How to clean your interactive sex toy
Cleaning your toy before and after every use keeps it safe and makes it last longer. Here is how, by material and toy type.
Cleaning your toy is the single most important thing you can do for hygiene and for the toy's lifespan. Most modern interactive toys are made from body-safe silicone or ABS plastic, both of which are easy to clean. A two-minute routine before and after each session keeps things safe.
This article covers what to use, what to avoid, and the specifics for the most common toys.
The basic routine
Before each use:
- Wipe the toy with a damp cloth or rinse the body-safe parts under warm water.
- Pat dry with a clean towel.
After each use:
- Rinse all body-safe parts under warm water within a few minutes.
- Use a small amount of mild, unscented soap. Or a toy cleaner from a reputable brand.
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap.
- Pat dry with a clean towel.
- Air-dry on a clean surface for at least 10 minutes before storing.
That is it.
What to use
| Cleaner | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Mild unscented soap and warm water | Yes, best for daily cleaning |
| Dedicated toy cleaner (Lovense, Lelo, Babeland brand, etc.) | Yes |
| Sex toy wipes | Yes, fine for between-use quick cleans |
| 70% isopropyl alcohol | For silicone only, sparingly. For deep clean. |
What to avoid
| Cleaner | Why |
|---|---|
| Bleach | Damages silicone and plastic. Toxic to skin contact afterwards. |
| Hydrogen peroxide | Can degrade some materials. |
| Hot water above 60°C | Can warp or damage motors. |
| Scented soaps with strong fragrances | Skin irritation when residue contacts genitals. |
| Anti-bacterial soap with triclosan | Avoid; potentially irritating. |
| Dishwasher | Heat and detergents destroy toys. Never. |
Toy-specific notes
Lovense vibrators (Lush, Hush, Domi, Edge, Ferri, Nora, Diamo)
- All Lovense vibrators are body-safe silicone on the outside.
- Most current Lovense vibrators, including the Lush and the Hush 2, are rated IPX7 and can be briefly submerged for cleaning. Older or non-rated models should not be.
- Always check the manual for your specific model's water rating.
- Charging port should stay dry; some have magnetic charging which is more forgiving.
Lovense Max (stroker)
- The sleeve is removable. Take it out, rinse it under warm water inside and out, soap it gently.
- The shell is plastic; wipe with a damp cloth, dry thoroughly.
- Let everything air-dry fully before reassembling. Damp sleeves grow bacteria.
Tremblr FM-T
- Remove the sleeve. Rinse under warm water.
- Use soap or toy cleaner; rinse thoroughly.
- The motor unit is electronic; never submerge. Wipe the outside only.
Hismith machines
- Attachments unscrew. Clean each one separately like any silicone toy.
- The machine body is plastic and electronics; wipe with a damp cloth.
Kiiroo KEON
- Similar to Tremblr: removable sleeve, rinse it, dry it. Wipe the body.
After cleaning
- Air-dry on a clean towel, not in a humid bathroom.
- Once fully dry, store in a clean, dry place. See Storing your toy.
- If a sleeve still feels tacky after cleaning, try light dusting with cornstarch (avoid talc). Some silicone benefits from this.
Shared toys
If you share a toy with a partner, clean between users. Do not pass a toy directly without cleaning first. Some users prefer a one-toy-per-person rule for vibrators that insert.
See Sharing a toy between partners safely.
When to retire a toy
Replace a toy if:
- The silicone tears, cracks, or develops sticky spots.
- The toy smells off even after cleaning.
- The motor sounds different from when new.
- The battery does not hold charge.
Better to replace a worn toy than to push through irritation or hardware failure.