Cleaning is a very important part of your sex toy care routine. It increases your toy’s life and as well as it is healthy for you. It keeps many unwanted diseases away from you because a sex toy is something that gets into direct contact with some of your sensitive body parts. So, it must be cleaned before and after every use.
But what is the proper way of cleaning a dildo or any sex toy? What things do you have to keep in mind and what to avoid?
This blog is all about that. It is a complete guide for cleaning your dildo. How you can keep your best buddy clean all the time, this blog is about that. So, let me start with the things you will need for proper cleaning.
Things required for cleaning your sex toy:
To clean your sex toy you will require some things. These tools will help you with proper healthy cleaning. I have divided the cleaning process into three parts and as per the process below are suggested things you will require.
▶ For Surface Cleaning:
Water: You need water to wash the dildo.
Soap: While choosing the soap for the cleaning, try to pick a mild soap avoiding harsh soaps like dish soap. Liquid hand soap or castile soap is preferred for sex toy cleaning. If you find an antibacterial soap that’s much better but it is not compulsory.
Paper towels or clean washcloths: Use these to naturally air dry your washed sex toy.
▶ For deep cleaning:
Pot: You will require a pot to boil the water. But why will you boil water? Because you can disinfect a sex toy by submerging (after surface cleaning) it in boiled water for almost 5 minutes.
Dishwasher: Dishwasher can disinfect your sex toy in an appropriate setting.
Bleach and spray bottle: Boiling and bleaching your sex toy can kill almost all of the pathogens on it (But not 100%). You can also use some other receptacle for a bleach solution.
Paper towels or clean washcloths: Use these to naturally air dry your washed sex toy.
▶ Optional:
Sex-toy wipes or cleaning sprays: You can use these for some extra cleaning. It ensures that your sex toy is clean at its max. But in most cases, water and soap are almost enough.
If you want to buy to buy cleaning wipes and sprays then below are my top 3 recommendations.
Cleaning Process for proper cleaning of a sex toy:
The cleaning process of a sex toy has many parts and there are many points you have to be careful about. Before choosing the correct cleaning process for your sex toy or dildo first you should gather some information about your toy. Like, as what material it is made of, is waterproof or mechanized, etc.
So, below are the points you have to answer before choosing the proper cleaning process for your sex toy:
- Material of your sex toy. (Note: Check the suggested cleaning options as per the material of your sex toy)
- Is it waterproof or splashproof?
- Is it battery-operated?
- Is it mechanized or non-mechanized?
When you get the answers to the above points now you can choose the suitable cleaning method for your sex toy.
1. Surface cleaning
Surface cleaning is the very first step of the cleaning process for any dildo or sex toy. If you are a single user of your sex toy then most of the time only surface cleaning with a thorough scrub is enough. But the surface cleaning of a toy does not disinfect or sterilize the toy. For that purpose, you have to follow the other extra process.
Before starting with the surface cleaning using water, first, check the safety rating whether it is water safe or not. It is mechanized or non-mechanized so on.
If the toy is mentioned as:
- Waterproof: Safe to totally submerge into the water.
- Splashproof: Safe to get its surface wet.
- Not water safe: Should not be rinsed or submerged into the water. Can be wiped down with a damp paper towel or washcloth.
Note: If the toy is battery operated, remove the batteries before cleaning.
The step-by-step process for surface cleaning:
- Rinse the toy with water or wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
- Apply liquid soap and scrub if washing in a sink. Or, again wipe it with a damp cloth.
- Use a dedicated soft toothbrush if your toy has grooves or crevices. These locations can trap dirt.
- Now rinse or wipe until it gets completely clean.
- Place the toy on a clean towel and let it air dry.
So, there’s the process for hand washing your sex toy. But if this process seems a bit lengthy then you can use cleaning sprays and wipes. These are made for convenient cleaning.
2. Disinfecting, or sanitizing
Surface cleaning can clean your toy but it cannot disinfect it properly. For proper disinfecting or sanitizing, you have to follow some more processes. Surface cleaning is the initial cleaning method but it cannot kill all the pathogens.
For disinfecting your sex toy you can follow any of these 4 processes. Either of these can get your job done.
