You just came. Seeing as you were on your own (probably) and maybe using a sex toy, chances are that you feel pretty great right about now: post-orgasm bliss, a strong desire to nap, the urge to put your toy away and just relax and enjoy yourself. Before you go getting ahead of yourself and dozing off, though, you should probably clean your sex toy first.
Sex toys aren’t just for women any more. No matter if you’re using a good ol’ dildo, a vibrating technological marvel or a a male masturbator to plunge your willy into, you need to keep it clean.
If you don’t clean your sex toys after each use, you run the risk of getting a yeast or bacterial infection, plain and simple. And if you were using your toy with an infected partner, an unclean sex toy could put you at risk for contracting an STD.
When you first buy a toy, find out what it’s made of, since its material and presence of motorized components will determine how you’re supposed to wash it. The construction of both male and female sex toys often use the same types of materials such as silicone, PPC or even shatter-resistant glass. If the info isn’t on the packaging, and the store associate can’t help you, try doing an online product search.
If it’s made of…
Glass, stainless steel, silicone, or wood—and it’s motorized:
Use a damp cloth and a mild (unscented) hand soap or dish soap to wipe the toy clean. This should go without saying, but don’t submerge your motorized sex toys in water!
Stainless steel, stone, Pyrex, or silicone—and it’s not motorized:
Place it in boiling water for about 10 minutes, or (if you can get past the thought of putting a sex toy where your dishes go) run it through a cycle in the dishwasher without soap. Steam will help sterilize it!
Cyberskin:
Just a little soap and warm water will do the trick. If you get it too soaped up, it can damage the ultra-sensitive material.
Elastomer, TPR, jelly rubber, neoprene, nylon, or hard plastic:
These materials are porous and can still contain bacteria and STDs even after washing with soap and water. Every sex toy store you go to will have special cleaner for different materials, and they are effective, but you should still exercise caution and use a condom if you’re going to share your toys with others.
Make sure you keep an eye out for any irregularities that might indicate it’s time to throw out your toy! Sadly, these things—much like Tinder romances—don’t last forever. Listen for the sound of a struggling motor, a charge that doesn’t last as long, or seams coming apart and pockmarks in silicone.
Once your toys are all nice and clean, make sure you dry them off with a paper towel and store them in a box or silk bag (most toys will come with a nice drawstring bag, so don’t throw that out!). The last thing you want is to take the time to clean your sex toys, then have them rolling around freely in your nightstand where you might find other germ-and-grime-carrying things like your phone, loose change, tubes of Chapstick, dust, food crumbs, or miscellaneous junk.
If you’re looking for inspiration when using a new bedroom accessory, remember that we have a huge selection of videos featuring sex toys. Check em out!
Have any tips for keeping your sex toys looking pristine? Tell us in the comments or share your insights on Twitter @worldsbestporn
