Nobody's favorite part of toy ownership, we know. But cleaning your toys the right way is the single most important habit for keeping them safe to use and making them last for years instead of months. Good news: it's genuinely simple once you know the one rule that changes everything.
That rule? How you clean a toy depends almost entirely on what it's made of. Get the material right and the rest is easy. Here's the whole thing, material by material.
First, the golden rule: porous vs. non-porous
Every toy falls into one of two camps, and it decides everything:
- Non-porous materials (medical-grade silicone, glass, stainless steel, ABS plastic) have no microscopic holes for bacteria to hide in. They're easy to clean and can be fully sanitized. This is the good stuff, and it's why we always steer beginners toward it in our guide to choosing your first toy.
- Porous materials (jelly rubber, TPE, TPR, "cyberskin," and vague novelty blends) have tiny holes that can trap bacteria you can't fully remove. They're fine as budget novelties, but they need extra care, and a condom over them is smart.
Silicone, glass, and metal (the easy ones)
For non-porous, non-motorized toys, cleaning is about as simple as it gets:
- Everyday clean: warm water and mild, unscented soap after every use. Pay attention to seams, ridges, and any textured bits. Rinse well and air dry.
- Deeper sanitize (100% silicone, glass, or metal only, and only if the toy has no motor or batteries): you can boil it for about 3 minutes, or wipe it with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution.
Glass and metal are the overachievers here: totally non-porous, easy to sanitize, and they hold temperature beautifully, which is half the appeal if you're into temperature play. Handle glass with a little care and inspect it for chips before use.
Battery-powered and rechargeable toys
Most vibrators and rechargeable toys are not fully waterproof, so never submerge them unless the packaging clearly says you can. Instead:
- Wipe the surface down with a damp, soapy cloth, keeping the charging port and battery compartment dry.
- A dedicated toy cleaner makes this genuinely painless. A quick spritz of the fragrance-free JO Refresh Foaming Toy Cleaner ($9.99), a wipe, and you're done. No rinsing, no soap residue, no scent to interfere.
Porous toys (jelly, TPE, TPR, cyberskin)
These need the most care because they can't be fully sterilized. Wash them with warm water and mild soap right after use, and consider washing twice since bacteria is trickier to remove. The simplest safety upgrade is to use a condom over a porous toy, which also makes cleanup almost effortless. If a porous toy ever starts to smell or feel tacky, it's telling you it's time to retire it.
A few universal rules
- Clean before and after, especially if a toy has been in a drawer for a while or is shared between partners or between different parts of the body.
- Use the right lube. A body-safe water-based lube like Sliquid H2O Original ($14) works with every material and rinses off cleanly. Silicone lube can degrade some silicone toys, so when in doubt, go water-based.
- Dry fully before storing. Moisture is what invites bacteria back.
- Store them apart. Some materials react when they touch each other over time. A cloth pouch or a separate bag per toy keeps everything happy, and discreet.
- Skip harsh stuff: no bleach on toys you're unsure about, no dishwasher for motorized items, no scented household cleaners.
The thirty-second version
Warm water and mild soap after every use. Sanitize non-porous toys if they're motor-free. Wipe (don't dunk) anything with a battery. Use a condom on porous toys. Dry fully, store separately. Do that, and your toys stay safe, hygienic, and ready whenever you are.
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