Like washing the dishes and clothes, washing your sex toys is also an essential thing to learn if you are fond of using them during your sessions. Not only that, you should keep a schedule on time you wash your sex toys as they can also accumulate dirt and germs even if you don’t use them regularly.
Cleaning them after you use them is also essential since they tend to be dirty after your intimate sessions. However, there seem to be many people who make plenty of mistakes in sanitizing their toys before and after use. But how do you go about cleaning your sex toys? Well, since there are different materials that sex toys are made of, it’s essential to learn how to clean them according to their materials.
With different materials that sex toys are made of, there are also different ways to be clean. But, before we tackle that subject, let’s talk about the importance of cleaning your sex toys.
Why should you clean your sex toys often?
Giving your sex toys a deep clean before and after you use them is essential, especially if the material your sex toys is made of is porous, which means that they are harder to disinfect and clean.
Porous materials are the following:
- Cyberskin
- Rubber
- Vinyl
- Jelly
- PVC
- TPR/TPE
If you are using a sex toy made from one of these materials, you may want to use protection for added, you know, protection. With additional protection in place, the bacteria that won’t get out of the cleaning session won’t infect you when you use your sex toys.
There are also other reasons why sex toys can be hard to clean, not just because their materials are porous. Some sex toys have crevices, bumps, ridges, or grooves that make these sex toys more pleasurable to use. However, the downside is that they can be harder to clean and disinfect because of their features. A unique scrub made for sex toys is all you need for them.
How and how often should I clean my sex toys?
Sex toys should be clean every after use. Yes, even if you’re using it multiple times a day, you should still clean them. Even if you’re only using them for yourself, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to clean them as often just because they’re for personal use.
But how do I go about it?
You might wonder if some hot water and soap are enough so you can be done with it. But no. As mentioned earlier, sex toys are made of different materials, and each one of these materials has some specifics in terms of sanitation. That said, the first step in cleaning your sex toys is to determine what kind of material they’re made of. If you can’t distinguish it just by looking, look at the labeling in the box.
There are two categories for sex toy materials, namely: porous and nonporous. We already listed the porous materials in a list earlier, so you might want to recheck it. It’s important to know that since porous materials have tiny holes or pores if you want to call them that, they can harbor some pretty nasty fungi and bacteria if you don’t clean them thoroughly.
However, suppose your sex toys are made of nonporous materials such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (a kind of plastic), Borosilicate glass, Soda-lime glass, Silicone, and metal. In that case, you don’t have to clean them as much as sex toys made with porous materials. Why? This is mainly because nonporous materials don’t have holes in them, meaning that microorganisms are much less likely to stick around after use.
Use Scented Soaps or Cleaning Products Made for Sex Toys
Since sex toys are likely to go inside you, you should be careful about the products you clean them with. Your anus and vagina are very absorbent parts of your body. If you use the incorrect product to clean your sex toys, it might irritate or, worse, make an infection to your genitals.
If you’re a particular fan of scented soaps, here’s some bad news for you. Scents can sometimes irritate your genitals. Some can even make yeast infections, which is nasty if you get them. Also, any household cleaning products are a huge no-no to use since they damage your genitals.
That said, you can shop around for some cleaning products meant for your sex toys from a sex toys store, or if you can’t find any, you can use hot water and a nonbacterial soap. Still, using cleaning products meant for sex toys is better than risking your genitals’ safety with other types of soap.
Warm Water or Boiling
If your sex toys are made of nonporous materials, such as borosilicate glass, metal, or Silicone, you can clean them using soft water and nonbacterial soap. Also, if they’re the type that doesn’t vibrate or, in other words, doesn’t have any machinery in them, you can boil them in water for 3 to 4 minutes to thoroughly disinfect them of any microorganisms.
However, if your sex toys are plated with gold or any other materials, avoid boiling them in water. Some of them might melt and leave some residue behind, which will come in contact with your genitals upon your next use. Also, some people believe that leaving them in the dishwasher is enough to clean them.
Well, no. However, there are many articles out there that recommend leaving them in the dishwasher, don’t. Washing them in the dishwasher is dangerous since the dishwasher’s soap might leave a residue, especially on sex toys made with porous materials.
Bleaching
Bleaching is not commonly recommended since there are only a few materials that can be cleaned with bleach. Two of them are borosilicate glass and stainless steel. However, you don’t have to bleach them as boiling them in water for a few minutes is enough. But, if you want to make sure, use bleach.
However, you are supposed to only use a weak solution: 1 part bleach and ten parts water. You can then soak your sex toys for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash them afterward with mild water and soap made for sex toys. Remember, bleach is extremely harmful to your genitals, so you have to be thorough and make sure there are no bleach traces after cleaning them.
Takeaway
Cleaning your sex toys after use is extremely important if you value the health of your genitals. However, you can’t just go ahead and clean with whatever you have with you. Sex toys are made of different materials, and each has specifics in cleaning them. Ensure that you know how to clean your sex toys based on their materials so you can safely use them in your sessions.
Author’s bio:
Belinda is a 42-year-old married mother of three who lives in Naples, Florida. While staying at home to raise her children, she began to write articles and blogs for various outlets. She was raised in a strict, Christian home, but has since found more peace with a more spiritual approach to life and health. A strong believer in natural and alternative medicine, energy healing, and total wellness, she stumbled on the health benefits of the female orgasm quite by accident. Since then, she has often written pieces that help inform others about the benefits she discovered. Belinda also enjoys taking care of her home and family and often jokes that she is a bit of a Stepford wife… with a wild side. In her free time, she loves to spend time at the beach with her family, host parties, and BBQs, and work outside in one of her many flower gardens.
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