How to Clean Sex Toys Properly, by Material

There is no single correct way to clean a sex toy, because "clean" means two different things. Washing removes what is on the surface, and every toy needs it after every use. Sanitising kills what washing leaves behind, and only some materials can survive it. Which one is available to you is decided entirely by the material — so if you are not sure what yours is made of, start with the materials guide.

What should I use to wash a sex toy?

Mild, unscented, undyed liquid soap and warm running water. That is genuinely it. Fragrance and dye are the usual cause of irritation blamed on a toy, and antibacterial soap offers nothing extra here while being harsher on both skin and silicone.

How do I clean a silicone toy?

1. Rinse under warm running water to clear lubricant and fluids.
2. Work a little mild unscented soap over the whole surface with your hands — pay attention to the base, any seam, and around buttons or charging ports.
3. Rinse until there is no slip left at all. Soap residue left on silicone is a common cause of irritation.
4. Pat dry with a lint-free towel and then air-dry fully before it goes away. Trapped moisture is what grows mould in a storage bag.
5. Solid silicone with no motor only: boil in plain water for three minutes, or run it on the top rack of a dishwasher with no detergent, to sanitise.

If a silicone toy has a motor, stop at step four. Rechargeable toys are usually splash-resistant rather than submersible, and water in the charging port kills more toys than anything else.

How do I clean stainless steel and glass toys?

These are the easiest of all. Soap and warm water, rinse, dry — and both can be boiled for three minutes whenever you want a full sanitise. Neither material reacts to any lubricant.

Inspect glass every time. Before and after use, run a finger over the entire surface and look at it in good light. Any chip, crack, star or rough patch retires the toy permanently. With steel, check that any plating or coating is intact — a chipped coating is a sharp, porous edge.

How do I clean a vibrator or a rechargeable toy?

1. Check the rating first. "Splashproof" and "water-resistant" are not "waterproof" and do not mean submersible.
2. Make sure it is switched off and, if it is rechargeable, that nothing is plugged in.
3. Wash by hand with a soapy cloth, keeping the charging contacts or port out of the water entirely.
4. Wipe the soap off with a cloth rinsed in clean water rather than by holding the toy under the tap.
5. Dry the port area completely — a cotton bud is useful here — and leave it out to air-dry before charging or storing.

For a genuinely waterproof toy, everything gets simpler: rinse it under the tap directly. Look for an IPX7 rating or an explicit "fully submersible" claim rather than assuming.

How do I clean a porous toy — TPE, TPR or jelly?

You wash it, and you accept that you cannot sanitise it. Porous material has micro-channels that soap and water do not reach into, and heat deforms it, so boiling is not an option.

• Wash with mild unscented soap and warm — not hot — water after every use.
• Air-dry completely before storage; porous material holds moisture longer than it looks.
• Use a condom every time, and change it between partners and between anal and vaginal use.
• Store it apart from other toys — porous materials can react against each other and go sticky.
• Replace it when the surface turns tacky, discolours, changes texture or develops a smell.

Do I need a dedicated toy cleaner spray?

No. A sprayed cleaner is a convenience for when you have no sink to hand — it is a surface wipe-down, not a sanitiser, and it does not do anything soap and water does not do better. It is worth owning for travel and worth nothing at home. If you do use one, still rinse afterwards.

How should I store a toy after cleaning?

Bone dry, out of direct sunlight, and not touching other toys. A breathable cotton bag or a lined box beats a sealed plastic bag, which traps residual moisture. Keep silicone away from other silicone in long-term storage — prolonged contact can leave marks. Take batteries out of anything you are not using for a while.

A quick reference

The bottom line

Mild unscented soap, warm water, after every use, dried completely — that covers almost everything. Boil the non-porous, motor-free ones when you want certainty, keep water out of every charging port, and use a condom on anything porous. Choosing a water-based lubricant also makes cleanup easier, since it rinses off with plain water and is compatible with every material on this page.