There’s nothing like the feeling of reaching for a brand-new clit sucking vibrator right out of the box... or the feeling of reaching for a still-new sex toy that’s quickly becoming a favorite... or the feeling of reaching for those well-loved cheap sex toys that are exactly what you need!
But nothing ruins the moment like settling in, reaching for the power button, and realizing it’s still covered in dried lube from the last time you used it. Furthermore, using vibrators that have not been cleaned beforehand can pose a risk to intimate health. As an outcome, the shift from pleasure to discomfort may be quicker than you think.
To avoid these bad experiences, today we will teach you how to clean sex toys.
Importance of Knowing How To Clean Sex Toys
Regular cleaning, including disinfecting, is absolutely crucial to keep your sex toys, new or old, in top shape, body safe, and ready to go at any moment. Knowing how to clean sex toys is also important to reduce yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and the spread of STIs between sexual partners– including between your partner and yourself, or your past self to your current self–if you use your best sex vibrator with anyone else.
So how do you make sure your sex toy is clean and ready to go, each and every time? Below, we’ve broken down what to do according to what your sex toy is made of, including whether or not it has a motor.
A quick note: you can’t kill every piece of bacteria on your sex toys at home, particularly if you’re using toys with motors or made of anything that can’t stand up to time in an autoclave (and also if, like most of us, you don’t have access to an autoclave).
What you can do is reduce the amount and growth of bacteria on your sex toys in a way that reduces the risk that it will spread. And this is simpler than you could imagine.
How To Get Started Cleaning Sex Toys
To clean your sex toy, first, check out the packaging or original instructions for any guidelines or warnings:
- Is your toy waterproof, meaning it’s safe to submerge, or splash-proof, meaning you can wipe it down with a wet cloth (or use it in a wet hole) but shouldn’t submerge it, or neither, meaning you shouldn’t get it wet at all?
- Are there any electrical components? If so, are they removable, like a bullet vibrator in the base of a stationary silicone dildo, or fixed, like the powerful motors inside Tracy’s Dog’s best-selling G-spot vibrator? If they’re removable, separate the different toys and look at the cleaning instructions for each separately. If they’re an enclosed unit, secure any covers your toy might have over its charging holes.
- Look at the material your toy is made of. If you’re not sure, or you’ve lost the original packaging or user manual, try typing a description of your sex toy into Google and using image search to help you find the right one. And if your toy is a Tracy’s Dog sex toy, then you’re probably dealing with silicone and ABS – non-porous, body-safe, and so easy to clean.
The best time to clean a sex toy is right after you use it. You should also make sure to clean it between partners–say if you’re having such a good time with the Tracy’s Dog vibrator for anal sex that your partner wants to try it, too – and, if it’s a brand new sex toy, before the very first time you use it.
What to Clean Sex Toys with?
Though the details vary between materials, there are three main ways to clean your sex toys. There is nothing complex, but the discipline of forming a habit of cleaning the toys immediately after use is more important.
This way, you not only avoid the chance of infection but also enjoy pleasure when you need it the most, without having to put the fun on hold while you wash your powerful vibrators.
First Method: Anti-Microbial Soap and Water
Anti-microbial soap, warm water and a clean cloth are great ways to clean most sex toys, submersible or otherwise. They’re thorough, gentle, and will help to remove bacteria from the surface of the toy. This is a great method either if you want to clean a rabbit vibrator, a wand vibrator or a butt plug & anal beads.
Second Method: Boiling
For silicone sex toys that don’t have motors or metal sex toys, a soap-and-water wash and then a cycle in the top rack of the dishwasher or ten minutes in a pot of boiling water is a great way to reduce bacteria and leave your toy sparking.
Third Method: Sex Toy Cleaner
Some sex toys can’t get wet or come with instructions that recommend using a sex toy cleaner for maintenance. Sex toy cleaners are specifically designed for the job, ensuring effective and safe cleaning. They are formulated to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful microorganisms, maintaining hygiene and reducing the risk of infection. Moreover, they are usually free from harsh chemicals that can damage the materials of sex toys, ensuring their longevity. Using alternatives like soap or alcohol can lead to irritation, degradation of materials, and residual odors. Sex toy cleaners offer a convenient, non-abrasive, and non-irritating solution, promoting both cleanliness and the durability of your intimate products.
