A little soap and water should do the trick right?? Whether you just bought your first sex toy or this isn't your first rodeo, caring for and properly sanitizing your toys is important for your own health and the longevity of your toys.
Why It's imperative to clean your sex toys:
You replace your toothbrush every few months, wash your laundry, wash your hands after you use the restroom, change the sheets on your bed and take care of your sex toys, it's all apart of self care. Caring for your sex toys is all apart of having a healthy sex life whether that be with a partner/partners or yourself!
It should be a a fairly common sense statement but you should only ever use clean toys in or around your vagina, anus, or penis. Especially depending on the material, sex toys can very easily collect bacteria. Using unclean toys can lead to Yeast Infections, bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Similar to how you should pee after intercourse, especially if your partner is not wearing a condom, you should clean your sex toys to help keep your PH levels balanced.
How often should I clean my toys?:
You should clean your sex toys EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU USE THEM! Absolutely no exceptions, especially depending on the material of the toys. Materials such as Cyberskins that require a talcum powder to be applied after washing them to absorb any extra moisture should be washed before and after usage. Porous toys such as Cyberskin, Jelly rubber, Elastomer, TPR and Jelly Latex toys are very porous and absorb moisture very easily and are toys you should be most diligent about cleaning. Cleaning Porous toys should be done so with warm water, anti bacterial soap, toy cleaners and a washcloth.
If you live with roommates and don't want to be caught carrying around dildos and vibrators etc then you can also use a toy cleansing wipe. Non porous toys such as Silicone, Glass, Crystal, Stone or Stainless Steel are a little easier to keep clean and don't transfer bacteria as easily. Any 100% Silicone or heat resistant glass toys that are not motorized can be put on the top rack of your dishwasher to sanitize which may sound unorthodox but so unbelievably convenient. Glass Toys can be cleaned with an alcohol based cleaner but you must be sure to wipe them down again before using them to avoid any irritation. When it comes to Stone, Crystal and or wood sex toys, depending on the brand it's always best to double check with the brand on how best to care for and clean them.
Does Storage matter:
Absolutely it matters. Most Sex Toys come with their own sanitary bags to store them in. You should store each of your toys in their own bags or the storage boxes that they come in to avoid airborne bacteria's or toy cross contamination. Silicone for example should be stored separately especially if you live in humid climates, silicone toys being stored together can cause them to weld together. You should also always make sure that your toys are completely dry before storing them away because moisture can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Caring for toys is as important as purchasing the right toy for yourself and choosing the right lubricant to along with those toys, be safe and have fun!
