We are thankfully past the age of people being scared of sex toys because they are “dirty” – figuratively. We are now well into our acceptance and no-shame era, understanding how great sexual wellness and sexual health are for all other aspects of your life when they’re nurtured and explored.
However, we will forever be concerned about sex toys being dirty – literally.
How to store sex toys safely?
How do you handle proper cleaning of sex toys when they’re made from different materials and you already have other bull to do?
Hygiene Is Key To Sex Toy Safety
Are sex toys safe when you get them via a fancy brand or a well-trusted sex toys shop like EdenFantasys? Is reputation even enough to guarantee safety, hygiene-wise? “Better safe than sorry” might be a cliche, but we don’t care. Not when it comes to sex toy safety.
No matter the price tag or where you buy it, poor sex toy hygiene is a thing. Bacteria can build even on the most expensive of sex toys, and once it does, it leads to irritation, infections, or throws off your entire pH balance – especially when used internally, which with sex toys, you do.
Even the teeniest traces of dirt, lint, leftover lube, soap, or moisture can cause damage and harm over time. So yes, consistent cleaning matters more than the luxury brand status. Sex toy safety guidelines are there not for paranoid reasons.
Always Clean Your Sex Toy – When You First Get It, Before and After Use
There could not be much debate on how often to clean sex toys – wash them when it first arrives, and then before and after every time you use them. Keeping your sex toy clean is just as necessary as keeping your… let’s say hands clean.
When you first get your toy, you don’t know where it’s been and how well the package was sealed. With better brands, you “know” but still – see the rule of thumb.
Cleaning a sex toy before you use it makes things feel nicer – it’s like a self-care ritual, and you won’t apply a face mask if you didn’t wash your hands first, right?
And cleaning it after use… well, it is just common courtesy and common sense.
How To Clean Sex Toys?
There are different materials and water tolerances in sex toys, but washing sex toys correctly always takes the same steps:
1. Check the waterproofness
Some toys are not meant to be washed – and that’s okay. Check out the manual or the sex toys store website to find out if your sex toy is waterproof. It is quite safe to say that a battery-operated toy will not be waterproof, rechargeable vibrators will be at 50-50, and a sex toy with no motor at all will be 100% waterproof.
2. Use water and soap or toy cleaner
Waterproof sex toys you can usually wash with water and mild soap – that’s so easy.
Non-vibrating silicone dildos and many anal toys ae made for intense cleaning. Some of them can even be thrown in the dishwasher or boiled for a couple of minutes (that depends on the material). Check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure.
Splashproof sex toys can be rinsed – but with caution. Do not submerge or soak.
If the toy is not waterproof, skip water completely – wipe it down with special sex toy wipes or use plain baby wipes. Unscented are the best.
Every toy needs a good cleaner. EdenFantasys has the perfect one – you can just spray onto the toy and then wipe it down.
Clean the toy with your hands, you can use a cleaner, a wipe, or soap and water – pay extra attention to textures, creases, or ridges where residue can collect.
3. Dry completely before storing
Pat your sex toy with a clean paper towel or air-dry it if you can – it needs to be completely dry. Even a little bit of leftover moisture ruins toys as time passes.
Not All Sex Toys Are Cleaned Equal: Sex Toy Materials Explained
Materials in sex toys are so important – especially when it comes to hygiene.
Cleaning Silicone Sex Toys
Silicone toys are non-porous – so they are the safest, most recommended option by everyone. They feel buttery soft, are nice against the skin, don’t absorb bacteria or dirt, and, with regular washing, hold up very well and don’t break easily.
Cleaning Metal or Glass Sex Toys
Good news here: glass and metal toys are also very easy to maintain. Their smooth surfaces make it nearly impossible for residue to cling. A simple wash with warm water and soap is usually enough – but if you wish, those are the ones you can boil or shove in the dishwasher. These materials don’t break down over time, even if you switch between lubes
Cleaning Sex Toys Made From Porous Materials
TPE, TPR, ABS plastic, rubber – which are usually in the budget-friendly zone – require extra care. These materials can hold icky residue even after washing. So stricter hygiene and proper storage is key. If these toys are stored while damp, they may wear down faster.
Body-Safe Materials Are Always the Safest
Body-safe materials – things like silicone, glass, and metal – are non-porous, meaning they don’t absorb bacteria, fluids, or cleaning products.
Porous materials easily trap residue below the surface(even when the toy looks clean). And no, it’s not dangerous – this means they require more careful cleaning, stricter storage habits, and replacement sooner.
Saving money isn’t worth risking irritation or infection. When it comes to sex toys, body-safe materials are always the safer choice in hindsight.
How to Store Sex Toys So They Stay Undamaged
The way you store sex toys is just as important as knowing how to clean them – it is a process.
A sex toy drawer? A box? A pouch hidden under the mattress? Privacy often matters more than tidiness – but keeping your toys discreet doesn’t mean sacrificing their safety from bacteria and damage.
- Store sex toys separately to prevent material melting into one another. When certain materials sit pressed against each other for long periods – especially silicone – they can react and start to break down.
- Store sex toys completely dry – residue moisture leads to bacteria and really bad smell. Dry means fully dry – not “good enough”, don’t compromise on that.
- Keep toys out of direct sunlight and heat, so the materials don’t melt, fade, or thin out.
- Store your sex toys out of prying eyes – but you know that already.
Discretion matters, of course – but it shouldn’t be the only factor dominating your choices on how to store your toys. Good sorage protects them from dust, bumps, and unnecessary handling. A simple sex toy pouch, nothing fancy, a soft case, or those toy boxes that look like makeup bags work perfectly.
Clean Sex Toys Last Longer And Stay Safe to Use
Are sex toys safe to use right after they arrive? Not even from the luxury sex toy shops, nope – it’s better to clean them right when they arrive, and then before and after each use.
Is keeping your sex toy raw-dog under the mattress a good idea? Probably not, since proper sex toy storage doesn’t actually require much effort – but offers stealth AND health instead.
Once you understand what lies at the root of those problems, the rest becomes a question of proper routine. Clean before and after use. Let your toys dry – or at least wipe them down. Store them appropriately – it is as easy as that.
Those small but vital habits are what keep sex toys safe, comfortable, and ready whenever you crave some fun.
