8 Ways To Properly Clean Your Dildos, Hassle-Free
You Should Be Cleaning Your Sex Toy (Definitely Not Your Mum)
Remember when your parents made you tidy and clean your toys as a kid? Well it’s the concept is the same, if you own sex toys, you should know how to clean them. They deserve the same care and attention you gave your pretty little dolls back then. Whether you use them by yourself when masturbating, or during sex with your partner, they need to be properly cleaned to kill germs. Given that some sex toys have splits and crevices, others are motorized and made from various materials, you can’t just plunge them in soap and water and the deal is done. They need a little more TLC and we’re going to show you to give your dildos all the love they need to better serve you while remaining brand new.
But before you dive into the cleaning part, it’s important to know the material your precious little playmates are made of. Knowledge of the materials used is vital to your own health and the longevity of your device. Experts say the method you choose to clean your toys depends on what it’s made of. You should be able to tell what your sex toy is made of by checking on the box. The type of material lets you know if your toy is porous or non-porous, irritating to sensitive skin or contains toxic materials. These are the most widely used and recommended materials for sex toys:
- Silicone
- Glass
- Wood and stone
- ABS hard plastic
- Stainless steel
What Happen If You Are Not Cleaning Your Dildos
Considering that your sex toys navigate sensitive terrain, they have to be cleaned regularly, as you use your dildos, germs, and bacteria build-up, when you don’t wash and disinfect your toys after every use, you become vulnerable to vaginal infection.
If you share your sex toys, it’s important to disinfect them because they can transfer STI’s and STDs through bodily fluids. Not cleaning your toys is exposing you and your partner to infection-causing germs and bacteria. Whether your toys are porous or not, make it a point to clean and disinfect them before and after every single use. Be it a dildo, vibrator, handcuffs, or leather strap-ons they’re all potential carriers of infection-causing bacteria. But if you scrub, boil and disinfect your toys after use and then store them in a non-sterile environment then you need to clean them again before using. Now let’s see the many ways in which you can keep your dildos fresh and clean.
8 Ways To Clean Your Dildo
1. Sanitize
To eliminate bacteria it’s necessary to disinfect your toys thoroughly, most silicone, glass, metal, and wooden toys could easily be handled with clean water and mild soap. Your sanitizer soap must be fragrance-free and mild but enough to disinfect the toy from germs, lube, bodily fluid and all other residues it may have come in contact with.
2. Use wet wipes
Wet wipes are also a great way to get rid of germs on your toy, leather toys especially can be wiped down with baby wipes, soap, and water. Your wipes must have some form of disinfectant like a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.
3. Boil
Another way of disinfecting your favorite toy is by boiling it, before boiling, make sure your toy is waterproof or non-motorized. Also make sure they’re made from silicone, stainless steel, pyrex or glass. Any other material should not be boiled. You can follow the instructions on the packaging to know what’s the best option for your toy.
4. Use a cleaning spray
There are special cleaning sprays for sex toys, specifically formulated to clean your toys without damaging them. They’re not too expensive, they could even be considered a good bargain given all the hassle they’ll save you from. So whether you’ve put a lot of money into your sex toy collection, or you simply want to make your toys to be hygienic and safe to use, consider investing in a sex toy cleaning spray. A good example is the Lelo Cleaning Spray, which is safe to use on silicone, latex, and rubber.
5. Submerge in water
Non-motorized sex toys and toys with complicated crevices should be submerged in water to kill germs. Leaving your toy to soak in water for a few minutes is the best way to deep clean your toy.
6. Don’t soak motorized toys
For motorized toys, do not soak in water unless it clearly states the toy is waterproof, otherwise the battery mechanism will be ruined. Use wet wipes, a cleaning spray or any other method that will not damage your precious little gadget.
7. Wash your toys before & after you use
Washing your toy before using seems like a buzz kill especially because it’s the last thing you want to think of when you’re getting your groove on but it’s just something you have to do. Failing to wash it before and after will most definitely lead to infections. This also depends on how you store your toys, if they’re not properly stored in a sterile environment then you’re not safe. If your dildo is left in contact with other objects, it can collect dust, pet hair or lint, and will need a quick wash before use.
8. Avoid the dishwasher
Most sex toys do not do well in very high temperatures so a dishwasher is not ideal, do you remember the popular scene from Broad City were a sex toy melted in a dishwasher? That’s totally possible especially when it comes to glass toys, so to be on the safe side better hand wash your sex toys and by the way WHY will you want to mix your dildo with your dishes? ew! Gross.
