Pyrex, or stainless steel, are safer and often get labeled ‘medical grade materials’. That means that they meet the highest standards and that you can be sure you won’t get an STD or an infection if you clean your toy thoroughly after every use.
This is how to clean your sex toy
Every toy needs to be cleaned in a different way, depending on the material:
• Silicone, glass, stainless steel, or wood with a motor: use water and mild antibacterial soap, and then a clean cloth to dry your toy.
• Silicone, Pyrex, stainless steel, or stone without a motor: place your toy in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes or put it in the dishwasher without soap. The hot steam sterilises the toy. Your toy isn’t waterproof? Then it’s best to rinse it under the tap and dry it off with a clean cloth.
• Hard plastic, elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, rubber, or cyberskin: use a little bit of soap and warm water to clean your toy. If you brush it too hard or if you use too much soap, it can damage the senstive material, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Keep in mind that bacteria can keep multiplying inside these materials, even after cleaning it.
Sharing sex toys
If you share your sex toy with one or more partners, make sure that your toy is made of non-porous materials. And take extra care when you clean your toy between sessions. This should be just as self-evident as using a new condom with a new partner.
Speaking of condoms, if you want to be sure of a safe and hygienic experience, put a condom on your sex toy. There’s no need to do this if you’re the only one using your toy of course, but it’s highly recommended if you share it with your partner(s). It greatly reduces the risk of spreading bacteria and getting an infection.
Cleaning your sex toy
Like we said before, not every sex toy needs to be cleaned the same way. We’re going to dive a little deeper into the various cleaning routines and the do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind.
• Dishwasher: yes, some sex toys can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Doing this with an electric vibrator isn’t the best idea, but don’t be afraid to place your silicone dildos or butt plugs next to your dirty cups and plates. If you want to win the battle against bacteria, it’s best to choose a programme that heats the water to 65 degrees or higher. Please don’t use a dishwasher tablet. The chemical substances in the tablet can damage your toy.
• Water and mild antibacterial soap: warm tap water is great for cleaning your toys. You can combine it with mild antibacterial soap, but always make sure you rinse every last bit of soap off your toy after cleaning it. Getting soap in your vagina is not so great. Are there ridges or holes in your sex toy? Use a cotton swab to clean these hard to reach areas. This is where most bacteria can be found.
• Antibacterial wipe: if you’re in a rush, using an antibacterial wipe is a fast and effective way to get your toy squeaky clean. Rinse the toy with warm water after use and dry it off with a clean cloth or paper towel. All done!
• Boiling: bacteria don’t stand a chance when they’re up against boiling water, so this is the best method to clean sex toys made of certain materials. Place the toy in boiling water for about 3 tot 5 minutes. Be very careful with glass toys though, as they can start to crack when you leave them in hot water for too long. 1 minute in boiling water is the absolute limit for glass toys. Dry the toy with a clean cloth afterwards. Make sure your sex toy is waterproof and isn’t made of porous materials.
Storing your sex toy
If your toy is completely clean, you don’t want to put it back in that messy drawer, right? Store it in a box or a sex toy bag to protect it from bacteria and dust. If you’ve lost or thrown away the original packaging of your toy, don’t worry. There are many stylish items to be found online that you can put your toy in. When you found something suitable for storing your toy, put it in your bedside table or bathroom cabinet. Make sure no liquids, oils, or perfume is stored anywhere near your toy to prevent accidents.
Tip!
Always remove the batteries before cleaning your sex toy. The batteries can start to corrode if you don’t, which could damage the electronics inside your toy.
The best way to clean your toy? Use a toy cleaner!
Perhaps you’re happy with your water and soap routine, but a special toy cleaner really takes your cleaning skills to the next level. There are various types of toy cleaners available, from sprays to cleaners specially created for porous materials like rubber.
The best thing about toy cleaner is that it’s fast, discreet, and easy to dose. Simply spray some cleaner on your sex toy, rub it in with your fingers or a towel, leave it for one minute, then rinse it off with water. That last step is important, because most toy cleaners contains antibacterial substances. You don’t want to leave that on your toy and insert it into your vagina.
Tip!
It may sound confusing, but never use silicone cleaners in combination with silicone toys. Just like oil-based cleaners, they damage the outer layer of your toy. Instead, go for water-based cleaners.
Also view: all toy cleaners
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