Cleaning Sex Toys

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Cleaning Sex Toys
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Madeline Howard and Emily Shiffer


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Adam & Eve Pure and Clean Misting Toy Cleaner
Complete Clean + Gentle Antibacterial Foaming Wash
Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash
Madeline Howard
Madeline Howard is a writer, editor, and creative based in Brooklyn.

Emily Shiffer
Emily Shiffer is a freelance health and wellness writer living in Pennsylvania. 


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Follow these germ-killing guidelines, straight from the experts.
When you're reveling in post-climax bliss, how you're going to clean the sex toy that just sent you over the edge is probably the last thing on your mind. But it’s actually a biggie.
"Cleaning your sex toys helps to prevent infections, as bacteria can linger if they aren’t washed regularly," says Alexandra Fine, CEO and cofounder of Dame Products .
To ward off these infections, you should wash your sex toys regularly—as in every time you use them.
"When buying a toy, find out what it's made of, since its material and the presence of a motor will determine how it's washed," says cleaning expert Jolie Kerr, author of My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag...and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha . "Usually, this info will be on the packaging, but if it's not, ask a sales associate or do a product search online."
These are the terms you'll want to keep an eye out for:
Once you've pinned down which sex toy is best and safest for you, you'll want to make sure that you're cleaning it properly after each use (even if you're tempted to catch some z's!) But don't stress, that's where sex toy cleaners come in: "There are toy cleaners out there if you want to do the clean-up job from the comfort of your bed," says Fine.
Focus on water-based cleaners; oil-based and silicone-based cleaners are no-nos since they're known to break down silicone. So, steer clear of those to keep your fave toy intact.
If you want extra peace of mind when cleaning your pleasure products, especially when it comes to anal use toys, try this sanitizing mist by Adam & Eve, suggests Jenni Skyler , PhD, a certified sex therapist, sexologist, and director of The Intimacy Institute . This four-in-one cleaner is anti-bacterial, deodorizing, disinfecting, and sanitizing. To use, spray on a paper towel or washcloth and then wipe down your toy of choice. Rinse with water, and you’re good to go.
"Not the sexiest thing in the funbox," writes one reviewer. "But definitely the most used. Toys may rotate (the best ones do!) but a good clean afterwards is forever." Noted.
Want to go the extra mile when it comes to your toy cleaning routine? Try a sanitizing system, which discreetly sanitizes your toys using UVC light to kill potential viruses lurking on surfaces. "If you’re a very hygienic person, and if cleanliness and storage is your highest priority, then it might be worth the investment for you," says Jenelle Marie Pierce , CSE, Executive Director of TheSTIProject.com .
These machines are expensive, though, and if you’re between buying one and a high-quality toy that’s also on the pricey side, you might want to go for the toy instead, says Pierce. But it’s up to you!
Not into dropping all that hard-earned dough on a full-blown UV box? This sterilization pouch is pretty much the next best thing at a lower price point. It allows you to clean one toy at a time, and you only need to leave it in for three minutes total. (Just make sure your toy is completely dry before you try to sterilize, the instructions read.)
That said, if you want to be extra sure you’re getting all the bacteria off your toy, you might want to wash it, dry it, and then , place it in the pouch, says board-certified sexologist Debra Laino , PhD. Basically, she recommends using a lower-priced sterilizer for added peace of mind.
If you prefer a mist to clean your vibrators and other sex toys, consider this Hand + Vibe Cleaner by Dame Products. The upside of this product is that you can use it not only on your toys, but it’s gentle enough for your hands, too. (Since, ya know, you should probably be washing your hands post-sex.)
Bonus: You don’t need water for this one. Simply spray on the toy (or hands), and distribute evenly, then pat dry with a paper towel or cloth. It’ll leave a fresh but not in-your-face citrus scent behind, too.
With over 70,000 purchases and 272 positive reviews on Adam & Eve, this cleaning mist is a cost-friendly option if you’re looking for a simple solution. One of the formula’s main ingredients is triclosan, which fights bacteria from forming and causing painful infections.
