How to Clean Sex Toys: A Material-by-Material Care Guide

September 17, 2020

Quick answer: Clean your sex toy before and after each use. For most products, warm water, mild fragrance-free soap, careful rinsing or wiping, complete drying, and separate storage are the best starting point. Stronger methods such as alcohol or boiling water are not universal; whether they are appropriate depends on the product material, whether the item contains electronics, and the manufacturer’s instructions.

This guide combines practical care advice with material-specific guidance so you can quickly understand what to do for silicone, TPE, ABS plastic, PVC or unknown soft materials, waterproof products, rechargeable devices, male masturbators, and anal toys.

Why clean sex toys before and after use? Safest everyday cleaning routine Alcohol, boiling water, and disinfection Cleaning by material Waterproof vibrators and dildos Non-waterproof and rechargeable devices Male masturbators and sleeves Anal toys What to avoid Storage after cleaning When to replace a toy Related guides References Bottom line

Why clean sex toys before and after use?

Short answer: Cleaning helps remove body fluids, lubricant, dust, and residue. It also helps protect the product surface and keeps the item ready for next use.

Sexual health organizations commonly recommend keeping intimate products clean and avoiding sharing products without proper cleaning or barrier protection. The NHS notes that sex toys can pass infections if shared without washing or a new condom, while Planned Parenthood advises cleaning toys before and after use and following the toy’s instructions.

What is the safest everyday cleaning routine?

Short answer: Wash, rinse or wipe, dry completely, then store separately.

Wash: Use warm water and mild, fragrance-free soap or a cleaner made for intimate products.
Rinse or wipe: If the product is fully waterproof, rinse it thoroughly. If it is not fully waterproof, wipe with a damp cloth and avoid charging ports, battery compartments, motors, and control areas.
Dry: Pat dry with a clean lint-free cloth, then let the product air dry completely.
Store: Keep it in a clean pouch, box, or drawer away from heat, dust, lint, and direct sunlight.

Toy type	Cleaning approach	What to avoid
Fully waterproof toys	Warm water, mild soap, careful rinsing, complete drying.	Charging while wet or storing before fully dry.
Rechargeable or app-controlled toys	Damp cloth cleaning around ports, buttons, and seams.	Submerging unless the product is clearly rated waterproof.
Soft sleeves and male masturbators	Gentle rinsing, inner-channel drying, separate storage.	Boiling, harsh alcohol, and storing while damp.
Anal toys	Clean before and after every use, including bases and textures.	Sharing without proper cleaning or barrier protection.

Can sex toys be disinfected with alcohol or boiling water?

Short answer: Sometimes, but not universally. Alcohol and boiling water are not one-size-fits-all cleaning methods. Whether they are appropriate depends on the product’s material, whether it contains electronics, whether it has coatings or seams, and what the manufacturer recommends.

Alcohol may be useful for some hard, non-porous surfaces, but it can be too harsh for certain soft materials, coatings, adhesives, and electronic parts. Boiling water may be suitable for some non-electronic, heat-resistant, non-porous items when the manufacturer confirms it. Do not boil vibrators, rechargeable devices, battery-powered products, app-controlled toys, or products with motors, buttons, charging contacts, seams, glued parts, or batteries.

How cleaning depends on material

Silicone

Short answer: Wash silicone products with warm water and mild soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely. Use water-based lubricant as the safest general option unless the product instructions say otherwise.

Silicone is widely used in premium intimate products because it is flexible, durable, and generally more heat-resistant than many thermoplastic soft materials. Some biomedical-grade silicone elastomers list heat stability or maximum service temperatures around 200°C and may tolerate autoclave conditions as raw or properly fabricated materials.

However, a finished vibrator is not just silicone. Even if the outer surface is silicone, the product may contain a motor, battery, charging contacts, seals, adhesives, or a control board. These components may be damaged by boiling water long before the silicone surface is affected.

Best practice: Clean electronic silicone products with warm water, mild soap, and careful drying unless the product manual specifically allows high-heat cleaning.

TPE and soft skin-like materials

Short answer: Clean TPE gently with warm water and mild soap, rinse carefully, and let it dry completely before storage.

TPE, or thermoplastic elastomer, is soft and flexible, but it is usually more heat-sensitive than cured silicone rubber. Some industrial TPE grades are engineered for warm or hot water use, including testing at elevated water temperatures, but that does not mean every soft intimate product can tolerate boiling water.

Best practice: Avoid boiling water, harsh alcohol, bleach, and abrasive scrubbing unless the product manual clearly says they are safe for that exact product. For male masturbators or sleeve-style products, make sure the inner area is fully dry before storage.

ABS plastic and hard-shell parts

Short answer: Wipe ABS plastic or hard-shell areas with a damp cloth and mild soap, then wipe away residue and dry fully.

ABS is a hard engineering plastic often used for shells, handles, buttons, and control areas. ABS has defined heat-resistance limits; published material data for ABS grades can show Vicat softening temperatures and heat deflection temperatures that vary by grade and test condition. High heat may deform plastic parts, affect coatings, weaken seams, or damage nearby electronics.

Best practice: Do not boil ABS-containing electronic products unless the manufacturer confirms the entire product is designed for that cleaning method.

PVC or unknown soft materials

Short answer: Be cautious with PVC, jelly-like, strongly scented, sticky, or unknown soft materials.

