How to Clean, Care and Store Sex Toys: The Ultimate Guide
Not cleaning your intimate toys, using the wrong products, or storing them in an inappropriate place can lead to their deterioration, forcing you to dispose of them. However (and beyond the financial impact), if you never sterilize and disinfect your erotic toys, you risk contracting infections in the intimate area, fungi, and even sexually transmitted diseases.
Although it will depend on their material, most sex toys can be washed with warm water and mild soap, without fragrances or chemicals, and with a pH of 5.5, similar to that of the skin. This is the case for medical-grade silicone intimate toys, which, thanks to their hypoallergenic material, are highly recommended by sexual health experts.
Cleaning Flexible Material Sex Toys
Silicone Toys: The ideal way to clean them is with mild soap or a specific cleaner like the ones recommended above. These toys are usually resistant to high temperatures and humidity, so we can sterilize them with boiling water. However, this should only be done if they do not have internal compartments for batteries or other mechanisms that could be damaged.
Latex and Jelly Toys: Clean them with water and mild soap or a specific cleaner. Avoid using boiling water, as they are not compatible and may stop working.
Insertable Toys: For sexual toys like pocket vaginas, in addition to washing them with warm water, mild soap, or a specific cleaner, many manufacturers recommend using renewal powders to enhance their hygiene and durability. Apply them when the toy is completely dry.
Wash them before and after using them
There is nothing more effective than a double cleaning. If you clean the toy before use, you help eliminate any bacteria that may have settled during the time it wasn’t used. Combine this with a good post-use cleaning, and you’ll ensure that no bacteria remain.
Is your toy new? It’s important to wash it before using it for the first time. Remember: just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s ready for immediate use.