To use the Universal Toy Cleaner, spray your items with the formula, let them sit a beat, then rinse with water, and pat to dry. It’s safe to use with silicone, plastic, glass, rubber, and more.
Available in two different sizes, this fresh cleaning solution is ideal if you’re looking for additional sanitization at a low price point. (The smaller bottle is only six dollars.) To use, simply remove the batteries and unplug your toy, spritz with the solution, then rinse with cold water and you’re good to go. (For round two!)
"Convenient, easy, and hygienic," writes one reviewer. "Seriously, I absolutely adore [this] toy cleaner. It's so nice to be able to have something right by your bed or wherever else you get it on to be able to spritz down a toy." Got that down?
If you want something that’s portable and non-liquid based, these aftercare tissues might be for you. By swiping these on your toys, the wipes remove any leftover residue and disinfect any remaining bacteria on your toys.
BTW, these are lightly scented with bergamot, so if you want something to cover up any potential leftover odors these are your fragrant option. (But steer clear if you have super sensitive skin!)
This hypoallergenic foam has an average rating of 4.5-stars on Amazon. It’s free of parabens, sulfates, and alcohol. To clean, pump out desired foam and rub it into your toy, letting it sit for 10 seconds. Rinse it under water, and dry.
"Great product. Feels clean and rinses off completely. I purchased this product because all the ingredients received excellent reviews for safety and efficacy," one reviewer who gave it five stars wrote.
FYI: This is not a fragrance-free product, so be wary if you have sensitive skin.
Spray this alcohol- and paraben-free cleanser all over your go-to toys. Wait five seconds for all its fast-acting ingredients to activate before rinsing it under warm water and patting it dry with a lint-free towel.
This water-based antibacterial foam is fragrance-free, and also free of glycerin, triclosan, alcohol, and parabens—perfect for sensitive skin.
"I really like how this is a foam—you know that you've applied cleaner to all surfaces of your toy, and it's also easy to tell that it's been rinsed thoroughly. It doesn't have an obnoxious smell, and gets my silicone toys squeaky clean. I have sensitive skin—this doesn't burn. I'll buy this again," one Amazon reviewer wrote.
In short, yes, it's totally fine to clean your sex toys with soap and water alone if you don't want to purchase a mist or UV cleaner, Skyler says. But, keep this in mind when doing so: Ideally you'd use a fragrance-free, antibacterial soap with no added lotions when sudsing up your used sex toys, explains Pierce. (TBH, most body washes or hand soaps are probably fine.) Some soaps that might be useful, per Pierce's recommendations are...
Want to go the extra mile? Makes sense. Here are some guidelines for catering your sex toy cleaning to specific materials and more, per sex experts. If your pleasure product is made from...
One way to decrease that risk of an infection is to actually use a condom with your sex toy. "Using a condom can help decrease the risk of transmitting bacteria, especially when sharing toys between partners," says Fine. "You’ll just want to make sure you use a condom-safe lube." (Translation: one that's water-based .)
Once your toy is squeaky clean, Kerr says to dry it off completely with a clean towel and store it in a case or silk bag to protect it from other bacteria-laden items.
If you didn't keep the box, case, or bag your toy came in, there are plenty of storage options you can shop for online . Just make sure it's something sealable, whether with a zipper, velcro, or a top. Something washable is an even better find to really keep the germs away .
Once your toy is closed in its case, store it wherever you choose—some popular spots include the nightstand, a bathroom cabinet, or underwear drawer. Just be sure to keep your vibrator away from areas that may have oils, powders, and perfumes around, Holly Richmond, PhD , a somatic psychologist and certified sex therapist previously told Women's Health .
This way, your vibrator won't pick up any irritants that can end up in your body, damage the device, or both.

Water Soap: Liquid hand soap or castile soap is preferred. Antibacterial soap is fine but not necessary. Avoid using harsh soaps like dish soap. Paper towels or clean washcloths: Use these to air-dry toys after cleaning.
