How to Clean Your Sex Toys (And Why It Matters)

Cleaning your toys is not the glamorous part of shopping for them, but it is one of the most important parts of actually enjoying them. If you skip it, clean them carelessly, or store them while they are still damp, you create problems that are completely avoidable. Good toy care helps protect your body, protects the material, and makes the whole experience easier the next time you reach for it.1

The practical version is simple. You should clean your toys before and after use, clean them according to their material and waterproof level, and store them somewhere dry and lint-free.1 That is the baseline.

If you are building a better routine, Ember Delights already gives you several helpful product paths to pair with a care setup, including the vibrator collection, clitoral suction collection, anal toys collection, and the broader shop-all page.

Why cleaning sex toys matters

The biggest reason to clean your toys is obvious: anything that comes into contact with intimate areas should be kept clean. Residue from lubricant, bodily fluids, dust, and everyday storage buildup can all make a toy less pleasant to use. More importantly, some materials hold onto bacteria more easily than others, especially if they are porous or stored improperly.1

Cleaning also extends the life of the toy. Dried lube, trapped moisture, and harsh cleaning products can wear down surfaces faster than people realize. A toy that is cared for well usually feels better, lasts longer, and causes fewer surprises.

There is also a comfort factor that people undersell. Using a clean toy simply feels better mentally. You are not second-guessing what was on it last time, whether it sat in a dusty drawer, or whether the charging port is crusted with soap residue. Clean-up is not just about hygiene. It is about confidence.

The simple rule: clean before and after use

If you want the shortest version of this guide, here it is. Clean your toy before use because storage is rarely perfect, and clean it after use because residue dries fast and becomes harder to remove later.1

A quick rinse is not always enough. The right method depends on three things: the material, whether the toy is waterproof, and whether the toy has seams, charging ports, textured details, or internal motors.

Start with the two questions that matter most

Before you clean any toy, ask these two questions.

First, is it waterproof, splashproof, or not water-safe at all? If a toy has electronics and is not designed for full immersion, do not treat it like a fully waterproof silicone toy.

Second, is it nonporous or porous? Nonporous materials such as silicone, stainless steel, and glass are generally easier to clean thoroughly. Porous materials can trap residue more easily and need more cautious care.1

Question	Why it matters	What to do
Is the toy waterproof?	Determines whether it can be rinsed directly	Fully waterproof toys are easiest to wash with warm water and mild soap
Is the toy porous?	Affects how thoroughly it can be cleaned	Porous toys need extra caution, and barriers may help during use
Does it have a motor or charging port?	Electronics change the cleaning method	Use a damp cloth instead of soaking if it is not fully waterproof
Does it have texture or seams?	Hidden spots collect residue	Spend extra time around ridges, grooves, and joints

How to clean most nonporous toys

For many silicone, glass, or stainless steel toys, warm water and a mild unscented soap are enough for regular cleaning.1 You do not need a dramatic routine. You need a consistent one.

Rinse the toy with warm water, add a small amount of gentle soap, and clean the entire surface for at least several seconds with attention to seams and textured areas. Then rinse thoroughly so no soap film remains. Dry it completely with a lint-free towel and allow it to air dry before storing it.

If the toy is used for anal play, thorough cleaning matters even more. That is one reason beginners often do well with simple shapes from the anal toys collection, because fewer creases usually means easier cleanup.

How to clean toys that are not fully waterproof

This is where people get careless. If a toy is rechargeable, battery-operated, or clearly marked as water-resistant rather than waterproof, do not soak it.

Instead, dampen a clean cloth with warm water, add a small amount of mild soap, and wipe the surface carefully while avoiding charging ports, battery compartments, or openings. Follow with a second clean damp cloth to remove any soap. Dry it well before you put it away.2

If you own several toys, keep the care routine boring on purpose. The less complicated your clean-up process is, the more likely you are to do it properly every time.

What about toy cleaners?

