How to Store Sex Toys

In this guide: Why is it important? | How to store sex toys | Storage options

Let’s be honest – after a steamy session, the last thing on your mind is carefully putting your playthings away. But a little care goes a long way when it comes to keeping your sex toys in good condition.

“You might be thinking you can just bung ‘em in your bedside drawer and that’s that,” says Annabelle Knight, sex and relationships expert. “But storing your sex toys together actually damages them. So, you end up wasting your money or with a melty sex toy that looks gross – that you definitely shouldn’t use.”

But looking after your sex toy collection is super easy! In this guide, you’ll find out how to store sex toys properly, dos and don’ts for different toy materials, and a few simple cleaning tips.

Only got time for a quickie?

If you’re short on time, check out these quick notes on sex toy storage – or skip ahead for more details on the how, when, where, and why.

• Store your clean sex toys somewhere clean, dry, and away from direct sunlight.

• This will help prolong the life of your toys, keeping them in good condition for longer.

• For easy cleaning and storage, stick to high-quality sex toy materials such as silicone, stainless steel, borosilicate glass, or hard ABS plastic.

• Consider storage bags, storage boxes, bedside drawers, and any other hygienic, discreet places you may have to hand – but always store your toys separately.

Storing sex toys properly is important because it’s more hygienic and helps prolong the life of your toys. You want that bad boy to last a long time before you ever have to replace it!

“All sorts of nasty things can happen if you don’t store your sex toys properly,” says Annabelle Knight. “The main one being that they can kind of melt.” This is a risk with silicone toys, as well as rubber, or jelly.

‘‘While good quality sex toys are body safe, they’re really reactive when stored next to each other,” Annabelle explains. “Hard ABS plastics and glass don’t have this problem, but you still want to store them separately, just to ensure you don’t get any marks or scratches on them.”

Exposure to heat, direct sunlight, dust, moisture, contaminants, mould, chemical reactions, bacteria – all these things can damage your toys over time and may even put you at risk of an infection. But don’t worry! It’s easy to care for your toys when you know how.

“When it comes to storing sex toys, most people just put them all in a box and shove them under the bed or in a nightstand,” says Annabelle. “It’s really important that you don’t do this!” Instead, check out these quick storage tips to help keep your sex toys in top condition.

Stick to high quality sex toy materials

Silicone, stainless steel, borosilicate glass, and hard ABS plastic are the gold standard of the toy box – non-porous, body-safe, and easy to keep squeaky clean. On the flip side, cheaper options like jelly or rubber can seep chemicals (phthalates) that don’t play nicely with your body (or the planet).

If premium toys feel like too much of a splurge, avoid resorting to cheap online shopping sites that don’t specialize in sex toys. You can find plenty of affordable, body-safe toys from more trustworthy retailers that have decades of experience in the field – like Lovehoney!

Stick to non-porous toys when you can but, if you do dabble in the cheaper stuff, just give them their own storage space and pop on a condom before playtime to keep things safe and sexy.

Remove batteries before storing

These days, most vibrators are rechargeable via a USB charging cable. But you can still get toys that use disposable batteries. If that’s your toy, it’s helpful to remove the batteries after you play – to prolong battery life and avoid leakage.

Keep your toys clean

No matter how carefully you store your toys, the most important step is keeping them clean. You can follow our detailed guide on how to clean sex toys – but here are the key things to know:

• Always check the manual for specific cleaning instructions for each toy. It’ll also tell you how waterproof your toy is, if at all. Full submersible toys are the easiest to clean but, if you’re not sure, sex toy wipes are an easy, safe option.

• Hand-wash your sex toys with a sex toy cleaner or warm water and an antibacterial soap. Stick to mild, fragrance-free soap as harsh chemical fragrances can cause skin irritation.

• Allow your sex toys to air dry before storing them. You can pat them dry with a clean towel if needed but avoid rubbing vigorously.

Air dry after cleaning

To avoid damp smells and mould, your sex toys should be left to air dry completely before storing them. Let your toys dry on a clean surface in a well-ventilated place (e.g. on top of a cold radiator) out of direct sunlight. Never use hot radiators or hair dryers to speed up the process! If you need a toy to dry quickly, pat it dry with a clean towel and use the cold air setting on a hair dryer.

Store your toys separately

It’s essential to store your toys separately – ideally in their own case or with dividers – to stop materials from reacting with each other. Having individual, breathable storage bags also helps prevent bacteria, mould, or unpleasant odours from creeping in. More on storage options below!

Expert advice: You can keep lubricants in the same drawer or box as your other toys. Just be sure each toy has its own storage bag and you pop the lid back on your lube – or twist the pump to the ‘closed’ position – to prevent leaks.

Keep toys and charging cables together

Nothing kills the mood faster than rummaging through a tangled nest of mystery charging cables. Plus, using the wrong charging cable can fry your favourite vibe – heartbreaking stuff.

Never suffer coitus interruptus again – just keep each toy with its own specific cable. Rather than wrapping your charging cable tightly around the toy, just slip it inside the storage bag. That way, you won’t wear out the cable or get marks on the surface of your toy.

Storing your toys isn’t just about hiding them away – the right storage can turn a frantic drawer rummage into a quick, confident grab for exactly what you want. From chic boxes to silky bags and even clever furniture hacks, there’s a solution for every collection and every bedroom setup.

Storage bags

Most toys arrive with their own little storage bag that the manufacturer would love for you to use - though it’s easy to miss if you don’t check the box properly. “There might be a satin drawstring bag tucked right at the bottom,” says Annabelle. Worth a look!

If you do need a replacement storage bag, stick to breathable fabrics like cotton, silk, or satin to keep things fresh, and avoid plastic bags altogether since they trap moisture and can get unhygienic.

Storage boxes

Who doesn’t love a good toy box – especially one with secrets this exciting? Go as big, small, chic, or downright quirky as you like, just keep a couple of things in mind:

• Skip airtight boxes (your toys like a little breathing room)

• Give each toy its own bag or mini box within the larger box

Furniture storage

In an ideal world, maybe you’d pull a secret lever to reveal a luxurious walk-in closet just for your toys. But back in reality, for any of us with larger collections (or even just a few bigger toys), there are plenty of clever, low-key storage solutions. Think stackable boxes, or furniture with hidden storage – like a trusty ottoman with a lid – so your toys stay tidy, safe, and always within reach.

Now you know…

“Storing your sex toys properly is a s key to a happy and healthy sex life as gin is to a good G&T,” says Annabelle. So, always keep your toys clean, dry, and tucked away somewhere hygienic to dodge dust, damage, and curious eyes.

Whether it’s in cute little bags, sturdy boxes, or a bedside drawer, proper storage isn’t just smart – it keeps your toys in good condition, makes them last longer, and ensures your playtime stays fun and worry-free.