Wash Your Damn Toys: A Slightly Rude Guide to Cleaning & Storing Sex Toys
- Amanda Sandström Beijer
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Sex toys are fun, intimate, occasionally life-changing objects. They are also objects. Meaning: they don’t magically become clean because you had a transformative orgasm and whispered “thank you” into the darkness.
If you’ve ever opened a toy drawer and found a tangle of chargers, a lint-coated bullet vibe, and a bottle of lube with a crusted cap that looks like it’s been through emotional warfare—this guide is for you (and also for whoever is going to touch your genitals later).
This is not about being precious. It’s about not turning your pleasure into a science experiment.
Why Cleaning Matters (Yes, Really)
Sex toy hygiene isn’t a moral issue; it’s a microbiology issue. Toys come into contact with bodily fluids and mucous membranes. If you don’t clean them, microbes can linger and transfer—either back to you or between partners if toys are shared.
The Only Thing You Must Understand: Porous vs. Non-Porous
This is the difference between “cleanable” and “forever haunted.”
Non-porous (actually cleanable)
Non-porous materials don’t absorb fluids, which means you can wash and, in some cases, sanitize them properly.
Common non-porous materials:
Silicone (body-safe silicone)
Glass (ideally borosilicate)
Stainless steel / aluminum
Porous (washable-ish, not truly sanitizable)
Porous materials have microscopic spaces that can trap bacteria, yeast, and old lube residue. You can clean the surface, but you can’t reliably sterilize the material all the way through.
Common porous materials:
Jelly rubber
TPR/TPE
“Soft plastic” / mystery blends
Rule of thumb: If it’s cheap, squishy, and vaguely chemical-smelling, assume it’s porous.
How to Clean Sex Toys (By Material)
Silicone toys
Silicone is the easiest to live with, but it’s not self-cleaning.
Do:
Wash with warm water + mild, unscented soap after every use.
If the toy is fully waterproof and has no motor, boiling for 3–5 minutes can sanitize it.
Don’t:
Boil anything with a motor, battery compartment, or charging port. That’s not “sterilizing,” that’s “killing your toy.”
Glass and metal toys
Glass and metal are durable and non-porous: the “wash me like you mean it” category.
Do:
Rinse with hot water, then wash with mild soap.
Boil up to 10 minutes (if there are no glued parts) or run through the dishwasher on the center rack.
Let cool completely before use or handling.
Porous toys (jelly, TPR/TPE, rubber)
Porous toys can be cleaned, but not fully sanitized. This is why they’re trickier—especially for anal use or sharing.
Do:
Wash immediately with warm water + mild soap.
Use a condom over the toy (especially if sharing, or if using vaginally after anal play).
Don’t:
Boil, microwave, or bake them. They can warp, degrade, or just become a sad little toxic art project.
Keep using them if they turn sticky, smell “off,” or discolor. That’s not “character,” that’s deterioration.
Cleaning Vibrators & Toys With Charging Ports (Without Ruining Them)
Toys with motors are like cats: they hate baths and will punish you for trying.
Best practice:
Wipe the toy with a damp cloth and mild, unscented soap (if the exterior is silicone/hard plastic).
Keep water away from charging ports, seams, and battery compartments.
Use a cotton swab (slightly damp) for grooves and textured areas.
Dry completely before storing or charging.
What Not to Use (Cleaning Myths That Need to Die)
Bleach: can irritate tissue and damage materials. Unless your kink is “chemical burn,” skip it.
Vinegar + baking soda: you’re not cleaning a drain. Stick to soap.
Antibacterial wipes: fine for a quick wipe in a pinch, but not a full clean (and not ideal for delicate skin if residue remains).
How to Store Sex Toys (So They Don’t Get Weird)
The dirtiest part of many people’s routine isn’t the sex. It’s the storage.
Storage rules that actually matter
Dry completely before storing. Moisture = mold and weird smells.
Store toys separately. Many materials can react with each other, and lint is not a lubricant.
Use pouches or cases. Fabric pouches, silicone-safe bags, or a dedicated box work well.
Keep cool and out of sunlight. Heat and UV can degrade materials over time.
Store chargers separately if you value your sanity.
Sharing Toys: How to Not Pass Along More Than Vibes
Sharing is great. Sharing microbes is less great.
For non-porous toys: wash (and sanitize when possible) between partners.
For porous toys: use condoms, and consider not sharing at all.
Switching between anal and vaginal use? Either sanitize in between or use a fresh condom. (This is not prudish; it’s basic plumbing.)
FAQ (Because These Are the Questions Everyone Googles)
Q: Can you clean sex toys with just soap and water
A: For non-porous toys (silicone, glass, metal), yes—soap and water is an effective baseline. For porous toys, soap and water cleans the surface, but you can’t fully sanitize them.
Q: How often should you clean sex toys?
A: Every use. Also: wash brand-new toys before first use. Packaging is not a sterile force field.
Q: Can you store different sex toys together?
A: You can, but you shouldn’t. Materials can degrade, surfaces can get sticky, and you’ll basically create a lint-and-bacteria commune. Separate pouches are the easiest fix.