Shopping cart
You have no items in your shopping cart.
How to Clean and Store Sex Toys: Materials, Water Ratings & Hygiene
Quick answer: Clean sex toys according to the manufacturer’s instructions, usually before and after use. Mild soap and water are appropriate for many washable products, but electronic parts, porous materials, coatings, seams, and water-resistance ratings can change the correct method. Dry toys completely before storage, keep damaged products out of use, and use a new condom or barrier when sharing toys between partners or body areas.
This guide is the site’s general sex-toy cleaning and storage pillar. It covers the rules that apply across many product categories. Narrower guides for masturbators, sex swings, and specialty equipment should handle their own product-specific maintenance details.
Why Sex Toy Cleaning Matters
Sex toys can collect body fluids, lubricant, skin oils, dust, and residue. When toys are shared, those residues can also contribute to the spread of infections.
What Planned Parenthood recommends
Planned Parenthood advises washing sex toys with mild soap and water after use and before they touch another person’s genitals, while also following the care instructions supplied with the toy.
Shared toys need extra attention
The CDC notes that shared sex toys can transmit infections and recommends cleaning shared toys and using barriers when appropriate.
Sources: Planned Parenthood: Sex Toys and CDC STI Treatment Guidelines.
Always Start With the Manufacturer’s Instructions
The correct cleaning method depends on more than the material name. Motors, charging contacts, adhesives, coatings, seals, texture, removable sleeves, and water ratings all matter.
Do not assume every silicone toy can be boiled
A product may contain silicone on the exterior while also containing electronics, glue, finishes, or components that should not be exposed to high heat.
Do not assume dishwasher-safe either
Only use a dishwasher if the manufacturer specifically says the complete product or removable component is dishwasher-safe.
A Basic Sex Toy Cleaning Routine
- Disconnect charging cables.
- Remove batteries or detachable components only if the instructions call for it.
- Check whether the product is waterproof, water-resistant, splash-resistant, or not rated for water exposure.
- Wash or wipe using the method recommended by the manufacturer.
- Pay attention to seams, textured areas, ridges, openings, and removable parts.
- Rinse away soap or cleaner residue where appropriate.
- Dry completely before charging, reassembly, or storage.
Mild soap and water
For many washable toys, mild soap and water are a practical baseline. Planned Parenthood specifically recommends mild soap and water while noting that product-specific instructions should still take priority.
A dedicated toy cleaner is optional
A commercial toy cleaner can be convenient, but it is not automatically superior to the manufacturer-approved cleaning method. Check that the cleaner is suitable for the toy material and that any residue is handled according to the cleaner instructions.
Browse our Toy Cleaner Collection.
Waterproof vs Water-Resistant vs Splash-Resistant
These terms are not interchangeable.
Waterproof
A manufacturer may allow full submersion, but check the exact product rating and depth/time limits if provided.
Water-resistant
This often means the product can tolerate limited water exposure but may not be intended for full submersion.
Splash-resistant
This generally indicates even more limited exposure.
The exterior material does not determine the electronics rating
A silicone coating does not make a charging port, motor housing, or remote waterproof.
Non-Porous vs Porous Toy Materials
Material porosity affects how easily a product can be cleaned.
Common non-porous materials
Planned Parenthood lists 100% silicone, hard plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, and break-resistant glass as examples of non-porous materials commonly used in insertable toys.
Why non-porous materials are easier to maintain
They do not absorb germs as readily and can generally be cleaned more thoroughly when the product construction allows it.
Common porous materials
Planned Parenthood notes that TPE, TPR, PVC, vinyl, jelly rubber, elastomer, silicone blends, and other soft rubbery plastics may be porous.
Porous does not automatically mean unusable
It does mean hygiene requires more care, and a condom or barrier can be useful when sharing or when extra separation is desired.
Cleaning Silicone Toys
Silicone products are common, but the exact formulation and construction matter.