Pot for boiling water: You can disinfect a variety of toys by first surface-cleaning them and then submerging them in boiling water for just a few minutes. Bleach and spray bottle (or another receptacle for a bleach solution): Boiling and bleaching will kill most—but not all—pathogens on your toys. Dishwasher: Make sure your dishwasher offers the appropriate settings to disinfect. Otherwise, you’re better off boiling or bleaching your toys. Paper towels or clean washcloths: Use these to air-dry toys after cleaning.
Sex-toy wipes or cleaning sprays: In most cases you’ll be just fine with plain soap and water.
Cleaning removes material from the surface. Disinfecting , or sanitizing , destroys bacteria and certain pathogens to make something hygienic. Sterilizing kills absolutely all bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
The toy will be shared by people who are not fluid bonded . (You can also cover the toy with a condom when sharing it.) The toy has come into contact with genitals during an active yeast, bacterial, or sexually transmitted infection, and it might be harboring the associated pathogens. A 2014 study found that in some cases human papillomavirus (HPV) could be detected on the surface of vibrators up to 24 hours after basic surface cleaning. (One of the study’s authors has received “a grant and non-financial support from Pure Romance,” a company that sells sex toys.) You want to use the same toy both anally and vaginally. Experts advise using condoms in this case. You want to remove odor from an anal toy. Smell retention can sometimes be an issue with silicone toys in particular.
How to store sex toys to keep them clean
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Sex toys like vibrators , dildos, and anal toys come in direct contact with bodily fluids, so it’s important to know how to clean them properly. Cleaning your sex toys doesn’t have to be complicated, but the consequences of neglecting to do so can be.

“Using unclean sex toys can potentially introduce unwanted bacteria or other pathogens—like fungi—into the vulvar-vaginal environment that can lead to the overgrowth of bacteria known as bacterial vaginosis or cause a urinary tract infection,” said sexologist Amanda Morgan , an associate professor-in-residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “It is especially important to thoroughly clean toys that are used by multiple partners.”
Almost every type of sex toy can be surface-cleaned, using liquid soap and water, and then air-dried. But we will also identify situations where it’s better to more thoroughly disinfect your toys.
Cleaning times will vary, depending on the method you use. When you surface-clean toys, expect to spend one to three minutes per toy—not including air-drying time. If you plan to boil a toy, expect to spend another three minutes to fully disinfect it. Bleaching toys to disinfect them takes roughly 10 minutes. If you choose to use a dishwasher (yes, in some cases you can ), plan for a full-rinse cycle (timing may vary).
Although here we provide general guidelines for cleaning different types of sex toys, it is always a good idea to also refer to your toy’s manual, if possible, to learn the best way to clean it.
We consulted Searah Deysach , owner of Chicago-based sex toy store Early to Bed , and Sophia Chase , proprietor of Chicago Dungeon Rentals (and a former Early to Bed staff member) for advice on best practices for cleaning sex toys.
Chase broke down the three levels of cleaning accordingly:
“Your vibrator, ball gag, or butt plug at a minimum should be clean,” said Chase. “There shouldn’t be lube or body fluids left on it. If you are the only person using it, or it’s just you and a fluid-bonded partner, washing the toy with … soap and water is usually enough. Unless you’re doing invasive medical play, sterilizing is overkill. What we’re [typically] aiming for is disinfecting or sanitizing our toys.”
Our cleaning advice is intended for nonporous toys that are used on the genitals and that are made of materials such as 100% silicone, metal, borosilicate glass, or hard plastic, like ABS or TPC. It’s difficult to thoroughly clean porous toys, including jelly rubber, “silicone blend,” PVC, leather, and certain types of stones. Porous toys can harbor bacteria, so experts do not recommend using them.
Note, though, that not all toys marketed as silicone are 100% silicone, particularly toys that have a “soft skin”–type texture. You can try a flame test to confirm that your toy is 100% silicone: You should be able to hold a lighter to the toy for a quick spot check without the toy’s surface melting (PDF) . We recommend doing this flame test only with nonmechanized toys like dildos.