A Simple Guide On How To Properly Clean Them
Wash before storing
After you use a sex toy, you should always clean it before you store it, you don’t want to keep it in a drawer with body fluids drying on it. Make it a habit of washing it after you’re done and store it clean in a box meant for it or a special bag for your toy.
Wash with mild soap
Never use any harsh soap or disinfectant containing harsh chemicals to wash your sex toy. This is a common mistake many people make, always opt for a mild soap that won’t damage your toy nor irritate your skin. Stick to fragrance-free soap, that way you don’t stand a chance of irritating your vulva. Pay even more attention when washing toys that are made of porous materials.
Dry with a clean cloth
When left damp, the hard to reach places in your toy could develop mold. You need a special towel to dry your coochies after you wash them, the towel must be clean and used only for that specific purpose. Feeling like your toys are already taking a life of their own? Well, you’re not completely wrong, towels are a fertile breeding ground for bacteria, especially when they’re damp so make sure the one you use is clean and dry.
Store clean and dry
As strange as this may sound, storing your dildo or vibrator in your bedside drawer isn’t the best idea if you think about it your drawer isn’t the cleanest place, it’s dark and dusty. Can you even remember the last time you scrubbed your bedside drawer? I doubt, so to be safe you should store it in its original packaging or find it’s own space.
How To Make Them New
1. Take the batteries out when you’re not using it.
To add a lease on your dildo’s life, you should store it without batteries, insert them only when you want to use it and take them out once you are done. Batteries often create rust that can corrode your toy. Leaving the battery also lowers the charge of your toy as it reduces battery life and power. What a buzz kill right?
2. Use the right lube.
Knowing the right kind of lube to use is also essential in maintaining your sex toys. Stay away from oil-based lubes when using silicone toys, or else the oil will stick to the toy causing the material to deteriorate. Stick to water-based and hybrid lubes and always make sure you wash it off afterward.
3. Wrap with a condom
This is the safest way to use your sex toy especially if you share with a partner and when it’s made from porous materials such as hard plastic, Cyberskin, and jelly rubber, they can never be 100% disinfected and clean. For extra protection, wrap it in a condom.
Related Article: Simple And Sexy Ways To Get A Girl Wet
Relationship experts will tell you that no girl is happy without sensual sex. Therefore, you need to learn the art of making her wet like a pro!
Summary
Cleaning your sex toys and doing so properly has to become second nature to anyone who owns one. The skin at the level of the vulva is very sensitive and delicate so anything that goes down there needs to be as clean and safe as can be. It doesn’t matter what your favorite toy is made of, just give it all the TLC it needs and you too will be happy for a very long time. Bear in mind that even though it may feel like a chore, the care and attention you deploy to maintain a dildo comes right back to you and your partner.
1. Dildos
While they might seem almost quaint in comparison to all the vibrating, high-tech, action-packed toys available now, dildos remain a classic that plenty of women and even more men are super into. “I’ve seen people move from secrecy, silence, and shame into an open, cool, and trendy attitude toward sex toys of all kinds, from dildos to anal beads,” says clinical sexologist Marlene Wasserman, DHS. “I like when people stretch their sexual boundaries to leave their comfort zones, which can turn into a wonderful feeling of personal success and newly discovered pleasures—or dislikes. Either way, you’re learning something about your body and your partner.”
If you’re looking for the feeling of penetration that’s closest to a real penis, dildos are the way to go. They come in a variety of shapes, lengths, and widths, so take those into account when you’re shopping (some women may find that slightly curved ones are better at getting them off, since they’ll give your clit and G-spot more direct action), and consider using them both vaginally and anally. “My ex liked to dabble with a dildo—for him, not me!” says Audrey, age 30, of Los Angeles. “I wasn’t that into it; I prefer real D or a vibrator while we’re going at it, but he seemed to like the novelty and forbidden feeling of the dildo.”
2. Butt Plugs
Consider butt plugs your introduction to anal play. “Anal toys are popular with women even though they have no prostate or nerves to directly cause orgasm within the anus, they can be a huge mental turn-on,” says Wasserman. “If you’re a beginner, start with a shower and get clean beforehand, and then have your partner stimulate you with his fingers—or tongue, if he’s adventurous—before inserting a plug, vibrator, or beads.” She also suggests using latex gloves or condoms on fingers for cleanliness and anal lube for comfort and glide.
