Knowing how to clean sex toys comes down to one habit: wash them before and after every use with warm water and mild soap or a toy cleaner, then let them dry completely before you put them away. With silicone toys, use a water-based lubricant. The rest depends on the material, and on whether there are electronics inside.
How to clean sex toys before and after every use
Start before the very first use. Read the manufacturer's instructions, which set the limits for water and cleaning products, then give the toy its first wash. The routine is the same whether you want to know how to clean a vibrator, a wand or a toy for him.
- Switch it off and disconnect it from the charging cable.
- Wash it with warm water and a little mild soap, or with a toy cleaner. Use your fingertips or a soft cloth, and go over seams, buttons and grooves, where lubricant collects.
- Rinse it until no soap is left: under the tap only if the manufacturer rates it water-resistant, otherwise with a clean, damp cloth.
- Dry it by patting it with a clean, lint-free towel, then leave it to air-dry completely, charging point included.
- Put it away only once it is fully dry.
Clean straight after use rather than the next morning: dried lubricant is harder to remove. If your toy has an air-pulse opening, rinse that soft opening carefully, within the limits the manufacturer sets; our guide to air-pulse toys explains what the opening does.
Cleaning by material
The material decides the method. Every product page in our Shop all collection lists the materials as stated by the manufacturer, so check there if you are unsure what yours is made of.
- Silicone. According to the manufacturer, every rechargeable toy in our shop is made of silicone, sometimes alongside another material. All it takes is warm water and mild soap or a toy cleaner, a soft cloth and a thorough rinse within the toy's water limits. Skip harsh cleaners such as bleach or solvents, and abrasive sponges, which can damage the surface; for anything beyond soap and water, follow the manual.
- Silicone and ABS. According to the manufacturer, the Nocturne pinpoint vibrator combines silicone with ABS, a hard plastic, and comes with two soft interchangeable heads. Take the head off, wash it and the body separately, and put them back together only when both are dry. The manufacturer describes the body as waterproof and easy to clean.
- TPE. TPE is softer and more porous than silicone, so it needs a little more care. According to the manufacturer, the inner sleeve of the Selenite automatic stroker is TPE and lifts out to be washed on its own: wash it right after use with warm water and mild soap, rinse it well and let it air-dry completely before it goes back in. The shell holds the electronics and carries no water claim from the manufacturer, so wipe it with a damp cloth and keep it away from the tap.
- Metal. The Bianca nipple clamps are metal with rubber-coated tips, according to the manufacturer. Wipe the clamps and the chain with a damp cloth and mild soap, then dry them fully, small screws included, before you store them.
- Feathers. Keep feathers out of water. Wipe the handle of the Rosalind feather tickler with a damp cloth and, as its product page says, keep the plume dry and shake it gently to refresh it.
- Leather-look PVC and plush. The Titania restraint set is leather-look PVC, with a plush lining in the cuffs, according to the manufacturer. Wipe each piece with a damp cloth and mild soap, dab the lining rather than soaking it, and let everything dry fully. The nylon straps and plush-lined cuffs of Tethys, and Cressida, a plastic riding crop with a leather-look tip, follow the same damp-cloth routine.
Electronics and water
All our silicone toys contain electronics, so here the rules matter more than the soap.
- Keep the charging contacts dry. Charge with the cable supplied, and never charge a toy while it is wet. According to the manufacturer, Phoebe and Selenite, like several of our toys, charge on a magnetic USB cable: dry the charging point before you attach the cable.
- Immerse only what is rated for it. Put a toy in water only if the manufacturer rates it water-resistant. Velour, Étoile and Celesta are rated IPX7 by the manufacturer; several others are described as waterproof, and the manual tells you how far that goes. The manufacturer makes no water claim for Lunaria, Opaline or Selenite, so they get a damp cloth, never the tap.
- Never boil a toy with electronics. None of our silicone toys may be boiled: they all contain electronics. Warm water is enough; boiling water and the dishwasher are not for them.
When in doubt, use less water, not more: a damp cloth with a little mild soap cleans the surface of any toy and leaves what is inside alone.
Which lube suits silicone toys
With silicone toys, use a water-based lubricant: silicone-based lubricants can damage silicone toys. That is what our product pages and our FAQ recommend.
Opinions online are mixed about silicone lubricant with silicone toys. Our rule stays simple: water-based with silicone, and if the manual for a specific toy says otherwise, the manual wins.
- Water-based: what we recommend with every toy in the shop, Selenite's TPE sleeve included; it rinses off with water.
- Silicone-based: can damage silicone toys, so use it only if the manual allows it.
- Oil-based (massage oils, for example): harder to wash off, and never to be used with latex condoms.
We do not sell lubricants or cleaners, so we name none here. Look for ‘water-based’ on the label and follow the product's instructions.
Storing your toys
Store your toys in a cool, dry place, separately from each other, and only once they are completely dry. A fabric pouch or the box a toy came in keeps the dust off.
- Keep Selenite's TPE sleeve on its own, away from other toys.
- Keep feathers and accessories away from heat and direct sunlight, each piece stored separately.
- Keep everything out of reach of children.
If you are choosing a new toy, check the materials on its page in Shop all first: they tell you which routine it will need. And if you are new to vibrators, our guide on how to use a vibrator covers the first steps.
Questions
Can you use silicone lube with silicone toys?
Our care instructions advise against it: use a water-based lubricant, because silicone-based lubricants can damage silicone toys. If the manual for a specific toy says otherwise, follow the manual.
Can I use an oil-based lubricant on silicone toys?
We do not recommend it. Oil-based products are harder to wash off and must never be used with latex condoms; with silicone, choose a water-based lubricant.
Is dish soap safe for silicone toys?
The care instructions ask for mild soap. Many dish soaps, or washing-up liquids, are made to cut grease and are often perfumed, so a plain, unscented mild soap or a toy cleaner is the gentler choice. Whatever you use, rinse until no residue is left.
Is soap and water enough to clean silicone?
Warm water and mild soap, or a toy cleaner, before and after every use, is the cleaning our care instructions describe. It washes residue off the surface, and we make no promises beyond that; for any method other than soap and water, follow the manufacturer's manual.
Can I boil a silicone toy?
Not ours: all our silicone toys contain electronics, and boiling would damage them. Advice to boil silicone applies only to toys with no electronics inside, and only when their manual allows it.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Specifications are as stated by the manufacturer. If you feel pain, have a health condition or are unsure, talk to a doctor.