Cleaning and caring for your toy

Wash before and after every use, dry completely, store apart from other toys. That is most of it.

How to wash

• Warm water and a mild, unscented soap, or a dedicated toy cleaner. Nothing perfumed, nothing antibacterial, nothing harsh — residue left on a toy is residue against your skin.
• Pay attention to seams, ridges and the base of the shaft, where lube collects.
• Rinse thoroughly. Soap left in silicone is a common cause of irritation that gets blamed on the toy.

How much water is safe

Check the rating before anything goes near a tap.

• Fully waterproof (IPX7) — submersible. Wash under running water.
• Splashproof — wipe down only. Keep the charging port and buttons dry.
• Not rated — a damp cloth, and nothing more.

Never put any toy in a dishwasher, and never boil a toy that has a motor in it.

Drying and storage

• Air dry completely before storing. Trapped moisture is how mould starts, particularly in sleeves and strokers.
• Store silicone toys separately. Two silicone toys left touching can react and leave permanent sticky patches. A cotton bag each, or the box it came in.
• Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat.

Material by material

• Silicone — durable, non-porous, easy. Water-based lube only (why).
• TPE and TPR — soft and porous. It cannot be fully sterilised, so use a condom with it if it is shared, and replace it sooner than you would silicone.
• Glass, stainless steel, ABS plastic — non-porous and the easiest to clean. Glass and steel take any lube.
• Sleeves and strokers — turn inside out if the design allows, wash, dry fully, then dust with cornstarch (not talc) to keep the surface from going tacky.

What not to use

No alcohol or surgical spirit on silicone or TPE, no bleach, no acetone, no abrasive cloths. They break the surface down and create microscopic pits that hold bacteria.

When to retire a toy

Any tear, crack, sticky patch that will not wash off, or a change in smell. A damaged surface cannot be cleaned properly, whatever the material.