How to Clean & Care for Your Sex Toys

Cleaning your sex toys isn’t glamorous — but it might be the most important thing you do to protect both your health and your investment.

Toys that aren’t cleaned properly can harbor bacteria, yeast, and mold. Toys that aren’t stored correctly degrade faster and can become genuinely unsafe to use. This guide covers everything you need to know, organized by material type.

Why Cleaning Matters More Than You Think

Bacteria from the skin, body fluids, and environment can grow on toy surfaces
Uncleaned toys can cause or worsen infections — bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, UTIs
Sharing uncleaned toys between partners can transmit STIs
Body heat activates bacterial growth — don’t let toys sit used for hours before cleaning

⚡ The Rule

Clean before first use. Clean after every use. Store properly.

The Most Important Variable: Material

How you clean a toy depends almost entirely on what it’s made from. Materials fall into two categories: porous and non-porous.

Non-Porous Materials (Safest)

Non-porous materials don’t have microscopic holes where bacteria can hide. They can be thoroughly sanitized.

Silicone (body-safe / medical grade)
Stainless steel
Borosilicate glass
ABS hard plastic

Most quality toys — including the entire Pure Romance vibrator line — are made from body-safe silicone. These can be cleaned thoroughly and will last for years with proper care.

Porous Materials (Avoid)

Porous materials have microscopic holes that trap bacteria and cannot be fully sanitized. If you own any toys made from these materials, replace them:

Jelly rubber / PVC
Latex
Cyberskin / "realistic" materials
TPE / TPR (common in cheap toys)

Porous toys can develop mold inside even with regular surface cleaning. The smell that develops over time is bacterial growth, not just wear. Bag them and toss them.

How to Clean Silicone Vibrators

The vast majority of quality vibrators (including all Pure Romance vibrators) are body-safe silicone with an ABS base. Here’s the correct method:

Step 1: Check the waterproof rating first

Look at your toy’s packaging or product page. Waterproof = can be submerged. Splash-proof = wipe clean only, do not submerge. If you’re not sure, wipe clean and don’t risk it.

Step 2: For non-waterproof toys — wipe clean

Turn off and unplug / remove charger first
Dampen a cloth or cotton pad with warm water + mild soap (unscented dish soap is fine)
Wipe all surfaces thoroughly
Wipe again with plain water to remove soap residue
Dry completely before storing

Step 3: For waterproof toys — wash under running water

Warm water + a drop of unscented dish soap
Use your hands (not a scratchy cloth) to work up a lather
Pay extra attention to buttons, seams, and any textured areas
Rinse thoroughly
Dry with a lint-free cloth and air dry for 10-15 minutes before storing

Can you boil silicone toys?

Technically yes — pure silicone without any electronic components can be boiled for 5-10 minutes to fully sanitize. But most vibrators have internal electronics. Only boil toys with no battery, no motor, and no electronic components — pure silicone dildos only. For vibrators, stick to soap and water.

How to Clean Glass & Stainless Steel Toys

Non-motorized glass and steel toys are the easiest to care for:

Dishwasher safe (top rack, no heated dry) — genuinely the easiest method
Or: boil for 10 minutes
Or: soak in 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly
Or: soap and water — same as silicone

What NOT to Use

❌ Never Use These on Sex Toys

Antibacterial soap — kills good bacteria too and can cause irritation

Bleach (undiluted) — corrodes surfaces and leaves harmful residue

Alcohol / hydrogen peroxide — can degrade silicone over time

Baby wipes or makeup wipes — often contain fragrances and chemicals

Scented soaps — fragrance residue causes irritation for many people

Dishwasher (for any toy with electronics) — will damage and void warranty

Toy Cleaners: Are They Worth It?

Specialty toy cleaners are convenient — spray, wipe, done. They’re formulated to be gentle on toy materials and skin-safe. Useful for quick cleanups between uses or when you don’t have access to a sink.

But they’re not a substitute for a proper soap-and-water wash after every use. Think of them the way you’d think of hand sanitizer: useful on the go, not a replacement for actually washing.

Browse toy cleaners at aBBracadaBBra → Shop Accessories

Storage: The Part Everyone Forgets

Improper storage degrades toys faster than almost anything else. Here’s what you need to know:

Keep toys separated

Silicone-to-silicone contact over time can cause toys to bond and degrade each other’s surfaces. Store each toy separately — in its own pouch or box.

Use the storage bag

Most quality toys come with a drawstring bag or storage box. Use it. If yours didn’t come with one, a small cloth pouch works perfectly.

Avoid these storage locations

Bathroom — high humidity degrades materials and encourages mold
Direct sunlight — UV degrades silicone over time
Loose in a drawer with other items — gets scratched and dusty
Plastic bags — traps moisture, especially silicone toys

Good storage spots

Bedside drawer in a fabric pouch
A dedicated small box with individual compartments
Original packaging

Battery & Charging Care

For rechargeable toys (which all quality modern vibrators are):

Don’t leave charging overnight routinely — overcharging can reduce battery life
Charge to full before storing for extended periods
If storing unused for months, charge every 3-4 months to prevent battery drain
Don’t store in extreme heat or cold — car glove boxes in summer will ruin batteries

Quick Reference Card

Material	Cleaning Method	Sanitize Options
Silicone (motorized)	Soap & warm water	Soap & water only
Silicone (no motor)	Soap & warm water	Boil 10 min, or soap
Glass / Steel	Soap & water	Boil, dishwasher, or bleach soak
ABS Plastic	Soap & warm water	10% bleach solution rinse
Jelly / PVC	Replace the toy	Cannot be sanitized

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your toys properly takes about 2-3 minutes. Storing them correctly takes a pouch and a drawer. These small habits extend the life of your toys by years and protect your health.

If you’re investing $100-300 in a quality toy, a $3 bottle of unscented dish soap and a fabric storage pouch is the best ROI you’ll find.

🛍️ Shop Body-Safe Toys at aBBracadaBBra

All Pure Romance toys at https://abbracadabbra.com are made from body-safe silicone — no porous materials.

Discreet shipping. Free shipping over $50.