PVC is not simply “banned” or completely gone from the market. The more accurate concern is that flexible PVC and some older jelly-like materials may contain plasticizers, vary widely in formulation, or be harder for consumers to verify and clean confidently.

Best practice: Use gentle cleaning only, avoid high heat and harsh disinfectants, and replace products that become sticky, cracked, peeling, unusually scented, or difficult to clean.

How do you clean waterproof vibrators and dildos?

Short answer: If the product is fully waterproof, rinse it under warm water, clean with mild soap, rinse again, and dry completely.

Clean around grooves, seams, buttons, and textured areas where residue can collect. After rinsing, dry the surface and let the product air dry before storing or charging.

How do you clean non-waterproof or rechargeable devices?

Short answer: Do not submerge them. Use a damp cloth, mild soap, and careful wiping.

Keep water away from charging ports, battery compartments, motors, app-control areas, and buttons unless the product is clearly rated waterproof. After cleaning, wipe away soap residue with a clean damp cloth, then dry fully before charging or storage.

How do you clean male masturbators?

Short answer: Rinse the inner area with warm water, clean gently if the manual allows soap, remove excess water, and air dry completely.

Male masturbators often use soft materials that need careful drying. Do not store them while damp. If the product has a removable sleeve, remove it before drying if the manual allows. If the product requires renewal powder or other maintenance, follow the product-specific instructions.

How do you clean anal toys?

Short answer: Clean anal products carefully before and after every use, paying close attention to the base, curves, beads, and textured areas.

For comfort and hygiene, use products only as intended and avoid sharing without proper cleaning and protection. The NHS notes that sharing sex toys can carry STI risk if they are not cleaned or covered properly.

What should you avoid when cleaning sex toys?

Do not boil electronic, rechargeable, battery-powered, or app-controlled products.
Do not submerge products unless they are clearly marked waterproof.
Do not use bleach, strong alcohol, abrasive cleaners, or harsh household disinfectants unless the manual specifically allows them.
Do not scrub soft materials with rough brushes.
Do not store products while damp.
Do not store different soft materials pressed together for long periods.

How should you store sex toys after cleaning?

Short answer: Store clean, dry products separately in a pouch, box, or drawer.

Keep products away from heat, sunlight, dust, and lint. Separate different materials, especially soft-touch materials and silicone products. Good storage helps prevent odor, surface damage, discoloration, and unnecessary material wear.

When should you replace a sex toy?

Short answer: Replace a product if it becomes damaged or difficult to clean.

Watch for cracks, peeling, sticky texture, unusual odor that does not go away after cleaning, exposed wiring, charging issues, or battery problems. Damaged surfaces can trap residue and may no longer be comfortable or appropriate for use.

References

Bottom line

Cleaning sex toys is not about using the strongest disinfectant. The safest routine is usually product-specific: clean gently, avoid damaging electronics or soft materials, dry completely, and store toys separately. When in doubt, follow the product manual and replace toys that show damage, odor, stickiness, cracks, or charging problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes, but not universally. Alcohol and boiling water are not one-size-fits-all cleaning methods. Whether they are appropriate depends on the product material, whether the item contains electronics, whether it has coatings or seams, and what the manufacturer recommends.

Alcohol may be suitable for some hard, non-porous surfaces, but it can damage certain soft materials, coatings, adhesives, and electronic parts. Boiling water may be suitable for some non-electronic, heat-resistant, non-porous items only when the manufacturer confirms it. Do not boil rechargeable devices, vibrators, battery-powered products, app-controlled products, or products with motors, charging contacts, seams, glued parts, or batteries.

For most silicone products, wash the surface with warm water and mild, fragrance-free soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely before storage. Water-based lubricant is the safest general option unless the product instructions say otherwise.

Silicone materials can be more heat-resistant than many thermoplastic soft materials, but a finished vibrator is not just silicone. Motors, batteries, charging contacts, seals, adhesives, and control boards may be damaged by boiling water. Clean electronic silicone products according to the manual rather than assuming they can be boiled.

Clean TPE and soft skin-like materials gently with warm water and mild soap. Rinse carefully, remove excess water, and let the product air dry completely before storage. This is especially important for sleeves, inner canals, and textured areas that can trap moisture.

TPE heat tolerance depends on the exact formulation, so do not assume TPE products can be boiled. Avoid boiling water, harsh alcohol, bleach, and abrasive scrubbing unless the product manual clearly says they are compatible.

ABS plastic and hard-shell parts are often used for handles, shells, buttons, and control areas. Wipe these areas with a damp cloth and mild soap, then wipe away soap residue and dry the surface fully.

High heat may affect plastic parts, coatings, seams, or nearby electronics, so do not boil ABS-containing electronic products unless the manufacturer confirms the entire product is designed for that cleaning method.

If a product is fully waterproof, rinse it under warm water, clean it with mild soap, rinse again, and dry completely. Pay attention to grooves, seams, buttons, and textured surfaces where residue can collect.

If a product is water-resistant, splash-proof, rechargeable, or not clearly waterproof, do not submerge it. Wipe it with a damp cloth and keep water away from charging ports, battery compartments, motors, and control areas. Always dry fully before charging or storage.

Replace a product if you notice cracks, peeling, sticky texture, unusual odor that does not go away after cleaning, exposed wiring, charging problems, or battery issues. Damaged surfaces can trap residue and may be difficult to clean properly.

If a product becomes difficult to dry, changes texture, or no longer matches the care instructions in the manual, replacement is usually the better option.