Welcome to THE BASICS series on the Bedroom Besties Love Letters Blog. THE BASICS is where Bedroom Besties explains everything you need to know about queer sex toys for LGBTQ+ folks! Read part one here!
Your sex toys give you lots of TLC–it’s only fair to love them back with a proper clean! Whether your toys buzz, thrust, wiggle or just look really hot on your nightstand, there’s a way to ensure they're safe and sanitized every time you use them. Make your sex toys sparkle with this handy quick guide! And no, a quick rinse isn’t enough—we’re talking about making sure your pleasure pals are squeaky clean and ready for round two (or five, no judgment).
Silicone
Silicone is non-porous (yay!) which means it doesn’t trap bacteria if cleaned properly. Most silicone toys can be washed with warm water and fragrance-free soap. You can also use toy cleaners! If your toy is 100% silicone and doesn’t have a motor (like a dildo or anal plug), you can even boil it for 3–5 minutes or toss it in the top rack of your dishwasher without detergent. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Glass
Borosilicate (or tempered) glass toys are super hygienic and safe to boil. Wash them with warm water and soap, boil them, or stick them in the dishwasher (again, no soap unless you're rinsing thoroughly). If you’re unsure of the type of glass, play it safe and just use warm water and soap.
Steel
Much like glass, stainless steel is non-porous and easy to sanitize. Boil it, bleach it (10% bleach solution, then rinse thoroughly), or simply wash it with soap and water. While these toys are dishwasher-safe, we recommend just using soap and warm water to ensure no scrapes happen during the cleaning process.
TPE/TPR
TPE/TPR toys are porous, meaning the material can trap bacteria no matter how hard you try to clean it. This material is commonly found used in packers, strokers and other non-penetrative toys. You should wash these toys with warm water after every use, but don’t expect them to be fully sanitized. You shouldn’t share TPE/TPR toys. If your TPR toy is feeling sticky, dust it with a bit of cornstarch after cleaning and it’s completely dry.
How To Store Sex Toys
Clean your sex toys BEFORE putting them away! PLEASE. Bacteria can spread along with lube, bodily fluids and any other delicious thing that’s on your sex toys post-fuck fest.
Silicone toys are prone to collecting lint, dust and hair. Handy wipes next to the bed can also help clean a toy before use. One way to store these and other toys is in a lint-free pouch or give it a quick rinse before play. Many vibrators and toys come with a pouch when you purchase them but any soft cloth bag will do. Don’t use plastic to store your toys in.
Putting your toys in a dedicated drawer or box is also a smart idea. Tackle boxes or containers with different compartments are handy at keeping toys and chargers sorted. Don’t store toys somewhere humid like a bathroom as moisture can trap mold and mildew. If you have a large collection of silicone toys, first congratulations. Secondly, don’t pile your toys on top of each other or touch without a barrier in place. Sex toys can at times react to each other and you wouldn’t want any sort of melting to happen in your sex drawer.