How to Clean Sex Toys: A Complete Guide by Material

Cleaning sex toys is straightforward once you know the correct method for each material. Using the wrong approach can damage toys, leave them less clean than they appear, or both. Here's the complete guide by material.

The Golden Rules

Before the material-by-material guide, three principles that apply universally:

Clean before first use — even brand-new toys should be cleaned before use. Manufacturing, packaging, and storage all introduce potential contaminants.

Clean immediately after use — bodily fluids, lubricant, and heat create conditions where bacteria multiply quickly. Don't leave a used toy for hours before cleaning.

Dry completely before storage — moisture trapped inside a stored toy encourages mould growth. This is the most commonly neglected step and the most common cause of toys developing odours.

Silicone

Non-motorised silicone toys: Can be boiled for 3–5 minutes for thorough sterilisation; run through a dishwasher on the top rack without detergent; or washed with soap and warm water. Any of these is effective.

Motorised silicone toys (vibrators with electronics): Cannot be boiled or dishwashed — water destroys electronics. Wash with soap and warm water, taking care around the charging port. If the toy has a waterproof rating of IPX7, you can rinse it freely. For toys that aren't waterproof, use a damp cloth and toy cleaner spray. Dry thoroughly.

Never use silicone-based cleaners or silicone-based lubricant on silicone toys — it degrades the surface.

Glass (Borosilicate)

Glass is the easiest to clean of all toy materials — fully non-porous, so nothing penetrates the surface. Options: soap and warm water, dishwasher (top rack), boiling water, or toy cleaner spray. All are effective.

After cleaning, inspect for chips or cracks while wet — damage is more visible with a wet surface under light. A chipped glass toy should be retired.

Stainless Steel

Same as glass — non-porous, dishwasher-safe, can be boiled, soap and water is sufficient for routine use. Very durable; routine cleaning damage is essentially impossible.

ABS Plastic (Hard Plastic)

Soap and warm water is the standard approach. Cannot be boiled. If motorised, treat the same as motorised silicone — careful around electronics, damp cloth or toy cleaner for less waterproof options. ABS is non-porous and easy to clean.

TPE and Cyberskin (Masturbator Sleeves)

These are porous materials — cleaning removes surface contamination but doesn't sterilise. This is inherent to the material and can't be overcome with more cleaning.

For masturbator sleeves (Fleshlight, Tenga reusables): Rinse thoroughly with warm water — no soap inside the sleeve, as soap degrades the material. Rinse until water runs clear. Remove from any casing and air dry completely — this is critical. A damp sleeve develops odour and mould quickly. Allow several hours for complete drying.

Do not: use soap inside the sleeve, submerge motorised components, use toy cleaner with alcohol (degrades the material).

Jelly and PVC

You shouldn't be using these materials for insertable toys. If you have them: soap and water externally, don't share between people, and consider replacing with a body-safe alternative.

Toy Cleaner Sprays

Toy cleaner sprays are convenient and genuinely useful for motorised toys that can't be submerged. They're not a replacement for soap-and-water cleaning for non-motorised insertable toys — but as a quick clean when rinsing isn't practical, they're effective. Look for sprays without alcohol for TPE; alcohol-free formulations are gentler.

Drying

Pat dry with a clean, lint-free cloth, then air dry for 15–30 minutes before storage. For sleeves and hollow toys, ensure air reaches the interior. Avoid paper towel — it leaves fibres on silicone surfaces.

See also: Silicone Sex Toy Care, Sex Toy Storage Guide, What 'Body-Safe' Actually Means