Safer play with sex toys

Good sex toy care is about making sure your favourite gear lasts, feels good, and keeps your body happy. It also reduces your risk of STIs and bacterial infections.

Whether you’re into sleek silicone, textured glass, or the trusty wand that sounds like a leaf blower, every toy needs a little maintenance to stay in top form.

So here’s an easy guide to cleaning, storing, and playing safe with your toys — because the only thing worse than running out of batteries mid-session is realizing your toy wasn’t ready for service.

 

Using condoms on penetrative toys

It’s possible to pass on STIs and bacterial infections related to sex through body fluids carried on sex toys.

This is where condoms come in handy.

If you’re using penetrative toys like dildos, strap-ons or butt plugs, condoms can help prevent infections.

Slip a fresh condom  when:

• You’re switching between body parts (e.g. vagina/front hole, ass)
• You’re sharing with a new partner

Condoms help protect your body and your toys, and they make cleaning up faster.

If you’ve used your toy for anal play, wash it, sanitise it, and pop a new condom on before you use it anywhere else.

Let’s Talk Lube

Lube makes everything better. It reduces friction, amps up sensation, and protects against irritation and tearing (which also lowers STI risk). But not all lubes are created equal. You’ll want to pick the right one based on what your toy and barrier methods are made of.

Water-based lubes

• Easy to clean
• Safe with latex and silicone barriers
• Not great for shower/bath play (washes away fast)

Silicone-based lubes

• Long-lasting, especially good for anal play or water play
• Safe with latex barriers
• Can degrade silicone toys over time

Oil-based lubes

• Thick and long-lasting (some people like it for fisting)
• Not safe with latex barriers (can cause breakage)
• Can linger in the body and increase risk of irritation or infection. Wash carefully afterwards

If you have sensitive skin, try water-based, glycerine-free, fragrance-free, or hypoallergenic lubes.

Cleaning

It’s tempting to toss a toy back in the drawer so you can bask in the afterglow. But here’s the thing: proper cleaning protects you, your partners and your toys. The good news? Taking care of your toys means they’ll keep giving back for longer.

Know Your Materials

Different toys need different care. If you’re not sure what yours is made of, check the packaging or look it up online. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions if they’re available.

As a rough guide:

Non-porous toys (silicone, glass, stainless steel, hard plastic)

These are the easiest to clean and most durable.

• Wash with mild, fragrance-free soap + water, toy cleaner, or wipes
• Submerge if waterproof, otherwise wipe with a damp cloth
• Some non-motor toys can be sterilised by boiling for 1–3 minutes, otherwise wipe down with a sanitiser or specialised toy cleaner and dry well.

Porous toys (jelly rubber, elastomer/TPE, PVC, vinyl)

Porous materials need extra care. Their surfaces are covered in tiny holes which can absorb bacteria. So it’s best to keep porous toys for solo play or to use a condom if you’re sharing them.

They’re also more sensitive to temperature, so you can’t boil them.

• Clean with mild soap + water, dry well
• It’s best to use specialised toy cleaners to sanitise
• Use condoms if sharing or using anally
• Never boil or use harsh cleaners
• Replace if they change colour or smell

Tricky toys: For textured, realistic-feel, or non-waterproof toys, use toy-safe wipes or brushes to get into the nooks and crannies.

Sanitising

While cleaning with soap and water will remove fluids, dust and other particles from your toys, they won’t necessarily remove all STI related bacteria or viruses from toys.

That might be okay for toys you use solo, but if you’re sharing with others you’ll definitely want to sanitise properly.

Some non-porous toys that don’t use batteries can be boiled for 1-3 minutes to sanitise them.

Otherwise, isopropyl alcohol, chlorinated sanitiser, antibacterial toy cleaners and medical grade sterilisers like Viraclean can all be used for sanitising toys.

When to clean:

Ideally before and after every use.

To be fair, immediately cleaning a sex toy is probably not most people’s priority in the afterglow.

Keeping a quick toy-cleaning spray or wipe in your bedside drawer can be a lifesaver when you don’t feel like doing a full wash straight away. Just don’t forget to give it a proper clean before you next use it to avoid any irritation or infection.

Storage

• Always dry your toys completely before storing (moisture = bacteria/mould).
• Use a fabric pouch, case, or separate compartments to keep toys clean and lint-free.
• Store porous toys separately so materials don’t rub or react with each other.
• Keep toys away from heat sources (no radiators, no hair dryers).