1) Boiling
Boiling a non-porous sex toy after the surface cleaning can 100% disinfect it. A porous sex toy can never be 100% cleaned. So, if you have a sex toy made of Silicone, Stainless-steel, or borosilicate glass then you can submerge it into the boiling water for 5 minutes to make it fully cleaned.
After 5 minutes remove it from the pot and let it cool down. Never directly wash it with cold water because a serious temperature change can stress the material and damage it.
Note: While boiling a glass toy put a washcloth over it because it prevents it from cracking or breaking. If the toy breaks it can jump out of the pot and can harm you.
2) Bleaching
Using bleach solution for disinfecting a sex toy is a great and working option. You have to make bleach solution in the ratio of 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) of household bleach per gallon. And then spray this solution on your sex toy and let it sit for 10 minutes. You can also submerge it into the solution for 10 minutes for proper disinfection.
Note: Only submerge 100% waterproof sex toys into the solution. Even the splashproof sex toys are not recommended to be submerged into it.
3) Dishwashing
If you have a dishwasher then this is also a great technique for you. Put your non-mechanized sex toy made of Silicone, stainless steel, or, borosilicate glass in a dishwasher so it can get disinfected. Now run the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle without soap (Soap can be very harsh for sex toys). This will disinfect the sex toy in a good way.
No doubt that a dishwasher is one option but it is not effective as boiling. So, boiling your sex toy should be your first priority. Boiling and bleaching are better options than dishwashing.
4) UV Sanitizers
UV Sanitizers are one of the possible options that can be used for disinfecting or sanitizing your sex toy. But these are not the recommended ones. UV sanitizers are very costly and a normal person should not use them the sanitize their sex toys.
Boiling and bleaching are the budget options with equal effectiveness or more than a UV sanitizing method (It sanitizes only those areas where the light reaches). So, you should go with the boiling and bleaching option.
Best suitable cleaning process as per the materials and storage options:
Not every toy can be cleaned in the same way. It cleaning process will be as per the material it is made of. So, below is a table that shows which process to use for cleaning and storing options as per the sex toy material.
| Material | Porosity | Should be cleaned with | Should be Stored In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Porous | Cold Water and soap | Any clean container or drawer |
| Cyberskin | Porous | Water (room temp.) and a soapy washcloth | Individually in a lint-free fabric bag or nonplastic container |
| latex | Porous | Water (room temp.) and a soapy washcloth | Individually in a lint-free fabric bag or nonplastic container |
| elastomer | Porous | Water (room temp.) and a soapy washcloth | Individually in a lint-free fabric bag or nonplastic container |
| jelly rubber | Porous | Water (room temp.) and a soapy washcloth | Individually in a lint-free fabric bag or nonplastic container |
| leather | Porous | Spot clean with a damp, soapy cloth | store in a cool, dry place and avoid storing in plastic |
| PVC and vinyl | Porous | Warm water and a soapy washcloth | Lint-free fabric bag |
| nylon | Non-Porous | Machine or hand wash with soap | Any clean container or drawer |
| glass | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap or sex toy cleaner (Boiled water also can be used) | Lint-free fabric bag or padded container |
| Pyrex | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap or sex toy cleaner (Boiled water also can be used) | Lint-free fabric bag or padded container |
| silicone | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap or sex toy cleaner (Boiled water also can be used) | Any clean container |
| stainless steel | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap or sex toy cleaner (Boiled water also can be used) | Any clean container |
| crystal | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap | Lint-free fabric bag or padded container |
| stone | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap | Lint-free fabric bag or padded container |
| wood | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap | Lint-free fabric bag or padded container |
| ABS plastic | Non-Porous | Warm water and soap or sex toy cleaner | In a lint-free fabric bag |
Important Notes:
1. Never put a motorized sex toy in a boiling water even if it is made of Silicone, Stainless steel, or Borosilicate glass.
2. Crystal, stone and wood can be both porous and non-porous. So, if it is non-porous, clean with warm water and soap and if it is porus then clean with room temperature water and a soapy washcloth
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Final words:
So, I have covered almost all the important points you must know regarding your sex toy cleaning. I have tried my best to keep it detailed and simple. But if you still need to know something or have any doubt about it then let me know. I will try to make your doubt clear.
