How to Clean Sex Toys

Sex toys are bringers of joy, pleasure, and...pathogens?

Unboxing a brand-new vibrator or cock ring is almost as exciting as using these items. But if you don’t know how to clean sex toys properly, your fun romp can quickly turn into a not-so-fun trip to the pharmacy.

Sex toys come into direct contact with bodily fluids, so it’s important to know how to disinfect and sanitize them. Using an unclean sex toy can put you and your partner at risk for bacterial or fungal infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs) and yeast infections. In most cases, you can avoid all this with a little mild soap and warm water. However, different toys call for different cleaning methods, which we’ll share below.

Keep reading to find out why it’s crucial to know how to clean sex toys effectively, tips to keep all sorts of sex toys clean, and other ways to practice good hygiene when you’re up to no good.

Things are getting hot and heavy when you decide to take it up a notch by breaking out the toys. You fumble around in the drawer for one of your faves, but just as you’re about to use it on your partner or yourself, a thought crosses your mind: When’s the last time I cleaned this thing?

Slow down, sir. We know pressing pause on the moment might seem like a temporary inconvenience, but it can save you a lot of trouble.

Using unsanitized sex toys could pose a health risk for you and your partner. And it’s not just a once-in-a-while thing. You’ll need to clean them after every use.

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Sex Toys?

Studies show that sharing sex toys between partners without the use of barriers (like condoms) or without washing the toy in between uses is associated with:

• STIs (sexually transmitted infections) like human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV)

• UTIs

• Yeast infections

According to one study, even infections considered foodborne illnesses — like salmonella, shigella, and campylobacter — can be spread through sexual contact, including the use of anal toys or fingers.

If you’re not into sharing sex toys, you can still put your health at risk by not washing them properly. For instance, if you have a yeast infection (men can get them too!) or a UTI, and you use a sex toy, you can transfer bacteria to the toy.

If you put the toy away without cleaning it, the bacteria may remain there even if you recover from your infection in a few days. Then, when you use the toy again, you run the risk of reinfecting yourself.

According to a 2017 survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the sex toy company Adam & Eve®, only 57 percent of men said they clean their sex toys after each use. And 36 percent said they had never cleaned their sex toys.

Besides cleaning your sex toys regularly, another way to stay healthy is to choose a body-safe toy made from high-quality materials.

Non-porous materials, like silicone, are less likely to harbor germs than porous materials like some plastics. Porous materials contain small crevices that can trap bacteria, dust, lint, and irritants.

According to a small study of 12 bisexual women, nine of whom had HPV, researchers compared a vibrator made of thermoplastic elastomer to a vibrator made of silicone to see which one was more likely to transmit infections between partners.

For the elastomer vibrators, HPV was detected on 89 percent of the sex toys before cleaning. Immediately after cleaning, HPV was still detected on 56 percent of the vibrators. And 24 hours after cleaning, 40 percent of the sex toys were still HPV-positive.

For the silicone vibrators, HPV was detected on 67 percent of the sex toys before cleaning. Just after cleaning, HPV was found on 44 percent of the vibrators. And 24 hours after cleaning, HPV was no longer detected on the silicone toys.

Whether you’re buying a prostate massager, a dildo, a butt plug, or a vibrating penis ring, be sure you’re choosing one made of a high-quality, non-porous material like:

• Medical-grade silicone

• Stainless steel

• Borosilicate glass (the same type used in Pyrex®)

• Hard plastic like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is free from phthalates

Keep scrolling for tips on how to go about cleaning sex toys.

To know how to clean your sex toys properly, you have to know what your toys are made of. We already shared how some materials are safer than others. But where do you go from there?

While you may have to consult the toy’s manual to learn how to clean up a particular gadget, here are some pointers to get you started.

Cleaning Non-Porous Toys

For non-porous sex toys made from materials like silicone, stainless steel, glass, or hard plastic, do the following:

• For surface cleaning, hand wash your toys before and after use with warm, soapy water. Don’t use harsh soap (like dish soap), which can irritate your sensitive areas. Mild hand soap and warm water work just fine. You can also use a sex toy cleaner if you can find it.

• For a deeper clean, you can put non-motorized toys in the dishwasher, but don’t use detergent. Use the sanitize cycle with plain water. (Be sure nothing else is in the dishwasher with your toys).

• For an even deeper clean, you can place stainless steel and glass toys in boiling water for a few minutes. You can also boil silicone toys, but only if they’re non-vibrating. Sex toys made of plastic shouldn’t be boiled. Never submerge any battery-operated or motorized toy underwater.

• You can also use a bleach solution to disinfect your toys, but it’s not recommended for silicone.

• Let your sex toys air-dry before using them again, or store them in a dry place like a fabric pouch.

Cleaning Porous Sex Toys

We don’t recommend using porous sex toys like those made of jelly rubber, latex, leather, or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic. But if that’s all you have, you can still learn how to keep them clean by doing the following:

• If you have a non-vibrating porous toy made of latex, rubber, or plastic, run it under warm water and wipe it down with a soapy washcloth.

• If you have a vibrating porous or leather toy, wipe it down with a warm, damp, soapy washcloth, but don’t run these materials underwater. You can also use leather cleaner for leather sex toys.

• As with non-porous sex toys, let your porous sex toys dry before putting them away.

• Always use condoms with porous sex toys for an extra layer of protection, even if you’re just using them for solo masturbation sessions.

Beyond keeping your sex toys clean, here are some other tips to stay healthy when using props in the bedroom:

• No matter what your toy is made of, wash it before and after use.

• Keep your toy stored in a safe, dry place, like a fabric pouch or plastic sleeve. (Just make sure it’s totally dry before putting it away.)

• When sharing sex toys, always use a condom.

• Use lube to prevent friction and skin tearing, which increases the risk of infection.

• We commend you for your creativity, but try not to use household items as sex toys, as they’re more likely to injure you or your partner.

• It’s not edge-of-your-seat reading, but your toy’s manual keeps you safe. Read it to ensure you’re using and cleaning your toy properly.

Sex toys can be a fun, helpful, or even essential component to your sex life. You don’t have to get rid of them to play it safe.

Here’s what to remember about how to clean sex toys:

• Keep your sex toys clean to prevent infections. When you use an unclean sex toy, you run the risk of catching a bacterial or fungal infection, including STIs, UTIs, and yeast infections. Wash your toy before and after each use.

• Some sex toy materials are safer than others. Non-porous materials like silicone, stainless steel, glass, and hard plastic are less likely to harbor pathogens than porous materials like rubber, latex, and PVC plastic. Different materials require different cleaning methods.

• Besides knowing how to clean your sex toys, there are other ways to stay safe while being adventurous. Use condoms when sharing sex toys, store your sex toys properly, use lube to prevent friction, and read your sex toy’s manual.

For more ideas on how to spice up your sex life, check out our range of sex toys, over-the-counter products, and more on our sexual health platform.

Want to make the most of your sex toy? Read our guide to prostate massagers, learn how to use a vibrator as a man, and find out how penis rings work.