There are different sex toys, like vibrators, dildos, and anal toys, which people use to relieve themselves when the “need” arises. These sex toys are used for vaginal or anal penetration, meaning they’ll contact your intimate areas and sexual fluids.

Once you’ve used them, you should ensure that these sex toys are washed and disinfected properly. It is vital to clean these toys so you will not contract any fungal or bacterial infections.

Some fungi and bacteria can survive for long periods, even without moisture. So, if you use your sex toy in the future without disinfecting it, there are high chances you will contract sexual diseases such as STIs.

This article will show you how to clean realistic dildos and other sex toys.

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How To Choose Your Cleaning Method?

There are different ways to clean sex toys, from simple soap-washing to bleaching and boiling. The dildos are made of other materials, and how you wash them depends on their material.

In most cases, people wash them only with simple liquid soap and dry them using a hand towel or a napkin. However, different materials should choose a different cleaning method, which we will discuss in this article.

Porous Realistic Dildos

Porous realistic dildos are exactly as they sound: they have tiny pores where vaginal fluid, sperm, lubricants, etc., can enter. Cleaning these sex toys is more complex than the ones made of different materials.

It is best not to use porous realistic dildos as much as possible, but if you use them, you should know how to clean them properly. This will help you avoid contracting bacterial and fungal infections. The best option is to use a condom on porous realistic dildos whenever possible.

If your dildo is made of rubber, you will find it hard to clean. Use warm water to wash the fluids and rinse them with a soapy solution. After that, you can wipe it off with a washcloth and leave it to dry.
The most commonly used material for dildos is Cyberskin because of its soft nature. The best way to clean dildos with Cyberskin material is to wash them with warm water and leave them out to dry. Sprinkle a little bit of cornstarch in the end to prevent them from becoming sticky.
Leather dildos need not be immersed in water but can be cleaned with a wet cloth or leather cleaner. You can also use a leather conditioner after cleaning the dildo.

Non-Porous Realistic Dildos

Non-porous realistic dildos are the most in demand due to their safety when it comes to cleanliness. The most common non-porous material is Silicone, a flexible but rigid material. The sexual fluids that come in contact with the non-porous realistic dildos remain on the surface.

There are no pores in these dildos; you can use them continuously if you wash them regularly. There is no cause for panic in terms of infections. People believe that silicone dildos do not pair well with silicone lubricant, but that is wrong.

You can keep silicone dildos next to one another for a long time, and it is not harmful in terms of spreading bacterial diseases. Let us look at the different non-porous realistic dildos and how you can clean them.

Silicone is a flexible material used to create dildos, and there are no pores in it, unlike rubber or Cyberskin. After washing them with anti-bacterial soap and water, you can boil them in a pot of water for a couple of minutes. This will help kill all the bacteria on the silicone dildo.
Hard plastic, stainless steel, and glass are also used to make dildos. The glass and hard plastic dildos are easy to wash with soap and water. However, the stainless steel should be boiled in hot water for a few minutes.
You can also wash the stainless steel dildos in the dishwasher, given that your dishwasher has everything required for the dildos.

Electronic Realistic Dildos

Electronic realistic dildos can vibrate, powered by a battery. These dildos have wiring that can be dangerous if soaked in water.

Most electronic dildos remain fine since they are waterproof, but some can cause harm if wet. You should not boil silicone vibrators in hot water since their mechanism will get spoiled.

Even when giving it a simple wash, it is advisable to remove the batteries before you go ahead. The best way is to use a damp paper towel or a washcloth to prevent water from coming into touch with the batteries.

For Surface Cleaning

You can clean the surface of sex toys with a simple wipe of a washcloth. This is important to keep your dildo clean and safe. You can clean every toy made of any material by washing the surface.

If you do not share your toy with your partner, then cleaning the surface can be enough to ensure safety. Two types of dildos are sold in the market – one is mechanized, and the other is not. Therefore, it is essential to look at the specifications.

If the mechanized one is waterproof, it is safe to be cleaned with water. The best way to know about your toy’s cleaning process is to check out the manual in the package.

You can use a soft toothbrush if your dildo has any gunk stuck under challenging crevices. After that, you should apply soapy water and rinse it with clean water. Dry it with a clean towel and leave it out to dry before storing it back.

Disinfecting or Sanitizing

Sometimes the sex toys need to be adequately cleaned using a disinfectant or sanitizer, which helps remove various disease-carrying elements. You never know if the toy came in contact with an infected sexual organ, so it is best to disinfect it after washing the surface.

When a toy is shared between two people, it will not have a good fluid bonding. Using the same toy for your vagina and anus will result in infections, so it is wise to use condoms. A disinfectant or a sanitizer will also help rid the toy’s odor.

There are products online and in sex shops for cleaning sex toys. They help you remove pathogens and bacteria from the toys. Buy and keep them to use whenever necessary.

Boiling

Boiling is the best way to eliminate all the fungi and bacteria on your sex toy, but only a few materials can go through this process. Rubber, plastic, and Cyberfix can’t go through this process as they will get damaged.

However, you can add sex toys made of glass, pure Silicone, and stainless steel to a pot of boiling water after washing and cleaning their surface with anti-bacterial soap.

For sex toys made of glass, placing them in a pot on very low heat is the best. That will prevent them from cracking. Use tongs to remove them after boiling, but remember not to use cold water immediately to cool them down.

The material will not hold for too long if you use cold water.

Dishwashing

The dishwasher is the best option for washing your sex toys that are not powered by batteries. You can place them on the top rack of your dishwasher and sanitize them without using the soap option.

You have first to clean the surface of the sex toys manually before you go ahead and put them in the dishwasher. This will prevent your sexual fluids from remaining in the dishwasher.

Ensure that you don’t use the dishwasher if it is shared with other people at home. Though it might be easy to disinfect your sex toys, it won’t be hygienic for other people’s use.

The dishwasher needs to be of a specific federal standard to sanitize your sex toys. If you are not entirely sure of the process, you can always stick to boiling them.

Bleaching

If you don’t have a disinfectant at home, you do not have to worry. You can prepare a homemade disinfectant by mixing bleach with water. To do this, you must add a few spoons of bleach to a gallon of water.

You can let it sit in the solution for several minutes or spray it on the sex toy. Both ways work, and you should do this only on toys that are resistant to water. Wash the dildo with soap once the disinfection process is over.

How To Store Sex Toys To Keep Them Clean

The best way to store sex toys is to keep them in a cool and dry place. This ensures that the sex toys remain clean.

The best places would be the shelf or drawer, but remember not to keep them in plastic bags as they do not help eliminate the odor. The sex toys also come in boxes or pouches, which are also excellent for storing.