Are you cleaning your sex toys properly?
Note:
This article is of a sexual nature. If you like sex or have not yet had sex, and you are easily offended by talking about it, this is your opportunity to exit. For the rest of you, lets get started!
Whether you’re using sex toys with a partner, solo or both, you’ve probably wondered at some point whether or not they’re actually clean after "Happy Time". Like... REALLY clean-clean. May is national Masturbation Month in case you were wondering, but if you missed it, (That's okay), you still have the rest of the year and next May to experience that all-pleasurable, body-shaking orgasm. So, without further ado, lets dive into it! (Figuratively speaking).
How do you properly clean sex toys?
The most widely used penetrators such as silicone dildos that can be fully submerged in water are much easier to deal with, but even then, is using hand soap and water sufficient?
Is dish soap better?
Should the soap be antibacterial?
The simplest way to clean a sex toy is with warm water and any type of soap you would use on your body. Avoid using dish soap and really scented or oily soaps. If it’s a non-porous material like silicone, stainless steel, or glass, then it’s pretty easy to keep toys clean this way. Need I remind you that “Clean” is not the same thing as “sanitized” however, non-porous toys can be cleaned and sanitized because there are no pores present for bacteria to grow, but porous materials like TPE/TPR/elastomer, Cyber Skin, some hard plastics, stone, and any “mystery” material can only be cleaned and not sanitized since you don’t know what’s below the surface without damaging your pleasure piece.
Okay... So how do you sanitize a sex toy?
If you want to sanitize a non-porous toy and it isn’t motorized or battery operated, you can boil it for 5-10 minutes and that will kill any remaining bacteria from your bodily fluids. This is a great thing to do with anal toys or any toy you’ve used during a bacterial infection, fungal infection or STI. It’s also a way that you can safely share a toy with a partner that you aren’t currently swapping fluids with. If your toy is porous, I would recommend using a condom on it (especially if it’s used internally). That’s a great way to extend the life of toys in general and definitely a great way to keep your "Magic Stick" from getting too dirty.
SCREAM IF YOU WANNA GO FASTER
How do you clean toys that can’t be submerged in water?
Do you just have to use condoms on those kinds of toys?
Wands with porous heads should be used with comdoms, but wands with silicone heads can be unplugged and cleaned with warm water and soap under a faucet, just keep it pointed down so the water stays focused on the tip of your self-pleaser.
Shouldn't you use condoms on all toys anyway, even if you’re the only one using them, just to keep them clean?
I don’t think you need to use condoms on every toy, (Especially if you're the only one using it/them and you love that direct contact sensation) just be aware of how to clean and care for the specific material (If you are unfamiliar with a certain sex toy or material, stick to what you know, but if you really want it, research it online). It’s also important to know what kind of lube the condom is pre-lubricated with. Silicone lube on silicone toys should be avoided, but if you clean the toy off after usage, it likely won’t be a big deal. Just keep an eye out for any change to the material.
What if you have an STI or you’re sharing a toy with someone who has or may have an STI?
Does that change the cleaning procedure at all?
Your safest bet if you or your partner has or may have an STI is to not share toys. You could also condom toys or boil them, and leave them out for 24 hours or more in between uses because some STIs can’t live on dry surfaces for very long. Transmission can be avoided with toys, so with basic precaution it’s relatively safe and nothing to worry about. It also depends on the type of STI and its ability to live on an particular surface.
What about toys/accessories that involve leather?
Will water ruin them? Will they ever actually be clean? I tell people to spot clean, but you can also spray it down with a diluted rubbing alcohol (just know that this isn’t ideal for leather’s softness lifespan.) It depends whether it’s a flogger, harness, or something else as well.
Harnesses are used a bit more intimately than a flogger (although people definitely get fluids on floggers too.) Making sure the harness is left out in a dry area so it can “breathe” is the best way to care for it. Keep in mind though that you can’t fully disinfect leather, just like any other porous material. As always, communication and negotiation before playtime will generally help you feel out whether a play partner is conscientious enough to earn your trust!