Toy cleaners can be convenient, especially for travel, quick cleanup, or toys that are awkward to rinse directly. They are useful, but they are not magic. Think of them as a convenience product, not as permission to ignore the toy’s material and care instructions.2

A toy cleaner can make life easier when you want a fast clean between uses or when you need a lower-water option for a non-submersible toy. But if a toy is fully waterproof and easy to wash, mild soap and warm water are still an effective default.1

Material-specific care matters more than people think

Material is not just a technical detail. It changes what “clean enough” actually means.

Material	Cleaning ease	Special note
Silicone	Easy	Smooth, body-friendly, and usually simple to wash
Stainless steel	Very easy	Nonporous and durable
Glass	Very easy	Nonporous, but handle carefully
ABS plastic	Easy	Usually straightforward to wipe or wash
TPE, TPR, jelly, or other porous blends	Harder	Can trap residue more easily and need cautious care

This is one reason body-safe material matters so much. Nonporous materials are easier to clean thoroughly and generally better for long-term use.1 If you are shopping with care in mind, it is smart to compare options in Ember Delights’ vibrators, dildos, and anal toys categories with material and design simplicity in mind.

Do you need to sterilize sex toys?

Usually, regular cleaning is enough for personal use. Sterilization is more relevant in special cases, such as sharing certain toys, using non-motorized toys made from materials that can handle higher-heat cleaning, or wanting an extra level of care for nonporous items.2

But do not get sloppy with the word “sterilize.” Not every toy can handle boiling, and not every toy should be exposed to aggressive cleaning methods. Motors, batteries, seals, coatings, and porous materials all change what is safe. If you are unsure, default to the safer standard method instead of improvising.

The mistake people make with lube residue

Lube is helpful. Dried lube is annoying.

Water-based lubricants usually wash away more easily, while thicker products or silicone-based formulas may need a little more patience depending on the toy material.3 If you use lube often, do not let residue sit overnight. It becomes harder to remove, especially around ridges, button seams, and charging areas.

This is also why it helps to choose the right lube for the toy in the first place. A cleaner pairing makes cleanup faster and protects the toy surface from unnecessary wear.

How to store sex toys after cleaning

Storage is where a lot of otherwise careful people ruin their routine. A freshly washed toy thrown into a random drawer is not really “done.”

After cleaning, dry the toy completely. Then store it in a clean pouch, case, or dedicated drawer space away from dust, lint, and direct contact with other materials.1 Good storage also helps prevent scratches, prevents tacky materials from interacting with each other, and makes the next use feel much more organized.

Storage habit	Good idea or bad idea	Why
Tossing a toy loose in a drawer	Bad idea	Dust, lint, and friction build up fast
Storing while still damp	Bad idea	Moisture creates unnecessary problems
Using a pouch or clean case	Good idea	Keeps the toy cleaner between uses
Separating toys by material	Good idea	Reduces surface wear and unwanted contact
Keeping chargers with the toy	Good idea	Makes reuse easier and prevents clutter

If discretion matters in your home, pairing good storage with thoughtful shopping helps. The Advice hub and shop-all collection make it easier to choose products that fit your space and your privacy needs.

Cleaning reminders for shared or multi-use toys

If a toy may be shared between partners, between different body areas, or between anal and vaginal use, cleaning matters even more. A simple rule helps here: do not move a toy from anal use to vaginal use without fully cleaning it first, and when in doubt, add a barrier such as a condom over the toy and change it as needed.1

That is not overcautious. It is basic common sense.

A realistic cleaning routine you will actually keep

The best routine is the one you will repeat consistently. For most people, that looks like this: clean before use, clean after use, dry fully, charge if needed, store properly, and check the surface every so often for wear.

You do not need a laboratory routine. You need a routine that keeps the toy comfortable, functional, and ready for next time.

Clean toys are better toys

There is no upside to being lazy with toy care. Cleaning your toys protects your body, protects your purchase, and removes unnecessary friction from the experience.1 Once you have the right system, it takes only a few minutes.

If you are refreshing your setup, you can explore Ember Delights’ vibrator collection, anal toys, dildos, or the broader full collection and choose options that are as easy to care for as they are enjoyable to use.

References