How to Clean Sex Toys So They're Ready for Your Next Session

Wash every toy before and after use with warm water and a mild, unscented soap, then let it dry completely before you put it away. Solid silicone, glass and stainless steel toys without a motor can often be boiled if the maker allows it. Vibrators get a careful wipe, and porous materials need extra care.

Clean toys aren't the unsexy part of play. They're the reason your favorite toy is waiting for you, fresh and ready, the next time the urge hits at midnight. A few minutes at the sink keeps irritation and infections out of your play. Here's exactly how to treat each toy you love.

First, Know What Your Toy Is Made Of: Porous vs Nonporous

How you clean a toy depends almost entirely on its material, so check the packaging or the maker's instructions first. Toys fall into two groups. Nonporous toys have a sealed, smooth surface that germs can't sink into. Porous toys have microscopic pores that can hold onto bacteria, lube and smells, even after washing.

Nonporous materials include body-safe silicone, glass, stainless steel and hard plastic. These are the easiest to keep truly clean. Porous materials include soft jelly, many realistic skin-like materials, and some rubbery blends. They feel soft and squishy in the hand, but they need extra care and don't last forever.

If you're not sure what a toy is made of, treat it as porous. That means gentle washing, careful drying, and covering it with a condom if you share it or switch between different kinds of play. And if it smells strongly of chemicals straight out of the box, that's a good sign it isn't the body-safe kind.

How to Clean Each Type of Sex Toy

Every toy has its own routine. Start with the material, then think about what's inside it: a motor, a battery, a hollow channel. The steps below cover the toys most people own, from solid dildos and plugs to wands and strokers.

Silicone, Glass and Steel Without a Motor

These are the easy ones. Wash with warm water and a mild, unscented soap, working into every ridge and curve with your fingers or a soft cloth. Rinse well so no soap stays behind. If the maker allows it, solid silicone and stainless steel toys can also be boiled for a few minutes for a deeper clean.

Glass needs a little tenderness. Put it into water while the water is still cool and let everything heat up together, then let it cool slowly afterward. Sudden temperature changes can crack glass. Check every glass toy for chips or cracks before each use, and retire any that are damaged, however pretty they are.

Vibrators, Wands and Anything With a Motor

Never boil anything with a motor or a battery inside. First check whether your toy is labeled waterproof or only splash-resistant. Waterproof toys can be washed under the tap with warm water and mild soap, as long as the charging port or battery cap is sealed tight.

If a toy isn't waterproof, don't hold it under running water. Wipe it down with a cloth dampened in warm, soapy water, then with a cloth dampened in plain water, keeping moisture away from buttons and ports. For a wand, pay special attention to the head, and take off any removable attachment to wash it separately.

Strokers and Sleeves

Sleeves hide a lot inside those tight, textured walls that feel so good in the moment. Rinse them with warm water right after use, and if the sleeve comes out of its case or turns inside out, do that for a thorough wash. Use a little mild soap, rinse until the water runs clear, and squeeze gently to push water out of the channel.

Anal Toys

Anal toys deserve an extra thorough wash every single time. Clean them right after use, before anything dries onto the surface, and only buy anal toys with a flared base so nothing can slip too far. Never move a toy from anal to vaginal play without washing it first or changing the condom on it, since bacteria travel easily and can cause infections.

The Cleaning Mistakes That Ruin Toys

Most toy damage comes from good intentions and the wrong products. Harsh cleaners can break down surfaces, leave residues that irritate delicate skin, or turn a smooth toy sticky. Keep things simple, and your toys stay silky for a long time. These are the habits to drop right away:

• Scented or harsh soaps. Fragrances and strong chemicals can irritate sensitive skin. Mild and unscented wins.
• Alcohol and bleach on soft toys. They can dry out, crack or damage many materials.
• Boiling anything with electronics. Motors and water don't mix.
• Putting toys away wet. Trapped moisture invites mold and smells.
• Skipping the before wash. Dust and lint gather in drawers, so rinse before play too.

How to Store Sex Toys and When to Replace Them

Pat each toy dry with a clean, lint-free towel, then let it air dry fully before you put it away. Store toys in a clean pouch or box, away from heat and direct sunlight, and keep them from pressing against each other. Take batteries out of toys you won't use for a while.

Replace a toy when its surface turns sticky, cloudy, cracked or torn, when it keeps a smell after washing, or when the color changes in patches. Porous toys wear out sooner than silicone or glass. And if you ever notice itching, burning or anything unusual after play, stop using the toy and see a doctor.

While your freshly washed toys dry on the towel, you don't have to wait around. Let the hands-free player keep you simmering, or open Multi-view and watch performers put their own toys to wicked use. Browse toy clips and wand scenes for ideas you'll want to try the moment everything's dry.

Sex Toy Cleaning FAQ