Check whether it is 100% silicone
“Silicone blend” is not the same as 100% silicone and may behave differently.
Electronics change the cleaning method
A powered silicone vibrator should be cleaned according to its water rating rather than according to a generic rule for solid silicone.
Cleaning Hard Plastic, Metal, and Glass
These materials are generally non-porous, but coatings, electronics, seams, and decorative finishes still matter.
Inspect the surface
Stop using a product with cracks, chips, sharp edges, peeling coatings, or corrosion.
Break-resistant does not mean indestructible
Glass products should still be inspected carefully after drops or impacts.
Cleaning TPE, TPR, Elastomer, and Soft Sleeves
Soft masturbator sleeves and similar products often require more careful drying and storage.
Texture traps moisture
Deep channels, ribs, closed ends, and folds can hold water or cleaner residue.
Drying is part of cleaning
A product that is washed but stored damp has not completed the maintenance cycle.
For masturbator-specific care, use our Masturbator Maintenance Checklist.
How to Clean Shared Sex Toys
Shared toys require additional infection-control steps.
Clean between users
Planned Parenthood recommends washing toys before they touch another person’s genitals.
Use a new condom or barrier
If a condom is used over the toy, change it before the toy touches another person or another body area.
CDC guidance supports this approach
The CDC advises avoiding shared toys when possible, or using a new condom and carefully washing toys after each use when toys are shared.
Moving a Toy Between Body Areas
A toy used anally should not move directly to the vagina without cleaning or a fresh barrier.
Why this matters
Planned Parenthood notes that moving germs from the anus to the vagina can contribute to vaginitis and other infections.
Simple rule
Wash the toy carefully or change the condom/barrier before changing body areas.
Lubricant Compatibility and Cleaning
Lubricant choice affects both comfort and maintenance.
Water-based lubricant
Planned Parenthood describes water-based lubricant as broadly compatible with sex toys and condoms and relatively easy to clean.
Silicone lubricant
Silicone lubricant can damage some silicone toys. Check the exact manufacturer guidance before combining them.
Oil-based products
Oil-based lubricants can damage latex condoms and may be harder to wash from some surfaces.
Do not guess based on appearance
Compatibility depends on the exact material formulation, not on whether a toy merely looks or feels like silicone.
Browse our Lubricants Collection.
Do You Need to Disinfect or Sterilize Sex Toys?
Most home-use toy care is about cleaning, not medical sterilization.
Do not use harsh disinfectants by default
Bleach, alcohol, boiling water, and other aggressive methods can damage some materials, coatings, adhesives, or electronics.
Use stronger methods only when approved
If a manufacturer provides a specific disinfection method, follow those instructions exactly.
Drying Sex Toys Correctly
Drying is one of the most overlooked parts of toy care.
Airflow matters
Allow cleaned products to dry fully in a clean area with adequate airflow.
Do not trap moisture
Do not place a damp toy into a sealed storage pouch, drawer, or case.
Avoid damaging heat
Unless manufacturer instructions specifically allow it, avoid hair dryers, radiators, heating vents, or strong direct sunlight.
How to Store Sex Toys
Planned Parenthood recommends storing toys in a case or storage bag to reduce dust and contamination.
Store them clean and dry
This is the most important storage rule.
Separate soft materials when recommended
Some soft materials can react when left in prolonged contact. Separate storage can also prevent surface transfer, dust, and scratching.
Protect glass and polished surfaces
Use a pouch or protective case where appropriate.
Keep accessories organized
Store proprietary chargers, remotes, keys, attachments, and caps with the correct product.
Avoid excessive heat and sunlight
Heat can damage batteries, soften materials, fade finishes, or accelerate deterioration.
Charging and Battery Storage
Powered toys need electrical care as well as hygiene.
Dry before charging
Do not connect a charger while the charging area is wet.
Inspect the cable and contacts
Stop using damaged cables, corroded contacts, or swollen battery housings.
