How to Clean Sex Toys

How to clean sex toys

Make sure your sex toys are cleaned before and after you use them to ensure optimum hygiene. The only thing you need for the cleaning process is hot water, a good-quality sex toy cleaner and a clean dry towel or kitchen roll.

To clean, give your toys a quick rinse and then spray them with Lovehoney Fresh Sex Toy Cleaner Leave it for 30 seconds or so, and then clean any stubborn areas (such as ridges or nodules) carefully before rinsing all the cleaner off with warm water.

“Having only used toy cleaning wipes previously, I found this product so much better. The amount you get in the bottle is really good, it cleans toys very well and you get so much more use compared to wipes. It is easy-to-use, and has no overpowering scent.” - Happy_Larry

To dry, you can either leave your toy to air dry on sheets of clean kitchen roll or speed up the process by drying with a clean towel.

By cleaning thoroughly and drying your toys completely, you will prevent dust and bacteria build-up and keep them looking, feeling and - dare we say it - smelling like new.

Dos and Don’ts

1. DO clean your toys before and after use
2. DO use a sex toy cleaner for extra peace of mind
3. DO remove any batteries and close the battery compartments tightly before cleaning
4. DO leave your sex toys to air dry thoroughly (laid on kitchen paper is ideal), or dry with a clean towel
5. DON'T put your sex toys away before they are totally dry
6. DON'T leave your sex toys on a radiator or next to a heat source to dry
7. DON'T store your newly cleaned toys together - please read our guide: How to Store Sex Toys

How to clean realistic-feel sex toys

Realistic-feel sex toys are made from a mix of (usually trademarked) materials that are formulated to feel as close to real skin as possible. For realistic-feel sex toys, there's one extra step that will keep it feeling soft and supple instead of sticky.

Sprinkle your toy with cornflour or a renewer powder like the Thrust Lifelike Sex Toy Renewer Powder to counteract that tacky feeling, then ensure the toy is stored separately from any other toys.

“After purchasing a cyberskin cock and the hubby having a collection of realistic pussies, after washing and leaving to dry they always felt a tad sticky, so we knew we had to make this purchase. And wow it really does put the life back into our toys and returns them back to their usable state again!” - Horny_couple_69

To check if your toy is made from realistic-feel material and needs special attention, go to the product page on Lovehoney and double check the material under 'How it feels'.

Realistic feel materials include: Cyberskin, Fleshlight, Futurotic Plus, LoveClone, Loveskin, Magic Flesh, Realskin, Refined Touch, Sil-A-Gel, Silk Skin, Skin Touch, SoftSkin, SoftTouch, True Skin, UR3 (Ultra Realistic 3.0), Virtual Skin.