Keeping a toy clean is less about the surface you can see and more about two things people miss: the gaps where lube and fluids collect, and what travels from one body opening to another. This article covers both, plus the lube, storage and charging advice that keeps a toy's surface intact so it can be cleaned at all.
Clean the gaps, not just the surface
Wash a toy after every use with warm water and a mild soap, then rinse and let it dry completely before you put it away. The places that need attention are the ones where lube and body fluids collect: the gap between two tips, ridges and textures, the join where a shaft meets a base, and loops or connecting pieces. Open or bend the toy gently so water reaches into gaps.
Silicone has a closed, non-porous surface, so it can be cleaned thoroughly. Softer "jelly" materials are often porous, which makes them harder to get fully clean over time.
The makers of our toys advise:
- do not boil them;
- do not soak them in alcohol;
- do not use strong acid or bleach cleaners.
How much water a toy can take depends on its rating: some can be rinsed but not soaked, some can go in the bath (more: What IPX6 and IPX7 mean for your toy).
Match the lube to the toy
The makers of our silicone toys advise water-based lube, and advise against silicone-based lube and oils (including baby oil or cooking oil), which they say can damage the surface (more: Lube and silicone toys). Water-based lube dries during use, so you may need to add more partway through, and it washes off easily afterward.
Using lube is not a sign of not being turned on enough; it simply makes things smoother. For questions about what is in a lube, or allergies, read the label or ask a doctor.
Keep anal toys separate
Once a toy has been used anally, keep it for anal play only. Never let it touch the inside of the vagina or the mouth, even after washing. Bacteria from the bowel can cause infections in the vagina or urethra. The simplest way to keep to this is to have a separate toy for anal play (more: Anal play: base, lube, and the anal-only rule).
The same goes for sharing: wash a toy before it moves from one person's body to another's.
Storing and charging
- Store toys dry, out of direct sun and heat. The makers advise keeping silicone toys apart from each other, in their own bags.
- Dry the charging contacts before you charge.
- If you don't use a toy for a while, the makers advise charging it every two to three months, because a battery left completely flat for long loses capacity.
When to stop using a toy
Stop using a toy if its surface becomes sticky, cracked, or damaged, because it can no longer be cleaned properly. If you get irritation, itching or unusual discharge after using a toy, stop and see Toys and your health: when to check with a doctor.
What to take away
Toy hygiene is about the gaps and about what moves between body openings. Wash every toy after use, paying attention to the gaps. Use water-based lube with silicone. Keep anything used anally for anal play only. Store toys dry and apart, and charge them now and then.