Virtually every kind of sex toy can be cleaned with a thorough scrub. This technique does not disinfect or sterilize the toy. But in most cases, surface cleaning is sufficient if you are the only person who will be using the toy.
Before starting, determine your toy’s water safety rating. If the toy is nonmechanized (such as a solid silicone dildo), or mechanized but rated as being splashproof or waterproof, it’s safe to rinse the toy with water in the sink.
If a toy is splashproof, that means it’s safe to get its surface wet. If a toy is waterproof, then it’s safe to totally submerge it up to a certain depth. A toy’s box or manual will generally indicate whether the toy is waterproof or splashproof. If the toy is not water-safe, it should only be wiped down with a damp paper towel or washcloth—not rinsed or submerged in water.
If the toy is battery operated, remove the batteries prior to cleaning.
Rinse the toy with water, or wipe the surface of the toy with a damp paper towel or washcloth to remove any surface debris. Then apply liquid soap directly to the toy and scrub, if you’re washing it in the sink, or wipe it again with a damp cloth and some liquid soap.
If the toy has grooves or crevices that trap gunk, use a soft toothbrush you’ve dedicated to this purpose to remove any debris. Then rinse or wipe the toy until it is completely clean, using plain water.
Place the clean toy on a clean towel and allow it to air-dry. According to Deysach, “Air-drying is best for most toys to avoid lint getting stuck to the toy and to give it time for any nooks and crannies to fully dry.” She also recommends allowing battery-operated toys to dry with the battery case open.
A note on sex-toy cleaning sprays and wipes: There are multiple products marketed specifically for cleaning sex toys, but in most cases plain soap and water are equally good. “Sprays and wipes can be convenient, but most need to be rinsed off anyway, so they may not save you time or energy,” Deysach said. “The exception being the few products that you do not need to rinse off,” such as AfterGlow Cleansing Tissues .
Sometimes a simple cleaning is not enough. These are some situations where it’s advisable to disinfect a toy:
These techniques will kill most pathogens. Meanwhile, the dishwasher can be effective for killing bacteria, but not viruses or fungi. These steps can also be useful for removing odors from silicone toys.
You can disinfect 100% silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass toys by first surface-cleaning them, and then submerging them in a pot of boiling water for three minutes. Deysach recommends placing a washcloth in the pot with glass toys, as a cushion to prevent them from cracking or breaking, because they can “jump around in the pan.” And Deysach said it’s a good idea to carefully monitor the boiling process.
Remove the boiled toy from the water with tongs, and allow it to air-dry on a clean towel. Do not rinse with cold water immediately after boiling because the extreme temperature change may stress the material.
You can also deep-clean quite a few nonmechanized 100% silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass toys at once by placing them on the top rack of the dishwasher after surface-cleaning them. Then run the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle without soap (which is too harsh to be used with sex toys). This method is not recommended if you share the dishwasher with people other than sexual partners.
The dishwasher is not as effective at disinfecting your toys as boiling water is, according to sex toy expert Dangerous Lilly : “If your dishwasher has a sanitizing setting then it uses an extended hot-water rinse to kill bacteria only—it will not kill [all] viruses or fungi.”
A federal standard requires that the sanitize cycle on residential dishwashers reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit and is able to kill 99.999 percent of bacteria. This is hot enough to wipe out most bacteria and some other microbes of concern, but not necessarily enough to kill especially heat-tolerant viruses and fungi. When in doubt, boiling or bleaching are better bets than using the dishwasher.
Toys can be disinfected using a bleach solution after surface cleaning. Chase recommends making a bleach solution using the ratio of five tablespoons (⅓ cup) household bleach per gallon of water. “Either spray the toy with the bleach solution and let sit for 10 minutes, or submerge the toy in the bleach solution for 10 minutes,” she said.
Her advice is based on CDC recommendations for disinfection . Only toys rated as 100% waterproof (not splashproof) are safe to submerge in bleach solution. Following the bleach treatment, thoroughly wash the toy with soap and water once more.
Although some people swear by UV boxes for sanitizing sex toys
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