How to Clean Your Sex Toys

Gently scrubbing your dildo in a sink full of warm soapy water is a great start, but there are a few factors to consider, such as; the material your toys are made from (silicone, plastic, glass, metal etc.) and whether the toy is battery-operated or waterproof.

Cleaning your toys is actually really easy with the right techniques and products (much easier than dealing with a painful urinary tract infection or any uncomfortable yeast infections, anyway). Plus, your toys will last longer if you keep them clean – and you can be more spontaneous next time you're in the mood to play. It’s a win-win situation.

This guide will break down how to clean your sex toys and make sure you know the dos and don’ts. You’ll know how to clean everything from silicone toys to battery-operated toys – all in a few easy steps!

Simplify your play-time routine: Shop sex toy cleaners

How to clean sex toys: The basics

First things first. Non-porous sex toy materials like silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass are the easiest to clean and most hygienic. You can clean most porous toys using the same way as non-porous ones, but you may not be able to sanitise them perfectly.

If you’re playing solo or with a trusted partner where you know each other’s STI status, warm water and a mild soap (or a good quality sex toy cleaner****) will do the trick. You don’t need to use antibacterial soap but be wary of anything too harsh (like dish soap) which may irritate sensitive skin.

Here’s how we recommend cleaning most toys:

1. Rinse under warm water

2. Wash all over with a mild soap, or spray your toy with sex toy cleaner

3. Leave for 30 seconds or so

4. Gently scrub any stubborn areas such as ridges or nodules

5. Carefully rinse everything away with warm water

6. Leave your toys to air dry on a clean surface or speed up the process by thoroughly hand-drying with a clean towel

By cleaning thoroughly and drying your toys completely, you’ll prevent dust and bacteria build-up and keep your toys looking and feeling brand new. “Let’s face it, cleaning up afterwards isn’t anyone’s favourite part,” says Lovehoney customer Mr&MrsB. “But the Lovehoney toy cleaner makes it quick and easy as can be, ready for next time, and keeps toys in great condition.”

Dos and don’ts for cleaning your sex toys

• DO check the care instructions that came with your toy

• DO clean your toys before and after use

• DO use a mild soap or sex toy cleaner for extra peace of mind

• DO leave your sex toys to air dry thoroughly, or dry with a fresh, clean towel

• DON’T use bleach or other harsh cleaning products

• DON'T put your sex toys away before they are completely dry

• DON'T leave your sex toys on a radiator or next to a heat source to dry (and definitely don’t use a hair dryer!)

• DON'T store your newly cleaned toys together (more sex toy storage tips below!)

Tips for trickier to clean toys

Warm, soapy water is your safest bet for cleaning most toys, but you may need to take extra care with:

• Non-waterproof toys with electronic components, e.g. some battery-operated vibrators

• Insertable toys with lots of texture, nooks and crannies e.g. ridged prostate toys or insertable rabbit vibrators

• Realistic-feel toys like a Fleshlight

• Toys you plan on sharing with multiple partners whose STI status you may not know

How to clean non-waterproof sex toys

Waterproof toys are a breeze to clean (look for an IPX7 rating), as it doesn’t matter how wet you get them during cleaning. But you may come across toys that aren’t fully submersible. especially if they have electronic components. For example, bullet vibrators aren't usually waterproof, even though they're one of the best sex toys for beginners. Luckily, they're very easy to surface-clean, as you'll see below.

When cleaning toys with replaceable batteries, you may need to remove the batteries or close the battery compartments tightly before cleaning. Wiping down your toys without submerging them in water will help you avoid water-damage.

Here’s how to surface clean non-waterproof toys:

• Wipe down your toy with a soapy washcloth

• Use another clean, damp cloth to rinse away the soap

• Hand dry with a clean towel or leave to air dry on a clean surface

• Store in a clean, dry place or use a sex toy storage bag

Of course, it’s much easier to use sex toy cleaning wipes – no rinsing required! Lovehoney wipes are compatible with most sex toy materials and even biodegradable. All you need to do is wipe down your toy and follow the same drying and storage instructions as before.

How to clean insertable toys with lots of texture

Insertable toys get up close and personal with all your bodily fluids. Whether it’s a lifelike dildo or a prostate vibrator, cleaning after every use will keep you safe from harmful bacteria. If you enjoy a little anal play, it's even more important to clean your dildos and other instertable toys.

But lots of insertable toys, like thrusting rabbit vibrators, have little ridges, nooks, and crannies designed to intensify your pleasure. They may also intensify your cleaning routine – just a little.

Once again, we cannot recommend sex toy cleaning wipes enough. These quick-drying bad boys can fit in to all those hard-to-reach spots. Plus, they’re small and handy enough to keep in a bedside table or drawer. Here’s what to do:

• Clean your toy thoroughly using a damp cloth or warm soapy water (remember to check if it’s waterproof before submerging)

• Pat dry your toy using a paper towel

• Get to work on any stubborn nooks and crannies using your sex toy cleaning wipes

• Hand dry with a clean towel or leave to air dry

• Store in a clean, dry place

What about toys where you're the one being inserted? Check out this guide to cleaning male sex toys.

How to clean realistic-feel toys

Realistic-feel sex toys, like Fleshlights, are made from a mix of (usually trademarked) materials that are made to feel as close to real skin as possible. When cleaning a Fleshlight, or any toys with a realistic-feel, there's one extra step you need to take to keep them feeling soft and supple instead of sticky.

It’s simple: sprinkle your toy with a renewer powder. This will counteract that nasty tacky feeling and give your toy a longer life.

“After washing and leaving to dry, [our realistic toys] always felt a tad sticky,” says one customer, Horny_couple_69. “We knew we had to make this purchase. And wow, it really does put the life back into our toys!”

Not sure if your toy needs renewal powder? Check to see if it’s made of any of these realistic feel materials: CyberSkin, Fleshlight, Futurotic Plus, LoveClone, Loveskin, Magic Flesh, Realskin, Refined Touch, Sil-A-Gel, Silk Skin, Skin Touch, SoftSkin, SoftTouch, True Skin, UR3 (Ultra Realistic 3.0), Virtual Skin.

How to clean shared toys

It’s great to share... so long as you’re not at risk of STIs or bacterial vaginosis (BV). When sharing your toys with multiple partners, consider using condoms while you play for added protection and peace of mind. Otherwise, you’ll need to sterilize your toys after every use. It’s also best to avoid sharing porous toys, since cleaning them is much more challenging. If you do want to share a porous toy, always use a condom.

If your toys are made of a non-porous material like silicone, stainless steel, or borosilicate glass, you can easily sterilize them by placing them in a pot of boiling water for around three minutes. Just be careful to avoid scalding yourself when sterilizing your toys!

How to store sex toys after cleaning

Whether you have a box, drawer, cupboard or room dedicated to your toys, it's important to store them properly so they stay clean and ready until their next use. Many toys come with a fabric pouch, case, or box that they can be stored in when not in use, but any sealable pouch or case is fine for a nonporous toy. This will keep your toy dust- and lint-free.

For long-lasting toys, check out the full guide: How to Store Your Sex Toys