Sex toys like vibrators, dildos, and anal toys come into direct contact with bodily fluids, so it's important to know how to clean them properly. Cleaning your sex toys doesn't have to be complicated, but the consequences of not doing so can be.

The use of unclean (dirty) sex toys can potentially introduce unwanted bacteria or other pathogens into the vagina or anus which can lead to overgrowth of these bacteria. Almost any type of sex toy can be surface cleaned using liquid soap and water and then air dried. But there are also situations in which it is better to disinfect your toys more thoroughly.

What you need to clean sex toys

For surface cleaning

• Water
• Liquid hand soap is the best option. Antibacterial soap is fine, but not necessary. Avoid using harsh soaps as a detergent.
• Paper towels or clean rags: use these to dry toys after cleaning.

For deep cleaning

• Boiling Water Pot: You can disinfect a variety of toys by first cleaning them superficially and then submerging them in boiling water for just a few minutes.
• Bleach: Boiling and using bleach will kill most - but not all - pathogens in your toys.
• Dishwasher: Make sure your dishwasher has the proper settings to disinfect. Otherwise, it is better to boil or use bleach on toys.
• Paper towels or clean rags: use these to dry toys after cleaning.

How long does it take to clean sex toys?

Cleaning times vary depending on the method you use. When cleaning the surface of toys, expect to spend one to three minutes per toy not including air drying time. If you're planning to boil a toy, expect to spend another three minutes to thoroughly disinfect it. Using bleach on toys to disinfect them takes about 10 minutes. If you choose to use a dishwasher, you should plan for a complete rinse cycle (time may vary for different brands).

How to choose sex toy cleaning method

Despite our suggestions for cleaning your sex toys, it's always a good idea to consult your toy's manual to learn the best way to clean it. There are three levels of cleaning:

• Surface cleaning removes surface material.
• Disinfecting, or sanitizing, destroys bacteria and certain pathogens.
• Sterilization kills absolutely all bacteria, viruses and fungi.

These cleaning tips are for toys that are non-porous and made from materials such as 100% silicone, metal, glass or hard plastic (ABS, TPE or TPC). It is difficult to thoroughly clean porous toys, including gelatin rubber, PVC, leather and certain types of stones. Porous toys can harbor bacteria, so experts don't recommend using them.

Basic surface cleaning

Virtually all types of sex toys can be cleaned with a thorough scrub. This technique does not disinfect or sterilize the toy. But in most cases, cleaning the surface is sufficient if you are the only person using the toy.

If a toy is waterproof, it's safe to fully submerge it to a certain depth. A toy's box or manual will usually indicate whether the toy is waterproof or splash-proof. If the toy is not waterproof, it should only be wiped clean with a paper towel or damp cloth - not rinsed or submerged in water.

If the toy is battery operated, remove the batteries before cleaning. Rinse the toy with water or wipe the surface of the toy with a damp paper towel or cloth to remove any surface debris. Then apply liquid soap directly to the toy, rub and rinse.

If the toy has grooves or crevices that trap dirt, use a dedicated soft toothbrush to remove any debris. Then rinse the toy until it is squeaky clean. Place the clean toy on a clean towel and let it air dry.

Disinfect or Sanitize

Sometimes, a simple cleaning is not enough. These are some situations in which it is advisable to disinfect a toy:

• The toy will be shared by more than one person.
• The toy came into contact with the genitals during an active fungal, bacterial or sexually transmitted infection and may be harboring the associated pathogens.
• You want to use the same toy anally and vaginally.
• You want to remove the odor of an anal toy.

These techniques kill most pathogens. Meanwhile, the dishwasher can be effective in killing bacteria, but not viruses or fungi. These steps can also be helpful for removing odors from silicone toys.

Boiling

You can disinfect 100% silicone, stainless steel and glass toys by cleaning them first and then immersing them in a pot of boiling water for three minutes. We recommend that for glass toys, you use a cloth as a cushion to prevent them from cracking or breaking.

Remove the boiled toy from the water with tongs and let it air dry on a clean towel. Do not rinse with cold water immediately after boiling, as the extreme change in temperature can cause the material to crack.

Dishwasher

You can also deep clean multiple non-mechanized 100% silicone, stainless steel and glass toys in one go by placing them in the top rack of the dishwasher after surface cleaning. Then put the dishwasher on the soap-free sanitizing cycle. This method is not recommended if you share the dishwasher with people other than your sexual partners.

The dishwasher is not as effective at disinfecting toys as boiling water. If your dishwasher has a sanitizing setting, it will use a prolonged hot water rinse to only kill bacteria but not all viruses or fungus.

Bleach

Toys can be disinfected with a bleach solution after surface cleaning. You can make a bleach solution and use the ratio of five tablespoons (⅓ cup) of bleach per liter of water. You must spray the toy with the solution and let it rest for 10 minutes or soak the toy in the solution for 10 minutes.

How to store sex toys to keep them clean

After cleaning your toys, it's important to store them properly so they stay clean until the next use. Many sex toys come with a pouch, bag, case or tissue box where they can be stored when not in use, but any sealable object is fine for a non-porous toy. This will keep your toy free of dust and lint.

Toys should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place, such as on shelves or in drawers. Keep toys out of direct sunlight or anywhere they could be damaged by water. While non-motorized toys made from silicone, glass and stainless steel tend to be extremely durable, a toy should be discarded if it has visible cracks as these defects can make the toy dangerous to use and difficult to clean. The same goes for tears or cracks in silicone toys.

The easiest way to sanitize and maintain your toys in an easy, quick and effective way is to use a good sex toy cleaner!
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