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Caring for Your Sex Toy
Education hubAbout one minuteBefore and after, every time
Education hub · Care
A guide, not a sales page
What makes a good piece last years instead of months.
Cleaning, drying and storing properly. It takes about a minute, and it is the difference between something you keep and something you replace.
How to clean what → Or where damage actually happens →
Unsure about something you own? Ask an educator, no purchase involved.
The basic version
Warm water and a mild, unscented soap.
That handles almost everything. What matters more than the product you use is doing it straight away rather than leaving it until later.
Avoid antibacterial hand soaps, anything alcohol based, and anything harshly scented. They can irritate delicate tissue on the next use and degrade some surfaces over time.
A dedicated toy cleaner is convenient but not necessary, which is why we do not sell one. Soap and water does the same job for a fraction of the price, and we would rather tell you that than sell you a bottle.
By material
How to clean what.
Three groups, and the difference between them matters more than the difference between soaps.
Silicone, glass and steel, with no motorSoap and warm water is plenty for routine care. Solid, non motorised pieces in these materials can also be boiled for a few minutes if you want to sterilise them, for instance before sharing. Check the listing first, because anything with a motor, a battery or a charging port cannot be boiled.
Anything with a motor, battery or charging portNever submerge unless it is rated fully waterproof, and never boil. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and soap, keep water away from the port, and dry it completely before charging. A wet charging port is the most common way a rechargeable piece dies.
Porous materials such as TPE and TPRWash gently and dry thoroughly, but understand that these cannot be sterilised at all. Keep them to one person, use a condom over them, and replace them once the surface becomes tacky, discoloured, or starts to smell. Why that is.
Drying and storage
Where most damage actually happens.
Not during use. In the drawer afterwards.
Dry completely firstTrapped moisture is the most common cause of both odour and early failure. Air dry rather than shutting something damp away, and pay attention to seams, bases and retrieval cords, which hold water longest.
Always
Store pieces separatelyDifferent silicones and plastics can react on contact and leave a permanently sticky or melted patch. A cotton bag each, or individual pouches, solves it entirely.
Always
Cool, dark and dryHeat and sunlight degrade silicone over time. A drawer is fine. A windowsill or a hot car is not.
Always
Take removable batteries outBetween uses, so they cannot leak. A leaked battery will destroy a piece that was otherwise fine.
If applicable
Charge before long storageRechargeable batteries degrade if left completely flat for months.
If applicable
When to retire something
- A tear, crack or chip. A damaged surface cannot be cleaned reliably, no matter what it is made of.
- Persistent stickiness that returns after washing. On a porous piece that is the plasticiser leaching out.
- A smell that survives a proper clean.
- Clouding, softening or colour transfer onto fabric or other items.
Retire it without sentiment. Nothing on this list improves.
Small things that make a difference
- Clean before as well as after. Dust and drawer residue are the reason, and it takes ten seconds.
- Rinse lubricant off properly. Water based lubricant dries to a film that attracts everything else in the drawer.
- Wash between anal and vaginal use, every time, without exception. This is an infection route rather than a nicety.
- Do not use silicone lubricant on silicone. It can leave the surface permanently tacky, and no amount of cleaning fixes it.
Common questions
Answered plainly.
Do I really need a special toy cleaner?
No. Mild unscented soap and warm water does the same job. A dedicated cleaner is convenient if you want something quick, but it is a convenience purchase rather than a hygiene one, which is why we do not sell one.
Can I put anything in the dishwasher?
We would not. Dishwasher detergent is harsh, the heat cycle is uncontrolled, and it takes about a minute to wash something properly by hand. For solid silicone, glass or steel with no motor, boiling is the better sterilising option.
How do I know if something is fully waterproof?
The listing has to say so explicitly. Splashproof means wipe clean only. If it is ambiguous, treat it as splashproof, because a wet charging port is not recoverable.
My silicone toy has gone sticky. Can I fix it?
If it is genuine silicone and the stickiness came from silicone lubricant or contact with another toy, sometimes a thorough wash and full dry helps. If it returns, or the piece was never truly silicone, no. Retire it.
How often should I deep clean?
Ordinary washing before and after each use is enough for one person. Boil or sterilise before sharing, before a first use after long storage, or after any illness.
What about the storage bag itself?
Wash it occasionally like any other fabric. A clean piece in a dusty bag is a piece you will want to rinse again before use anyway.
This page is education rather than medical advice. Products are for personal wellness and pleasure, are not medical devices, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.
One minute, every time
Wash it, dry it, store it apart.
That is the whole guide. Everything else is detail for the situations where it matters.
Read the materials guide → Or ask a question →
Education first · Ninety day replacement · Plain packaging or it is free