How to Clean Sex Toys: Materials, Methods, Mistakes
By Premium Toys & Lubes - Your Ultimate Pleasure | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: Tips & Care
A practical, material-by-material cleaning routine for silicone, TPE and motorized toys, plus the common mistakes that shorten toy life and put your body at risk.
Quick answer
Clean every toy before first use, after every use, and before switching between partners or body sites. Match the method to the material: boil or wipe non-motorized pure silicone, wash TPE and other porous toys with mild soap and water and dry them fully, and clean motorized toys only within their waterproof rating using a toy cleaner spray or a damp cloth. When in doubt, use a dedicated toy cleaner and never submerge a toy that is not rated for it.
Match the cleaning method to the material, not the price
Cleaning instructions follow the material and the electronics, not how much you paid. Non-motorized pure silicone is the most forgiving: it tolerates boiling water and repeated washing. TPE, jelly, PVC and other porous blends absorb moisture and residue, so they need thorough soap-and-water washing, complete drying and more frequent replacement. Motorized toys add a second constraint, the waterproof rating, which decides whether you can rinse them under a tap or must wipe them down. Check the packaging or product page for that rating before you get the toy wet, because an unrated motor is the fastest way to turn a working toy into a paperweight.
Set up a cleaning routine you will actually follow
Keep the supplies where you use the toy, not in a distant bathroom cabinet. A small caddy with a mild unscented soap, a dedicated toy cleaner spray, a soft lint-free cloth and paper towels covers almost every situation. Clean before the toy goes back into storage, not the next morning, because residue left on a toy can dry into a film that is harder to remove and a better home for bacteria. Wash your hands before and after handling, and clean the storage pouch or case periodically as well.
Handle motorized toys and waterproof ratings correctly
Waterproof does not mean unlimited. A toy rated for splashing can be wiped with a damp cloth and toy cleaner but should not be soaked. A toy rated fully submersible can be rinsed, but the battery compartment or charging port should still be closed and dried before storage. Remove batteries where the design allows, and never charge a toy while it is wet. If a toy has a removable sleeve, clean the sleeve according to its own material and wipe the motor housing separately.
Dry, inspect and store in that order
Air-dry porous toys completely before storage, because trapped moisture encourages mold and degrades the surface. While the toy dries, inspect it: sticky or tacky silicone, cracks, discoloration, a torn sleeve or a frayed charging port all mean it is time to replace the toy rather than clean it harder. Store toys separately or in individual pouches so silicone does not sit against other materials for long periods. A dry, cool, dark drawer or case is the goal; a sunny windowsill is not.
Your step-by-step sex toy cleaning routine
- Step 1: Read the material and waterproof rating first: Identify whether the toy is pure silicone, a porous blend like TPE, or a motorized device, and find its waterproof rating. This single check decides whether you can boil, rinse or only wipe the toy. Checkpoint: if you cannot find a rating, treat the toy as splash-proof and wipe it down.
- Step 2: Remove batteries, sleeves and detachable parts: Take out batteries where the design allows, pull off removable silicone sleeves, and separate rings or attachments from the main body. Cleaning parts individually prevents water and cleaner from reaching electronics. Mistake to avoid: rinsing a whole motorized toy with the battery compartment open.
- Step 3: Wash with mild soap and warm water or a toy cleaner spray: Use unscented mild soap and warm, not hot, water for silicone and TPE, or spray a dedicated toy cleaner and wipe with a soft cloth. Clean every crease, ridge and textured surface rather than just the outside. Mistake to avoid: using harsh household cleaners, alcohol or scented soaps that can degrade silicone and irritate skin.
- Step 4: Rinse only within the waterproof rating: Fully submersible toys can be rinsed under running water. Splash-proof toys should be wiped with a damp cloth and dried immediately, with no soaking and no water directed at ports or seams. Checkpoint: if water gets somewhere it should not, stop, dry the toy thoroughly and let it sit before charging.
- Step 5: Dry completely before storage: Pat the toy dry with a lint-free cloth and let it air-dry fully, especially porous materials and sleeves. Any remaining moisture is what causes odor, mold and surface breakdown over time. Mistake to avoid: putting a damp toy straight back into a closed case or drawer.
- Step 6: Inspect, then store separately: Look for cracks, tackiness, tears or discoloration before storing. Keep toys in individual pouches or compartments so silicone does not rest against other materials, and store in a cool, dry place. Next step: replace any toy with a torn sleeve, exposed motor or sticky, degrading surface rather than cleaning it again.
Product notes that affect cleaning
- Silicone Super Rings Black: Colt Silicone Super Rings Black is a set of two extra-stretchy pure silicone erection rings from California Exotic Novelties, described as durable, soft and comfortable. Pure silicone tolerates thorough washing and dries quickly, so these rings can be cleaned with mild soap and water and air-dried without the extra caution porous materials require.
- Pumped Classic Xl Extender Pump Black: Pumped Classic XL Extender Pump Black from Shots Toys is a penis pump in the Pumped line, and the catalog notes clinical findings on vacuum erection devices for harder erections and temporary or permanent enlargement. A pump has a cylinder plus seals and a valve, so cleaning means wiping the cylinder and checking the seal and valve for residue rather than soaking the whole device.
- Lovebotz Master Bot Super Powered Automatic Stroker: Lovebotz Master Bot Super Powered Automatic Stroker from XR Brands is a powered male masturbator with a hollow chamber and a soft sleeve lined with ticklers. Because the sleeve sits inside a powered housing, clean the removable sleeve by its own material and wipe the motor section only as far as the waterproof rating allows.
