How to Clean Sex Toys

With proper care and maintenance, your favorite sex toys can last for years. And the best way to keep your toys looking and performing like new is to clean them before and after each use.

Basic Sex Toy Cleaning Rules

There are two basic ways to clean your sex toys. The traditional method involves washing your toy in warm, soapy water, rinsing it off, and then drying it with a clean towel. This method is quick, easy and budget-friendly. But it’s not always effective. Some sex toys have textured surfaces filled with hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Other sex toys might have batteries and motors that can be damaged if they become wet. And you can’t always rely on the manufacturer’s claim that something’s waterproof, especially after you’ve used it a few dozen or hundred times.

Adam & Eve’s toy experts recommend using a specialized toy cleaner instead. We carry several different types of cleaners for you to pick from. While you do have to pay extra for the toy cleaners, many of them contain antibacterial agents, deodorizers and other beneficial features to help keep your favorite sex toys in tip-top shape. They’re guaranteed to work on all types of sex toy materials. And they’re specially formulated to handle any germs or bacteria on your sex toy without leaving a harmful residue that could irritate your sensitive bits.

Sex toy cleaners are quick and simple to use, making it a breeze to care for your toys. Most cleaners require you to simply spray your sex toy, wipe it clean with a damp cloth, and then dry it off with a lint-free cloth. But it pays to check your cleaner for specific instructions before use and follow their recommendations.

While the basic rules cover most types of sex toys, there are few out there — such as anal toys, strokers/masturbators, and realistic toys — that require some special care. If your sex toy falls under one of those three categories, check out the special advice outlined below for more details about keeping it clean.

How to Clean Anal Toys

Given the nature of anal toys, it’s particularly important to keep them clean. Otherwise, they can quickly become a breeding ground for all kinds of nastiness and even endanger your health. That’s why anal toys merit a little extra caution and care when it comes to cleaning than your average sex toy.

Rule #1 Always Assume Your Anal Toy Is Dirty (Even When It’s Not)
You’re pretty sure you cleaned your toy after the last time you used it, and it looks clean when you take it out of the storage bag. But that doesn’t mean your anal toy is really clean. Unless you’ve examined it underneath a microscope, always assume your anal toy is dirty. And you need to clean it before you can use it again.

Rule #2 Scrub Your Anal Toy & Scrub It Some More
Anal toys are why sex toy cleaners were created. Sex toy cleaners contain special antibacterial agents as well as deodorizers and other features to keep your anal toy looking its best. Clean your anal toy by spraying it thoroughly with your preferred cleaner. Then wipe it down with a damp cloth, paying particular attention to any cracks or crevices where germs might hide. And then do it all over again. It might be annoying, but your health is worth taking a few extra minutes.

If you’re using soap and water to clean your anal toy, make sure to use an antibacterial soap and hot water. Look for a soap that’s body-safe so it won’t irritate your sensitive bits. And make sure to scrub extra hard when cleaning to make sure you get the job done.

Once your anal toy is freshly cleaned, it’s safe to use. Or you can pack it away until your next playdate.

Rule #3 Don’t Leave A Dirty Anal Toy Sitting Around
And that leads us to the last rule, clean your anal toy as soon as possible after use. It might be tempting to wait until the next morning, especially when you’re basking in the glow of a good O. But germs and bacteria can dramatically multiple in those few hours and make your anal toy much harder to clean later on.

Adam’s Tip: Use A Condom
Some toy experts recommend slipping a condom around your anal toy before using it. When you’re done, you can simply throw the condom away. You’ll still need to clean your anal toy, but the condom makes it much faster and easier.

How to Clean Masturbators & Strokers

Like anal toys, masturbators and strokers can be pretty tricky to clean. These toys feature narrow, tight tunnels. If you don’t keep them clean, those tunnels can quickly become home to all kinds of nasty germs and bacteria. A dirty stroker won’t give you an STD, but it can cause plenty of other health issues if you’re not careful.

When cleaning your stroker or masturbator, it’s best to flush the tunnel out first. Hold the opening up to a water faucet and turn it on – forcing water into the chamber. All it takes is a few seconds to flush your stroker or masturbator clean. Then you can wash it like normal, using a sex toy cleaner or warm, soapy water. Just make sure to clean inside the tunnel as well as outside! And the same goes for when it’s time to dry your sex toy.

How to Clean Realistic Sex Toys

Just because your sex toy looks like a penis or a vagina doesn’t mean it requires special cleaning instructions. Many realistic toys, however, are made from special materials that mimic the look and feel of real skin as closely as possible. These materials go by many different names including Cyberskin, UR3 and PureSkin, but most of them contain “skin” in the name. While these realistic materials really bring your sex toy to life, they do require some extra maintenance beyond the typical cleaning.

Clean your realistic toy like normal and make sure it’s completely dry. Then lightly dust it with the special renewal powder included with your toy. Store your sex toy and a spoonful of the renewal powder in a sealed plastic bag until next time. If you run out of the renewal powder, you can order more from Adam & Eve. While you’re waiting, you can use corn starch as a short-term substitution.

How to Clean Vibrators (Battery-Powered & Rechargeable)

Vibrators, whether they’re rechargeable or use batteries, are pretty simple to clean. Just remember to keep the motor and battery compartment dry. Even if your toy is supposed to be waterproof, it’s better to play it safe then end up with a vibrator that no longer vibes. The same goes for the remote if your toy comes with one. While many vibrators today are waterproof, very few remotes are.

Optimal Cleaning Methods Based on Sex Toy Materials

When cleaning sex toys, it’s really best to use a special sex toy cleaner. If you insist on cleaning your sex toy the old-fashioned way with soap, water and muscle power, then you need to take some special measures based on the type of material your toy is made from. Using strong cleaners or detergents can damage sex toys with delicate finishes. For instance, toys made from soft and flexible materials like TPE or TPR need a mild facial soap. On the other hand, you can use standard dish detergent to clean sex toys made from firm materials like plastic. Non-porous toys collect lint and hair even if they’re just lying around in your nightstand, so you need to use lint-free cloths or towels and keep them in a special storage bag. Carefully check your sex toys’ instructions for any additional cleaning instructions and requirements.

If you’ve got a dirty anal toy sitting in the sink and don’t have time to read through all the information, then we’ve created a quick and easy reference guide to help you out. The chart lists the most popular sex toy materials along with recommendations from Adam & Eve’s toy experts for keeping them clean.