How to Clean and Care for Sex Toys: A Complete Guide by Material

By Emily Schneider

Aug 19, 2026

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How to Clean and Care for Sex Toys: A Complete Guide by Material

Most people clean a new toy once, out of the package, and then never really think about it again.

That's a mistake, but an understandable one. Nobody reads the care manual on these things, and the internet's advice ranges from "just use soap" to borderline paranoid. The truth sits somewhere in the middle: sex toys need real cleaning because of what they come into contact with, but the routine itself takes about a minute once you know what you're doing.

Here's how to actually do it, by material, so you're not guessing.

Why This Isn't Just Being Fussy

Toys touch skin, fluids, and sometimes mucous membranes, which is the perfect combination for bacteria and yeast to grow. Leftover residue on a toy doesn't announce itself. It just sits there until it causes irritation, an infection, or a smell that a quick rinse won't get rid of.

There's also a practical reason to stay on top of it: lube, oils, and body fluids slowly wear down materials, especially in seams and textured spots. A toy that gets cleaned properly after every use will simply outlast one that doesn't.

If you want the medical rundown, Planned Parenthood's guide covers the health side well.

Figure Out What Your Toy Is Made Of First

This is the step people skip, and it's the one that matters most. Cleaning a glass toy and cleaning a jelly-material toy are not the same job, and treating them the same can either leave bacteria behind or wreck the toy.

Check the original packaging or the product page if you still have access to it. No luck? Here's a rundown by material.

Silicone

Medical-grade silicone is non-porous, so it's about as low-maintenance as toys get. Warm water and a mild, unscented soap handle it fine. If the toy is solid (no motor, fully waterproof), you can even give it a quick boil for a deeper clean.

ABS Plastic and Other Hard Materials

Also non-porous. A damp cloth with a bit of mild soap is enough. Just don't submerge anything with a motor or circuitry inside unless it's explicitly rated for it.

Glass and Stainless Steel

The easy ones. Non-porous, durable, and fine with warm water, mild soap, or a toy cleaner spray. The one thing worth checking with glass specifically is any chips or hairline cracks before you use it again.

Cyberskin, Rubber, and Jelly Materials

These are porous, which means bacteria can work their way into tiny surface openings that no amount of scrubbing fully reaches. Clean gently with mild soap, dry completely, and know these materials just don't last as long as the others no matter how well you take care of them. A condom over the toy during use cuts down on how deep anything gets into the material and makes cleanup simpler.

Wood

Sealed wood toys want a damp cloth and mild soap, not a soak. If the manufacturer recommends reapplying a sealant periodically, it's worth doing, since that sealed surface is what makes the toy safe to use in the first place.

Still not sure what you're working with? This materials guide from Self is a decent starting point for identifying it.

The Actual Cleaning Steps

Once you know the material, the process is straightforward. Clean before the first use and after every use after that, not just whenever you remember.

Take out batteries or unplug rechargeable toys first, unless the toy is rated fully waterproof.
Rinse under warm water to get rid of surface residue.
Work in a small amount of mild, unscented soap (or a toy cleaner) over the whole surface, paying attention to seams and textured areas.
Rinse it off completely. Leftover soap can irritate skin just as much as leftover bacteria.
Dry with a clean towel or let it air dry fully before putting it away.

A dedicated cleaner isn't required, but it does make the whole thing easier to trust. If you'd rather spray than lather, JO Refresh Foaming Toy Cleaner is fragrance-free and works across most materials, and the Bathmate Anal Toy Cleaner is built specifically for anal toys. Our Toy Cleaners collection has more options if neither is quite what you're after.

Waterproof and Water-Resistant Aren't the Same Thing

These get used interchangeably a lot, but they call for different handling.

A waterproof toy can go fully underwater, and solid silicone ones can even be boiled. A water-resistant toy can survive a splash or a wipe-down, but submerging it risks the motor or the internal wiring.

If the label isn't clear, play it safe and treat it as water-resistant: wipe it down rather than running it under the tap.

A Few Things Not to Do

Some habits feel like they're helping but end up doing the opposite.

Antibacterial or heavily scented soaps sound thorough, but they tend to irritate skin and can leave residue on porous materials. Rubbing alcohol will dry out and eventually break down silicone, even though it's harmless on glass, steel, or hard plastic. The dishwasher and washing machine are both a bad idea regardless of material, since neither is built for this. And anything with a motor should stay out of water unless the packaging says otherwise.

Your Lube Choice Affects the Toy Too

Cleaning isn't the only thing that determines how long a toy lasts. What you use with it matters just as much.

Silicone-based lubricants can react with silicone toys over time, leaving a tacky film or breaking the material down. Water-based lube sidesteps that problem entirely and rinses off just as easily. Our Water-Based Lubes collection is a safe bet if you're not sure what's compatible with what you own.

Drying and Storage Aren't Optional Extras

A toy that goes into a drawer while it's still even a little damp can grow bacteria just as easily as one that was never washed in the first place.

Let everything air dry completely before you put it away, and store toys separately rather than piled together, especially if they're different materials. Two silicone toys touching in storage, for instance, can end up sticking to each other or picking up each other's texture over time. Our Sex Toy Storage collection has pouches and cases built to keep that from happening.

Using Toys With a Partner

If you're sharing a toy, or moving it between different areas of the body in the same session, clean it between each use rather than waiting until you're done for the night.

Putting a condom over the toy speeds this up considerably. Swap it, and you're ready to keep going without a full wash in between.

Making It a Habit Instead of a Chore

The trick to actually sticking with this is doing it right away, while the toy is still out and everything's still fresh, instead of telling yourself you'll get to it later.

Keep your cleaner somewhere you'll actually see it. After a couple weeks it stops feeling like a step and just becomes part of how the whole thing ends.

FAQs About Cleaning and Caring for Sex Toys

Can I just use whatever soap I have at home?
Mild and unscented is the goal. Antibacterial or heavily fragranced soaps can irritate skin, especially on porous materials.

Do I really need to clean it every single time?
Yes. Not because once won't hurt, but because bacteria doesn't wait for a convenient time to build up.

Is boiling safe for all toys?
No. Only solid, fully waterproof silicone with no motor or battery. Anything electronic should never go near boiling water.

Is soap and water enough, or do I need a toy cleaner?
Soap and water gets the job done for most materials. A toy cleaner is formulated for skin contact specifically, so it's worth it if you want one less thing to think about.

What if my toy isn't waterproof at all?
Stick to a damp cloth and mild soap. Skip the sink entirely.

Why do porous toys need more attention?
Their surface has tiny openings bacteria can settle into, which cleaning alone can't always fully reach. That's also why they tend to need replacing sooner than non-porous toys.

Love Unlimited is Here For You!

None of this needs to be complicated. Figure out what your toy is made of, clean it after every use, and give it somewhere dry and separate to live between rounds. That's genuinely most of it.

If you have further questions after reading this article, our team is here to assist you!