How To Care For Your Sex Toys

When you find the right sex toy, you want it to last as long as possible. One of the best ways to keep your toy in good working order is to take care of it. This means using the right cleaning methods, and the right storage methods. If you look after your toys, they’ll continue to keep you in orgasmic pleasure for a long time.

Materials

The first step in taking care of your sex toys is to find out what material the toy is made from. The material of the toy will dictate how you should take care of it. Generally speaking, toys are made from two broad types of material – porous, and non-porous.

Porous Materials

Porous materials have tiny holes, similar to pores. These holes can attract bacteria, germs, fungi, and other dirt. Porous materials are generally rubber type materials. Think toys made from

• TPR – Thermoplastic rubber – also called skin-safe rubber
• TRE – Thermoplastic elastomer – also called skin-safe rubber
• Jelly rubber – may contain phthalates, which may potentially affect human health, though this is still under debate.
• PVC – Polyvinyl chloride – may contain phthalates.
• Sensafirm – helps toys feel like real skin
• UR3 – helps toys feel like real skin
• Latex – may not be as tested as a material for sex toys as it is in other products such as gloves, and condoms

Check the labels and boxes on your toys to see what it’s made from, and if it contains phthalates or not.

Non-Porous Materials

Non-porous materials don’t have small holes. Because of this, they don’t collect the same dirt and bacteria. Non-porous toys include toys made from:

• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene – ABS plastic – is a hard plastic
• Borosilicate glass – similar to Pyrex, this is a glass that can be boil cleaned
• Soda-lime glass – similar to glass used in making glasses
• Silicone – a rubbery feeling material
• Metals – often stainless steel

If you aren’t sure what type of material your toy is made from, check the packaging, or search for it online.

Sex Toy Cleaning Tips

These tips can help you keep your toys ready for whenever you want them.

1. Clean All Your Sex Toys Properly

Thorough cleaning is important. Start with a mild, unscented soap and water. Use a light soap that won’t leave any kind of reside on the toy afterwards. Exactly how you’ll clean them depends on the material that the toy is made from.

If you have porous toys made from latex, or elastomer, they can be warped if you clean them in water that is too hot. Instead, wipe these toys with a damp cloth and lukewarm soapy water. Wipe them again with a damp cloth and plain lukewarm water.

If you have porous toys made from a skin feel rubber, use a minimal amount of soap. Soap can react with this kind of rubber, and cause it to degrade.

If your toy is made from ABS plastic, then you can wipe it with a damp cloth and soapy water.

If your toy is made from soda-lime glass, use a warm, but not hot water, and soap. Take care that the water isn’t too hot, as this glass can crack under high temperatures.

If your toy is made from borosilicate glass, metal, or silicone, the you can wipe it with a damp cloth and warm soapy water. If these toys don’t vibrate, then you can boil them for three or four minutes to disinfect them. However, if they made from gold or gold-plated can’t be boiled, as the may have other materials in them as well.

Another general rule for cleaning your sex toys is that if it vibrates, you need to wipe it down with clean, damp cloth, and plain lukewarm water. If it doesn’t vibrate, it can probably be rinsed under a tap.

You should also avoid cleaning your toys in a dishwasher. Although some toys may come with a ‘dishwasher safe’ label, it’s not usually a good idea. Dishwashers tend to leave a soap residue behind. It’s also worth noting that some dishwasher tablets can contain bleach, which can damage your toys.

Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned, and rinsed your toys, you should make sure that they’re completely dry before putting them away. Storing toys when they’re still damp can build mildew and mould.

1. Sex Toy Cleaner

Another option for cleaning your toys, is to use a sex toy cleaner. Make sure that the one you use is suitable for the material of the toy you’re cleaning. They’re an anti-bacterial cleaner, designed specifically for sex toys. They tend to come in liquid, or wipe forms. Even if you use a sex toy cleaner, you should give your toys a regular deep clean as well.

1. Use Condoms

If you’re going to share your toys with your partner, then use a condom. This will only work if the toy has the ‘right’ shape that will let you put a condom on it. But, it does mean that you won’t need to clean the toy after each use, simply change the condom. You will still need to deep clean the toy every so often. You’ll also need to be sure that any lube you use won’t erode the condom.

1. How You Store Your Toys Matters Too

If you really want to get the most out of your toys, then you need to store them properly as well. Shoving them into your beside drawer, no matter how easy and tempting it is, isn’t actually storing your toys properly. The easiest way to store your toys is to keep the original packing that you bought them in, and put them back after you’ve finished playing with them. Another option is to buy a lockable, plastic container. It can help keep your toys organised, safe, and clean, but not all toys can be stored in plastic, so make sure that you only use this storage method on suitable toys. A final option is to buy satin, or silk bags. You can find satin drawstring bags that are specifically designed for storing sex toys. Storing toys this way can help to increase their life span.

Whichever toy is your favourite, or even you favourite of the week, make sure that you take care of it properly, so that it lasts longer, and keeps giving you mind-blowing orgasms.