How To Properly Clean And Maintain Your Sex Toys
smooth and pleasant to touch sex toy isolated on pink background. Sex, orgasm and masturbation concept
Sex toys and accessories have continued to grow in popularity as more people explore various ways to enhance sexual experience. These items are commonly used to stimulate the genitalia and other erogenous zones in the body to create sexual pleasure during intimate moments. Hence, sex toys frequently come in direct contact with oral, genital, and anal regions.
Because of how they’re utilised, sex toys and gadgets are exposed to different bodily fluids excreted during sexual acts. While some users cover dildos or vibrators with condoms, others use their toys as is. Thus, the toys are likely to accumulate fluids or secretions such as saliva, semen or sweat. Besides these, sex gadgets are also commonly used with lubricants and other sexual enhancers, which may be left on their surface or crevices.
To keep sexual activities safe and hygienic, it’s essential to keep all sex toys cleaned and sanitised. However, pleasure gadgets are made of various materials, and some designs may be more challenging to clean than others. Therefore, it may be tricky for some to determine how to protect the quality and functionality of the toys. If you’d like to know how you can clean and maintain your sex toys, here are some suggestions you may find helpful:
1. Read The Care Manual Before Using A Sex Toy
Different sex toys are used to enhance sexual experience, and each type is designed based on which area of the body it would be used. For instance, items inserted in the vaginal and anal regions are usually made of materials such as silicone, plastic or rubber. Because sex toys are made from various materials, each item may have individual care instructions that you’ll need to consider before usage. For instance, the ball part of a ball gag may be safe to submerge in boiling water for sanitation, but the strap must be kept dry if made of leather. Meanwhile, battery-operated vibrators, though made of silicone, shouldn’t be submerged in water to prevent damage. Instead, you can use wet wipes or special sex toy cleaners to remove excess moisture and other substances.
As a precaution, it’s essential to read the care manual before using a sex toy. Doing so will help you know how to best use, cleanse and store each item in a way that would protect its quality and functionality. This would include removing the batteries before washing and storing to avoid corrosion and damage.
Balls Ben Wa, ball of geisha with water
2. Use Gentle Cleansers
You can use warm water and gentle antibacterial soap to cleanse your sex toys. For silicone items such as vibrators, anal beads or fleshlights, you’ll need to ensure that the cleaner you’re going to use isn’t oil-based, as it can cause damage to them over time.
3. Wipe Dry After Each Use
Wiping your sex toys dry using paper towels or tissues right after each use will help prevent the spread of secretions around the area. It’s essential to remove any bodily secretions left on the toy, as letting them linger on any surface in your bedroom can be considered unclean and may even pose health hazards. For instance, gadgets used in the anal region may contain traces of fecal matter, which can spread harmful bacteria in your room. On the other hand, using tissue paper or wipes on your sex gadgets will also help you remove excess moisture and foul odors before washing the item.
4. Wash And Scrub With Care
You can wash most silicone- and glass-based sex gadgets such as dildos directly with soap and water. However, it’s important to clean each item gently to prevent scratching the surface and maintain its smoothness. For leather accessories such as harnesses and cuffs, you can gently wipe the surface with a piece of damp cloth soaked in soapy water and pat dry.
5. Store In A Clean, Dry Place
Apart from cleaning and sanitising sex toys, they also need to be stored properly to keep them away from dirt and other elements. Also, as they’re considered intimate items, they should be stored and concealed for privacy. You can consider using a metal or plastic box container with a lid for safe and convenient storage. On the other hand, you can also improvise using items in your home, such as fabric bags or makeup cases.
Conclusion
Cleaning and proper usage of your sex toys are essential to ensure safety and cleanliness during intimacy. Doing so will help you prevent the spread of bacteria, which can be harmful to you and your partner’s health. Moreover, you’ll also avoid infectious diseases, especially if you share your toys with others.
As an added precaution, you can also consider covering your sex toy with a condom before using it with a sexual partner. Then, cleanse the whole gadget gently and thoroughly, and store it away from dust, debris or animal fur. To ensure safety, you’ll also need to clean and wash the sex toy before and after each use and sanitise the item as required.