This article is of a sexual nature. If you like sex or have not yet had sex, and you are easily offended by talking about it, this is your opportunity to exit. For the rest of you, lets get started!
Whether you’re using sex toys with a partner, solo or both, you’ve probably wondered at some point whether or not they’re actually clean after "Happy Time". Like... REALLY clean-clean. May is national Masturbation Month in case you were wondering, but if you missed it, (That's okay), you still have the rest of the year and next May to experience that all-pleasurable, body-shaking orgasm. So, without further ado, lets dive into it! (Figuratively speaking).
How do you properly clean sex toys?
The most widely used penetrators such as silicone dildos that can be fully submerged in water are much easier to deal with, but even then, is using hand soap and water sufficient?
Is dish soap better?
Should the soap be antibacterial?
The simplest way to clean a sex toy is with warm water and any type of soap you would use on your body. Avoid using dish soap and really scented or oily soaps. If it’s a non-porous material like silicone, stainless steel, or glass, then it’s pretty easy to keep toys clean this way. Need I remind you that “Clean” is not the same thing as “sanitized” however, non-porous toys can be cleaned and sanitized because there are no pores present for bacteria to grow, but porous materials like TPE/TPR/elastomer, Cyber Skin, some hard plastics, stone, and any “mystery” material can only be cleaned and not sanitized since you don’t know what’s below the surface without damaging your pleasure piece.
Okay... So how do you sanitize a sex toy?
If you want to sanitize a non-porous toy and it isn’t motorized or battery operated, you can boil it for 5-10 minutes and that will kill any remaining bacteria from your bodily fluids. This is a great thing to do with anal toys or any toy you’ve used during a bacterial infection, fungal infection or STI. It’s also a way that you can safely share a toy with a partner that you aren’t currently swapping fluids with. If your toy is porous, I would recommend using a condom on it (especially if it’s used internally). That’s a great way to extend the life of toys in general and definitely a great way to keep your "Magic Stick" from getting too dirty.
SCREAM IF YOU WANNA GO FASTER
How do you clean toys that can’t be submerged in water?
Do you just have to use condoms on those kinds of toys?
Wands with porous heads should be used with comdoms, but wands with silicone heads can be unplugged and cleaned with warm water and soap under a faucet, just keep it pointed down so the water stays focused on the tip of your self-pleaser.
Shouldn't you use condoms on all toys anyway, even if you’re the only one using them, just to keep them clean?
I don’t think you need to use condoms on every toy, (Especially if you're the only one using it/them and you love that direct contact sensation) just be aware of how to clean and care for the specific material (If you are unfamiliar with a certain sex toy or material, stick to what you know, but if you really want it, research it online). It’s also important to know what kind of lube the condom is pre-lubricated with. Silicone lube on silicone toys should be avoided, but if you clean the toy off after usage, it likely won’t be a big deal. Just keep an eye out for any change to the material.
What if you have an STI or you’re sharing a toy with someone who has or may have an STI?
Does that change the cleaning procedure at all?
Your safest bet if you or your partner has or may have an STI is to not share toys. You could also condom toys or boil them, and leave them out for 24 hours or more in between uses because some STIs can’t live on dry surfaces for very long. Transmission can be avoided with toys, so with basic precaution it’s relatively safe and nothing to worry about. It also depends on the type of STI and its ability to live on an particular surface.
What about toys/accessories that involve leather?
Will water ruin them? Will they ever actually be clean? I tell people to spot clean, but you can also spray it down with a diluted rubbing alcohol (just know that this isn’t ideal for leather’s softness lifespan.) It depends whether it’s a flogger, harness, or something else as well.
Harnesses are used a bit more intimately than a flogger (although people definitely get fluids on floggers too.) Making sure the harness is left out in a dry area so it can “breathe” is the best way to care for it. Keep in mind though that you can’t fully disinfect leather, just like any other porous material. As always, communication and negotiation before playtime will generally help you feel out whether a play partner is conscientious enough to earn your trust!
