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Cleaning your sex toys is an absolute must, sorry to be such a nag.
A few weeks ago, before the shitheads at Reddit decided to impose a ban on our account, we were in contact with a couple looking for a new vibrator, specifically a G-Spot toy that could be used both internally and on her clit. They were a little hesitant, notably because they had recently dealt with an infection, apparently something had knocked her ph balance off and she was suffering through unexpected infections. After meeting with her doctor, it was apparent the infection was from the toy they were using.
They used a gentle soap and water after every use, but then they put it in a drawer without a protective bag. In that same drawer, was a bottle of lube that they had used during anal sex. The small bit of bacteria on the bottle, came into contact with the toy she had, rolling around in their drawer each time it was opened and closed. It was a sock drawer apparently, so it was a daily event of opening and closing, and the toy got dirtier and dirtier as time passed. When they were going to use the vibrator, they didn’t think cleaning the toy before use was something they needed to do, they just jumped right in.
This happens more commonly than most think, so we thought we’d pass along some best practices not just for women but also for the guys out there. Nothing is more annoying than getting an infection from a toy or finding that mold has started to grow on your favorite stroker. Especially if you’ve put some money into your collection.
First, sex toys made from silicone should be washed using warm water and a gentle, fragrance free soap. Lather the toy up, making sure if there are ridges or inserts, that you thoroughly clean in those areas. Whenever I clean a dildo or one of my vibrators, I think of myself giving the toy a handjob, sorry for the visual, but it’s the best way to describe how I do this. If there happens to be ridges, I take a little more time on those areas, lathering and cleaning carefully to make sure there’s nothing left behind.
Stainless steel toys, obviously made from a different material, can be washed in the same manner with a gentle soap and warm water. If you have a double ended toy, like the Le Wand Hoop I’ve discussed, that can be used anally and vaginally, I recommend sterilizing the toy. From time to time, especially after it’s been used anally, I will place our hoop on the top shelf of our dishwasher and give it a cleaning on its own. I’ve also boiled some water on the stove, then placed Hoop in that and let it sit for some time. Sterilizing these kinds of toys isn’t absolutely necessary, however, I do use Hoop anally and he does as well, so this means we have to make sure the toy is absolutely clean and sterile prior to being used again.
Any anal toy needs to be cleaned both before use and after, no cutting corners on this. If you clean it properly after use, then when you pull your anal toy out for use, you can give it a quick wash, again with a gentle soap and warm or hot water. Whenever we use an anal toy, its almost as if we’re physicians preparing for surgery. We clean the toy, bring it bedside and rest it on one of our sex towels. It’ll stay there until after we’ve lubed up, and then we’ll take the clean toy to where we want it most. If you get into a habit like this, you can rest assure that you are using a clean and safe toy.
There are some fantastic toy cleaning foams out there. Like the sterilizing method mentioned before, toy specific cleaners are not completely necessary but they are out there and do a fantastic job. I really love the b-Vibe Foaming Toy Cleaner for our anal toys, pjur also makes a really solid foaming toy cleaner as well as a handy toy cleaning spray that also does a good job. If you have a need to know that things are completely clean, these foams and sprays are a great way to put your mind at ease.
For the guys, he usually will take his sleeves and turn them inside out to wash. When they have a hard exterior shell, he simply removes the sleeve from the case, turns it inside out and gives it a good cleaning with a gentle soap and warm or hot water. Obviously, your toy is going to be wet, and most men’s strokers have nubs and divots that are there for pleasure, but they can harbor bacteria and possibly mold. Most, if not all mens strokers are also made from materials that can become porous, so it’s essential to clean these carefully. If you’re in a hurry, you can take your sleeve and lightly dab it on a towel. If it has a hard outer case, after you’ve dab-dried it, leave the cap of the hard outer shell open so that air can make its way into the toy. If you have the ability to leave your toy out in the open to air dry, this is the best option.
I hope this helps a little, and while I get this might seem kind of obvious to some of you, there are people out there who use a toy and chuck it back into their drawer for later use. Toy storage bags are sometimes given when you purchase a new vibrator, but not always. If there’s one made available to you from the website or store you purchase from, picking one up will ensure your toy is clean.