Washing a vibrator may seem like a daunting task after an evening of post-orgasm hormones but it’s essential to keep your sex toys clean to prevent infection.
Thankfully, washing most non-porous sex toys is easy; just rinse and wipe with a soapy washcloth. If your toy is motorized or has batteries, avoid putting it in water unless it’s waterproof or splashproof.
Soap and water
If you have a non-porous vibrator, you can usually clean it by simply washing it with mild soap and water. This is a quick and easy option that most people can use on a regular basis. Just make sure the toy is fully submerged under running water that isn’t too hot and then gently rub down the entire surface of it with a washcloth or your fingers. The toy can then be rinsed, dried off and laid out to air dry.
Keeping sex toys clean is essential because they come in contact with the most intimate areas of your body, which means that they can harbor bacteria and other pathogens. For instance, if you don’t properly clean your vibe before using it with your partner, you could potentially pass on yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis or sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea or chlamydia.
If you want to go a step further and ensure your vibrator is completely clean, you can try boiling it. Just be very careful when doing this because you don’t want to damage your toy or accidentally contaminate the rest of your home. Fill a pot with water and add a bit of a solution made of 10% bleach to it. Soak the toy in the solution for about 10 minutes and then rinse and let it dry completely.
Boiling
Often seen as one of the best sex toy cleaning hacks, boiling water can actually clean your vibrator quite well. Using a pot that is big enough to completely submerge your sex toy, you should boil it for a few minutes. This method is not recommended for porous toys or dildos as it can ruin some materials. If your toy is made of glass, ceramics, or stainless steel it may melt or become unusable as a result.
However, if you have a non-porous toy like silicone, this is the perfect way to sterilize it! Simply wash it with warm water and a mild soap. Alternatively, you can use sex toy cleaner sprays or wipes that are designed to be safe for all kinds of toys.
Always remember to clean your vibe after every single use. Bacteria will build up on the surface of your toy, especially if it’s a porous material. If you have a yeast infection, vaginal inflammation or any other type of sexually transmitted infections, they can be passed on to your partner through touching the surface of your vibe.
Lastly, make sure to store your toy properly. This can prevent dirt, crumbs and skin flakes from entering the toy. You can also buy sex toy storage bags or containers for an easy, hygienic option.
Alcohol
While alcohol is good for cleaning, it is also corrosive and can damage sex toys. It is best not to use rubbing alcohol when cleaning sex toys. Instead, a professional sex toy disinfectant spray will do the job much better, and will be safe for your toy and your body.
A sex toy cleaning spray will be expensive, but it’s worth the investment for your health and well-being. You should also consider a toy cleaner that is natural and toy-friendly. Using soaps and cleaners with harsh chemicals on your genital area can cause yeast infections, and they may even interfere with the pH balance in your vulva.
Generally, non-porous toys like plastics can be washed by hand with warm water and mild, unscented soap. But if your toy has mechanical parts or batteries (like a silicone dildo), you may want to boil or wash it in the dishwasher. Just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and remove the batteries if necessary.
Of course, you should not just clean your vibrator once in a while, but after every use. This is particularly important if you have been sick recently—since germs can linger on your toy and then get reintroduced into your vagina, anus, mouth, or stomach when you touch it again. Plus, you should always store your vibes separately so that you can remember whose is whose.
Wipes
We all love our vibes and dildos, and they give us amazing orgasms that we’ll cherish forever. But unfortunately, many of us forget to wash our toys properly, and this can lead to a nasty build-up of bacteria over the surface, especially in those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
Bacteria are not only dangerous for your vibrator, but also for your vagina, and they can lead to a host of uncomfortable symptoms, including bad smells, itching, bacterial vaginosis and even cystitis. But there’s no need to panic – cleaning your vibrator is really simple, and there are plenty of safe, effective methods out there.
In fact, if you’re willing to do a bit of research and find out what your toy is made from, you can create a custom cleaning routine that will keep your buzzy friend in tip-top condition. For example, if you have a silicone toy, you can choose between boiling it, washing it with anti-bacterial soap or putting it in the dishwasher.
Whatever you do, it’s a good idea to avoid any cleaning solutions that contain alkaline cleaners, petroleum or acetone, because they can damage the motor of your vibrator and irritate sensitive tissues, including your vaginal walls. And don’t forget to store your sex toys properly, too! Try keeping a lint free towel handy and laying your items out on it to dry, or tucking them away in a clean, dust-free box.
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