“I’ve found the key to introducing toys, whether anal ones, clamps, or otherwise, is all about expectation-setting and preparation,” says Katie, age 30, of New York City. “I mean, butt plugs are honestly a bit scary looking—even if they’re pastel pink—and if your partner’s only knowledge about using them is from porn, the night probably won’t end well. I like to get in teacher mode to walk them through how it feels for me as we’re doing it. And it never hurts to get comfortable with the toy solo beforehand, to explore how your body reacts.”
3. Nipple Clamps
Attaching these guys to your nips hurts—but it’s supposed to. So much of BDSM play is about the hurts-so-good kind of pain that can be a super-hot sensation for many people, if for no reason other than the fact that it’s so different from what we feel on an everyday basis.
Says Sarah, 27, of London, “It’s when my boyfriend takes the clamps off that it hurts the most—and I love it. The blood comes racing back into my nipples after being cut off, and it feels incredible. But don’t leave them on for too long, or you can cut off circulation to your nipples!” Many clamps come with fancy features like adjustable pressure, a vibrating option, and waterproof coating, but Sarah says she’s heard that clothespins can be just as effective, if you don’t want to buy real ones.
4. Vibrators
These should be your go-to sex toy, for solo and couple’s play, says Wasserman. “I suggest that women have a variety of vibrators—different shapes, sizes, and types of stimulators to match their mood and whatever sensation they’re looking for at that moment. Sometimes you might want a big, vibrating dildo that you can thrust at your own tempo, and other times you might want to use a vibrating butt plug.” Don’t worry that using a vibrator regularly will overstimulate your clit or mess with your ability to come with a good, old-fashioned penis—“that’s a myth,” says Wasserman. “It’s women’s responsibility to find what does it for them and be sexually vulnerable. Sex toys tend to predictably bring women to orgasm, so go ahead and use them!”
“My boyfriend and I had a perfectly good sex life, but bringing my vibrator into the mix stepped things up a notch,” says Amy, 29, of New York City. “Sometimes it takes me a really long time to come from regular sex, whereas that’s rarely the case for him. When we don’t have the time or energy for an hours-long sesh, the vibrator comes to the rescue by getting me off faster and with less work on both our parts.”
5. Handcuffs
Handcuffs are more about the mental and emotional turn-on than the physical sensation, says Wasserman. “It can be very arousing to discuss the scene you’ll set up and get the necessary consent,” she says. “It’s fabulous fantasy play and gaining more popularity because of recent exposure and normalization in the media.”
Just be careful—if you’re going for a super-authentic prisoner fantasy that involves real metal cuffs, they can hurt. “Soft, cushy ones are a must,” says Jen, 30, of Rutland, Vermont. “I love feeling a little out of control when my partner cuffs me up—especially when every other part of my life requires effort and attention.”
6. Clitoral Massagers
For women who have a tough time coming from other sex toys (or partners, even) a vibrator that focuses purely on stimulating the most sensitive part of your vagina could be the silver bullet. Wasserman is a big fan of women advocating for their clits. “Distressingly, men don’t spend enough time on clitoral play, and women remain silent about their clitoral needs,” she says. “Use your clitoral massager while being thrusted; use it afterward when you’re swollen and he’s fallen asleep; let him or her see you using it so it becomes a couple activity,” she suggests.
“I used to think I wasn’t able to orgasm, because nothing seemed to work on my clit,” says Emily, 30, of Boston. “A clitoral stimulator—which I now own several of—changed that. They rock my world every time, and the rest of my sex toy collection goes pretty much unused now.” Sold yet?
7. Anal Beads
Slightly different from butt plugs in that they insert one individual bead at a time, rather than smoothly and gradually like a plug, anal beads provide a pop feeling with each larger size that goes in. And while any sort of anal toy and play will help prep you for actual anal sex, butt plugs might be a bit more similar to how that will feel.
“I’ve used both plugs and beads, and I like both, but I think it’s more important to invest in a high-quality set of beads if that’s what you’re into,” says Alyssa, age 26, of New York City. “The last thing you want is a cheap pair of beads breaking when they’re inside you! Oh, and with either one, make sure to use a ton of lube, otherwise it’ll be more pain than pleasure.” Good to know.
