How to Care for Your Investment: The Do's and Don'ts of Cleaning Sex Toys
Let’s be honest: dropping $80 to $200 on a high-quality, body-safe silicone vibrator is an investment in your pleasure. Whether you just picked up your first vibrator from Adam & Eve Stores or you’re a seasoned collector with a drawer full of options, a sex toy comes with some very specific care requirements.
Poor maintenance doesn't just ruin your toy—it can actively harm your health. Bacteria, yeast, and STIs can linger on improperly cleaned surfaces, and using the wrong cleaning products can literally melt the material.
Here is the definitive guide to the Do's and Don'ts of keeping your toys clean, safe, and ready for their next encore.
🧼 The Do's: Best Practices for Toy Hygiene DO Wash Before AND After It’s a common misconception that you only need to wash a toy after you use it. Washing before use is just as important. Toys pick up dust, lint, and bacteria from your nightstand drawer or bedside table. A quick rinse before play keeps those external elements out of your body.
DO Use the Right Cleaner for the Right Material 100% Silicone, Glass, and Metal: These are non-porous and can handle a lot. Wash them with unscented antibacterial soap and warm water, or use a dedicated toy cleaner. Porous Materials (TPE, TPR, Cyberskin, Jelly): If you have these (which we don't recommend, but sometimes they happen), wash them gently with warm water and mild, unscented soap. Because they have microscopic pores, they can never be truly sterile.
DO Rinse Thoroughly If you are using soap, make sure you rinse every single drop of it away. Soap residue left inside the crevices of a toy can disrupt the delicate pH of your vagina or rectum, leading to yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.
DO Remove the Batteries (If Applicable) If your toy uses removable batteries, take them out before cleaning. This prevents the toy from accidentally turning on underwater and protects the battery compartment from corrosion caused by moisture.
DO Let Them Dry COMPLETELY Before Storing Never put a wet toy away. Trapped moisture is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Air-dry your toys on a clean towel, and if you’re in a rush, pat them dry with a lint-free cloth.
DO Use Antibacterial Toy Wipes for Quick Cleanups Had a quick solo session and don't have time to run to the sink? Specialty sex toy wipes are formulated to kill bacteria without degrading the silicone. Note: These are for a quick fix, not a permanent replacement for a proper wash.
🚫 The Don'ts: How to Avoid Ruining Your Toys DON'T Use Boiling Water on Everything Boiling a toy for 3–5 minutes is a brilliant, hospital-level way to sanitize 100% silicone, glass, and stainless steel that do not have motors inside. However, if you boil a vibrator with a motor inside, you will fry the electronics and destroy the toy. If in doubt, never boil it.
DON'T Put Them in the Dishwasher Just like boiling, the high heat of a dishwasher will melt the internal motors and wiring of almost all motorized toys. Even for non-motorized silicone dildos, dishwasher detergent is often too harsh and can degrade the surface over time. Keep them out of the kitchen.
DON'T Use Alcohol, Bleach, or Harsh Chemicals It might seem logical to use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to really "kill the germs," but these chemicals will eat through silicone like acid. They will cause your once-silky toy to become sticky, tacky, and permanently discolored.
DON'T Use Scented Soaps or Body Washes That mango-peach body wash smells great, but the artificial fragrances, dyes, and moisturizing oils in body washes will cling to silicone and cause irritation to your most sensitive tissues. Stick to unscented, gentle hand soap or dish soap (like Dawn Original).
DON'T Submerge Non-Waterproof Toys Check your toy's user manual or look for the watermark icon on the box.
Waterproof: Can be fully submerged in the sink or bathtub. Splash-proof: Can handle a rinse in the sink, but cannot be submerged. Not rated: Keep water away from the charging port or battery compartment entirely. Wipe these down with a damp, soapy cloth instead of running them under the tap.
🗄️ Storage: The Final Step of Care Cleaning is only half the battle; how you store your toys dictates their lifespan.
DON'T throw them in a drawer loose. Silicone toys act like dust and hair magnets. Storing them loose means you’ll have to wash off pet hair and lint every single time you want to use them. DON'T let them touch each other. This is a crucial rule: Silicone cannot touch silicone. If two silicone toys are stored touching each other, a chemical reaction will occur. They will "melt" together, becoming permanently deformed and unusable.
DO use storage bags. Most high-quality toys come with a breathable cotton or silk drawstring bag. Keep them in there! If you lost the bag, use a clean cotton sock (no holes!) or buy separate fabric pouches.
DO keep them cool and dark. UV light from windows and extreme heat can degrade silicone and fade colors over time. Store them in a cool, dark drawer or closet.
The Bottom Line: Taking care of your toys doesn't require a chemistry degree. It just requires warm water, unscented soap, a thorough dry, and a fabric bag. Treat your pleasure products with the same care you’d give a high-end skincare routine, and they will return the favor for years to come.