Follow long-term battery guidance
If the manufacturer gives instructions for storage charge levels or removable batteries, follow them.
Sex Toy Care Comparison Table
| Feature | What to check | Main care issue |
|---|---|---|
| 100% silicone | Powered or non-powered, water rating | Cleaner and lube compatibility |
| Hard plastic | Seams, battery compartment | Do not submerge unless rated |
| Metal | Finish, coating, corrosion | Dry thoroughly |
| Glass | Chips, cracks, impact damage | Protect during storage |
| TPE/TPR/elastomer | Porosity, texture, manufacturer care | Cleaning and complete drying |
| Electronic toy | IP/water rating, charging port | Water exposure and charging safety |
| Shared toy | Material + barrier use | Clean/change barrier between users |
When to Replace a Sex Toy
Cleaning cannot fix structural damage.
Replace or stop using a product if you see
- Cracks or tears.
- Sharp or rough edges.
- Persistent sticky or degraded surfaces.
- Peeling coatings.
- Corrosion.
- Persistent odor that remains after proper cleaning.
- Damaged charging ports.
- Exposed wiring.
- Battery swelling.
- Water intrusion into electronic components.
When in doubt, retire the product
A damaged surface may no longer be cleanable or structurally reliable.
Common Sex Toy Cleaning Mistakes
Submerging a toy because the exterior looks waterproof
Always check the stated water rating.
Using boiling water on a powered toy
Heat can damage electronics, seals, adhesives, and batteries.
Storing toys before they are dry
Trapped moisture can contribute to odor, material deterioration, or microbial growth.
Using the same condom between partners or body areas
Use a fresh barrier each time the toy changes partner or body area.
Assuming every soft material uses the same cleaner
TPE, TPR, silicone, PVC, and proprietary blends can have different care requirements.
Ignoring charging components
Clean and dry around ports, contacts, and removable caps according to the manufacturer instructions.
How This Guide Avoids Overlap With Other Care Articles
This article covers universal toy-hygiene principles: material type, water rating, cleaning, drying, sharing, lubricant compatibility, storage, charging, and replacement signs. Product-specific articles should go deeper only where their construction requires it—for example, drying a masturbator sleeve or cleaning the straps and hardware of a sex swing.
How We Review Sex Toy Care Information
We prioritize public-health and sexual-health guidance over generic product-marketing claims. Planned Parenthood provides guidance on cleaning, porous versus non-porous materials, lubricant compatibility, barrier use, anal-to-vaginal transfer, and storage. CDC guidance supports cleaning shared toys and using barriers to reduce infection risk. For product-specific cleaning, manufacturer instructions remain the controlling source because water ratings, coatings, electronics, adhesives, and material blends vary.
Last updated: October 2, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my sex toys?
Clean them before and after use according to the manufacturer’s instructions, especially when they are shared or used on different body areas.
Can I clean every sex toy with soap and water?
No. Mild soap and water work for many washable products, but electronic toys and water-sensitive materials may require wiping rather than rinsing or submersion.
Can I boil silicone sex toys?
Only if the manufacturer specifically approves it. Do not boil toys with motors, batteries, charging components, adhesives, coatings, or other heat-sensitive parts.
Can I use alcohol or bleach on sex toys?
Only when the manufacturer explicitly approves that method. Harsh chemicals can damage many materials and finishes.
Do I need a special toy cleaner?
No. A dedicated cleaner can be convenient, but the correct cleaning method depends on the toy manufacturer’s instructions.
Can shared sex toys spread STIs?
Yes. Body fluids on shared toys can contribute to infection transmission. Clean toys between users and use a new condom or barrier when appropriate.
Should I store toys together?
Only if their materials and surfaces are compatible. Separate storage can help protect soft materials, polished surfaces, and products with different finishes.
How do I know when a toy should be replaced?
Replace it if it develops cracks, tears, persistent surface changes, sharp edges, corrosion, exposed electronics, battery damage, or another defect that prevents proper cleaning or safe use.
