How to clean sex toys
What to wash it with, whether it can be boiled, which lube it takes and how to store it, depending on the material and the motor.
By the editors · 6 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Cleaning a toy takes two minutes and matters more than which toy you bought. What it needs comes down to two things: what it's made of, and whether there's a motor inside. Tell the printer both and it'll print the care label the box should have come with.
Try itThe care-label printer
The material is on the product page or the box. If it isn't named, pick “Not stated”: we treat it as porous, because that's the safe guess.
Silicone · Waterproof motor
Non-porous: cleans completely
Wash after every use
Warm water and mild unscented soap or a toy cleaner. Rinse well; soap left on can irritate.
Do not boil
Heat and water kill motors and batteries, waterproof or not.
Water-based lube
Silicone lube can make some silicone toys tacky over time. Patch-test on the base if you want to try.
Air-dry
Let it dry on a clean towel before storing.
Store on its own
In a cloth bag or its box, apart from soft toys, which can react with it.
Wash between people
And between anus and vagina, every time. Replace it if it cracks, chips or tears.
The routine, every time
- Before the first use and after every use, while it's fresh.
- Warm water and a mild, unscented soap or a dedicated toy cleaner. Scented soap and antibacterial hand wash can irritate.
- Rinse properly, then dry it before it goes away.
- Charge it dry. Never plug in a toy that's still wet.
By material
| Material | Wash | Boil | Lube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone | Soap and water | Yes, if there's no motor | Water-based |
| Glass | Soap and water | From cold, if there's no motor | Any |
| Stainless steel | Soap and water | Yes, if there's no motor | Any |
| ABS plastic | Soap and water | No, it can warp | Any |
| TPE / TPR | Soap and water, then dry thoroughly | No | Water-based |
| Jelly / PVC | Soap and water | No | Water-based |
| Latex / rubber | Soap and water | No | Water or silicone, never oil |
Toys with motors
"Waterproof" means you can wash it under the tap and take it in the bath. It doesn't mean it can be boiled, put through a dishwasher or left to soak. "Splashproof" means a wipe and a quick rinse at most, with the charging port kept dry.
Storing them
- Separately, in a cloth bag or the box it came in.
- Away from dust, heat and sunlight.
- Soft materials apart from each other and from silicone: some react and turn sticky.
- Batteries out of anything you won't use for a while.
Sharing, and when to let go
- Wash between people, and between anus and vagina, every time.
- Porous toys can't be fully cleaned. TPE, jelly and latex are for one body each, or wear a fresh condom.
- Replace porous toys when they discolour, smell or turn sticky, and any toy that cracks, chips or tears.
Easier-to-clean toys
Non-porous materials make all of this simpler. Our guide to body-safe sex toys explains what to look for, and the non-toxic sex toys page lists the shops that only stock them.