How To Clean And Store Sex Toys Properly So You Can Focus On The Fun
Glass or Pyrex storage containers, as well as silk or satin bags, also work well. Some companies also make UV storage chambers that help to disinfect the toys after they've been cleaned, Watts explains. Cleaning your sex toys after each use is recommended for overall health and safety. It may not be the sexiest part of using them, but it is definitely necessary. "Pleasure products can help you embrace confidence, help navigate intimate desires and boundaries and boost self-love," said Kristin Fretz, co-founder and CMO of Emojibator.
I suggest throwing them out, as not even a condom can provide adequate protection from the harsh chemicals it’s loaded with. That being said, I’m also not one for policing what people do with their bodies, so if you find yourself too attached to the gadget to toss it, using it won’t kill you. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Stubbs notes that you should also wash your toys right when you take them out of the package. “Even though they’re new toys, the factories they came from aren’t clean rooms,” she says. Place your toy in storage bags or pouches to keep clean in-between use.
Just be sure to keep your vibrator away from areas that may have oils, powders, and perfumes around, Holly Richmond, PhD, a somatic psychologist and certified sex therapist previously told Women's Health. When you're reveling in post-climax bliss, how you're going to clean the sex toy that just sent you over the edge is probably the last thing on your mind. No matter how you wash your toy, double-check that it’s dry before storing it. “Porous or not, you don’t want to have anything that could build mildew or mold, or make your toys smell weird,” Finn says. Ensuring that your toy is fully dry also lessens the likelihood that any pathogens can cling on for dear life. Do the same thing you’d do for the toys listed above, but don’t expose it to too much soap.
The formula is suitable for use with silicone, rubber, and latex. A quick and dirty expert-approved guide to keeping all of your sex toys germ-free. When it comes to shopping for sex toys, sometimes you don’t see quite what you want in the sex shops. As someone who creates smart sex toys for a living, I look at a lot of different sex toys for my job. Or yes, even place in the dishwasher if you want (I won’t tell).
Leather cleaners will take care of any lingering germs and will likely the best way to clean sex toys condition your toys at the same time, keeping them in tip-top shape for as long as possible. Soda-lime glass isn’t, but all three can be damaged by exposure to high heat. For that reason, it’s best to clean these toys using only lukewarm water. If the toy is motorized, soak a washcloth in warm, soapy water and ring it out before wiping down your toy. If the toy is not motorized, rinse the toy off under running warm water before cleaning it down with a soap-filled washcloth.
Just as you wash your body after sex and rigorously wash your hands after…well, touching anything, cleaning sex toys is crucial to being as safe and healthy as possible. Almost every type of sex toy can be surface-cleaned, using liquid soap and water, and then air-dried. But we will also identify situations where it’s better to more thoroughly disinfect your toys. “Porous materials can be cleaned with soap and water or a toy cleaner. A gentle liquid soap, like you would use for your hands, is a fine choice for most toys,” Deysach says.
It doesn't have an obnoxious smell, and gets my silicone toys squeaky clean. One way to decrease that risk of an infection is to actually use a condom with your sex toy. “Using a condom can help decrease the risk of transmitting bacteria, especially when sharing toys between partners. You’ll just want to make sure you use a condom-safe lube—” a.k.a. one that's water-based, says Fine. To ward off these infections, you should wash your sex toys regularly—as in every time you use them.
Consider investing in sex toy cleaning sprays and wipes, which are specifically formulated to clean sex toys without damaging them. Stubbs recommends Goodwipes Down There Wipes, or Doc Johnson antibacterial toy cleaner. Wood sex toys are often sealed with a medical-grade finish that makes them nonporous; however, always double-check with the specific manufacturer. Clean using a mild soap and warm water or a damp, soapy washcloth.
As I mentioned earlier in the piece, you can use a mild soap and hot water to clean most silicone, glass, stainless steel and wood accessories. But just dousing it in your choice of mild, fragrance-free soap and running it under water isn’t going to wash away bacteria, dust, lube or any other miscellaneous residues. The trick is to really lather up the soap before rinsing it off with hot water.