Tracy's Dog Sex Toy Misting Cleaner
Tracy's Dog Sex Toy Misting Cleaner is a highly effective and user-friendly solution for keeping sex toys clean and ready to go. This specialized cleaner is designed with convenience and safety in mind, offering a misting spray that ensures thorough and easy application. Its gentle yet potent formula effectively eliminates bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants, protecting users' health. What sets it apart is its compatibility with a wide range of materials, protecting the integrity of your sex toys. With Sex Toy Misting Cleaner, you can trust that your sex toys will remain clean, odor-free, and in excellent condition, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
How to Clean Specific Types of Sex Toys
However, as previously stated, sex toys can be quite various, and when it comes to cleaning them, it is critical to pay attention to the requirements of the vibrators you use.
This way, you'll not only know how to clean your vibrator, but you'll also know which cleaning methods can harm it.
Silicone Sex Toys With Motors
Many Tracy’s Dog sex toys are made of medical-grade silicone and have motors that you can’t remove. Clean all such toys with anti-microbial soap and water.
Silicone Sex Toys With No Motors
Silicone sex toys that don’t have motors are some of the easiest toys to clean. They’re compatible with any of the above cleaning methods, but to be really thorough, wash them with anti-microbial soap and water and then boil them for ten minutes or put them in the dishwasher on the top rack.
ABS Plastic Sex Toys
For these toys, it is essential to avoid any dishwasher, so you will not damage them. All you have to do is wash them with anti-microbial soap and water, and everything will be just fine.
Metal Sex Toys
Due to their non-porous nature, metal sex toys are extremely easy to clean. Use any method above, and boiling water or a dishwasher cycle before sharing them between partners or holes.
Just remember to be gentle when adding a metal toy to a pot of boiling water, boil one toy at a time, and remove them carefully with tongs that can support their weight. Metal also gets hot, so have a thick towel standing by to protect your counter while your toy cools.
Glass Sex Toys
When sex toys are made of glass, they’re usually made of soda lime glass or borosilicate glass. Both are more shatter-resistant – but they’re still glass. If you’re prone to dropping slippery objects when you wash them, line your sink with a small towel or thick washcloth to cushion the toy if it slips.
The other trick with glass toys is to introduce temperature changes gradually so they don’t shatter. If your toy is cool to the touch and you want to wash it under hot running water with soap, start with cooler water and then gradually increase the temperature. Never drop a glass sex toy into boiling water.
Wooden Sex Toys
Read the directions on your toy carefully. Many wooden sex toys are sealed to make them body-safe, so how you clean them depends on how they were made.
If you’re not sure, warm water and soap without fully submersing the toy is a safe bet. Make sure to dry it off immediately.
Elastomer or Latex Sex Toys
It’s better to avoid elastomer or latex sex toys, but if you have a favorite you’re not ready to retire, wash it with anti-microbial soap and water or with a sex toy cleaner.
Jelly, PVC, Rubber, TRP, Vinyl, or TPE Sex Toys
These sex toy materials have a range of safety concerns and can sometimes be toxic. These sex toys are also usually porous, which means that, if you can, it’s better to replace them with medical-grade silicone counterparts.
If you want to keep them, cover them with a condom before use to reduce your exposure to any bacteria they might already be full of, and then remove the condom and wash them with warm soap and water afterwards.
Wrapping Up!
Sex toys can be a lot of fun and can be incorporated into a variety of routines, especially now that there is the option of purchasing a couple's vibrator to take sexual encounters to the next level.
This does not, however, imply that they are always ready to be utilized safely. But they could, if you clean them after each use to avoid any discomfort such as an infection.
Cleaning sex toys should take no more than 5 minutes, and you can be confident that your sexual adventures, whether alone or with a partner, will be carefree and full of delight.