5 Sex Toy Cleaner Tips for Proper Sex Toy Etiquette

They say sharing is caring, but not using proper sex toy etiquette around your dildos, vibrators and butt plugs can lead you or others into a situation that you won’t really care for, namely STIs and other infections. You can avoid that thanks to writer and sex educator Caitlin M. Murphy and her top five sex toy cleaner methods.

Whether you have a sex toy that you want to share with a partner or get some good use at a play party, a properly sterilized sex toy or tool is essential. Improper cleaning of sex toys can lead to transmission of STIs, bacterial/yeast infections and other unsavory side effects.

This is also a concern if you have an active STI or infection. If not properly cleaned, your toy can re-infect you. Even on your own body, one part is vastly different from another, so it’s a bad idea to use a toy that isn't or cannot be sterilized in more than one orifice. When it comes to sharing your sex toys with others, the kink community tenets of 'safe, sane and consensual' ring true. It’s not safe or consensual to potentially expose your partner to a health problem, whether they’re a long-term lover or one of many. So, always use a sex toy cleaner.

Safe, sane, consensual and clean?

So, how do you properly clean sex toys? First, you need to determine whether or not the toy can be cleaned. Regarding the usual suspects like dildos, vibrators, cock rings, anal plugs, etc., there are porous and non-porous options.

Porous sex toys, made of everything from jelly to Cyberskin on to Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR), cannot be sterilized. There are tons of different brand names for these materials, and I'd never recommend using a sex toy made of porous materials. That's because they have the potential to contain toxic ingredients, and can also harbor dirt, bacteria and mould. If you use one, always put a condom on it.

1. Go body-safe with your sex toys

Non-porous toy options are things like silicone, ABS Hard Plastic, glass, metal, ceramic, stone, and specially treated wood. But don’t always trust what companies say on the packaging about their materials. If you’re not sure, do your homework and look for reliable reviews. Now, how to clean your sex toys for use. The good news is there are ways to sterilize your toys completely, so you can ensure you're always using clean sex toys with a new partner.

“Whether you have a sex toy that you want to share with a partner or get some good use at a play party, a properly sterilized sex toy or tool is essential.”

2. Soap and water - the most convenient sex toy cleaner

Pretty straightforward. Don’t use antibacterial soaps, or soaps with fragrances, as these can cause irritation down below. “Free and Clear” dishwashing soaps work best as a sex toy cleaner. Be sure to rinse thoroughly, and you can use a soft toothbrush if there are grooves or texture on the toy. However, this method won’t completely sterilise your toy.

Keep your kink play safe and clean with condoms and a good sex toy cleaner.

3. Bleach it

Use nine parts water to one part bleach in a bucket or bowl. Let your toy soak for a while, remove, rinse thoroughly with water, and dry. This sex toy cleaner method sterilises your gear completely. If there was gunk of the vaginal or anal kind on the toy before cleaning, it’s best to use soap and water with a toothbrush first.

4. Boil it

It’s pretty straightforward: brush any gunk off then put your toys in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Lay out to dry. This will sterilise your toys. Obviously, don't use this method for any electronic gadgets!

5. Throw it in the dishwasher

For those of us who have one, this method reigns supreme. If there's anything crusted on to your toys, you should scrub first and then throw them in the dishwasher on the “sterilise” or “normal” setting, with NO soap. This will sterilise your toys. But if you can’t do one of the above, put a condom on it between orifices and between people. This is also imperative if you’re using a toy on more than one person: barriers are necessary unless everyone involved has made the very serious decision to be fluid bonded.

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Even then, you shouldn’t use a strap-on in someone’s back hole and then into their or another person’s front hole without putting on a condom. If you can’t sterilise or put a condom on it? Don’t share it. If you’re stuck on something you know can’t be sterilised, your best bet is to buy toys that are specifically for each person you regularly play with. Keep sterilisable options for orgies, swinger events, or for when you’re just hooking up.

It may seem like a lot of work to clean sex toys, but anyone who has gotten an infection from one can tell you, it’s essential!

Caitlin M. Murphy is a writer, sex educator, consultant, and product reviewer who focuses primarily on issues of sex toy and accessory safety, pleasure, sexuality, gender, and more.

What are your thoughts on these sex toy cleaner methods and body-safe sex toys? Share your tips and experiences in the Fetish.com forum.