How to Clean Your Sex Toys

Use the following guide and tips to properly clean your sex toys, and prevent possible bacterial and fungal growth that could lead to UTIS and other infections.

Surface Cleaning Basics

If you are the only person using your sex toys, then a surface cleanse should work well for you.

Sex toys should be cleaned after each use, especially if it is a penetrative/internal sex toy, such as a dildo, butt plug, vibrator, anal beads, etc.

Most sex toys can be cleaned with soapy water, or with a cleanser made specifically for cleaning sex toys, however, some toys that have batteries should be handeled with caution.

To clean toys that have electrical components, take out the batteries first, and NEVER submerge the device into water. Use a damp soapy washcloth to clean the surface of the device.

To dry your sex toys after cleaning the surface, air dry, use paper towels, or use a clean lint free cloth, and then store the dry toy in a pouch away from moisture in order to prevent bacterial growth.

If toys are being shared, we advise the use of a condom on the toy to prevent possible STI infection, and deeper cleaning methods such as:

  • Surface-cleaning your toys, and then carefully submerging them in boiling water for just a few minutes.*

    • 100% silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass toys can be submerged in boiling water for 3 minutes.

    • Add a towel at the bottom of the pan to prevent glass toys from moving around, and possibly cracking or breaking.

    • Monitor the boiling as it occurs, remove the toys with tongs after 3 minutes, and place them on a clean towel to air dry.

    • NEVER rinse the freshly boiled toys with cold water, as the extreme temperature differences can cause stress and damage to the toy, as well as physical bodily harm.

*This method should only be used with toys made of material that can withstand being boiled.

  • Surface-cleaning your toys, and then cleaning your toys with a bleach solution.**

    • Create a bleach solution using the ratio of five tablespoons (⅓ cup) household bleach per gallon of water.

    • Spray the toy with the bleach solution and let sit for 10 minutes, OR submerge the toy in the bleach solution for 10 minutes.***

    • Once the bleach treatment is done, thoroughly wash the toy with soap and water again.

**This method will kill most—but not all—pathogens on your toys .

***Only toys rated as 100% waterproof (not splashproof) are safe to submerge in bleach solution.

  • Surface-cleaning your toys, and then using a dishwasher with the appropriate settings to disinfect.****

    • You can deep clean a few nonmechanized 100% silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass toys simultaneously by first surface cleaning them, and then placing them on the top rack of the dishwasher.

    • Run the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle without soap.

****This method should only be used with toys made of material that can withstand being in a dishwasher.

Dry your toys by allowing them to air dry or using a clean lint free cloth, and then storing in a pouch away from moisture to prevent bacterial growth.

Deep Cleaning Tips

General Tips

  • If your sex toy has grooves or crevices, clean those areas with a soft toothbrush dedicated solely for cleaning your sex toys, and then continue to cleanse, rinse, and dry.

  • Any sealable pouch or case is fine for a nonporous toy to be stored in.

  • Store silicone anal toys in “something breathable” (not plastic) to avoid odor issues.

  • If your toy has rips, tears, or visible cracks in plastic, acrylic, or glass, dispose of it, as it is difficult to clean, and may lead to bodily harm.

  • Stainless steel, glass, and medical-grade silicone waterproof toys are the easiest to clean, wipe down, and dry.