One of the most common questions people ask about silicone sex toys is how to clean them. Cleaning your silicone sex toys isn’t complicated, it just requires a little knowledge.

The risk of STI transmission through sex toys is lower than for other types of sex. However, it still exists and you should take precautions accordingly. Dirty toys can also cause thrush, yeast infections, and similar complaints.

For the purposes of safer sex, I always recommend using a barrier if you’re going to share a toy with a non fluid-bonded partner[1] and that toy cannot be boil sterilised or properly washed. My personal policy is barriers on shared vaginal toys unless I am fluid bonded with that partner, and condoms on shared anal toys ALWAYS. It’s a bit less risky for penis toys because the outer skin of the penis isn’t technically a mucus membrane.

A Reader Writes…

Hi Amy,

I know that you should sterilise sex toys after use, and you can do this to silicone dildos and butt plugs (for example) by boiling them in hot water. I’ve bought a pan for dildo sterilising, but do I just… heat them up like I’m boiling potatoes? How do you boil sex toys to sterilise them, plus do you have any tips for storage to keep your toys clean between uses?

How to Clean Silicone Sex Toys Without Motors

First thing’s first: you don’t need toy cleaner. It is a waste of money.

The short answer to our lovely reader’s question is yes. For 100% silicone toys without motors, such as dildos and butt plugs, just pop them in a pan of boiling water on the stove. Bring the water to a rolling boil and keep it bubbling away for 10 minutes or so. Once you’re done, dump the water out, dry your toys thoroughly, and put them away.

By the way: you can do this with non-motorised stainless steel and borosilicate glass toys.

Cleaning Vibrators and Other Motorised Silicone Toys

The boiling method is ideal for toys without motors. But what about cleaning vibrators and other motorised silicone sex toys?

First, check the instructions (and then ignore all the ones that tell you to buy toy cleaner.) If your toy is waterproof, wash it thoroughly with warm water and antibacterial soap. Remember to rinse and dry it thoroughly when you’re done.

For non-waterproof toys, I recommend wiping the surface with a body-safe sterile wipe. I buy them in bulk from a medical supplies store and a single pack lasts for months. Afterwards, wipe it off thoroughly with a clean cloth dunked in warm water.

You can also follow these methods for cleaning waterproof ABS (hard) plastic toys, which also cannot be boiled regardless of whether they have a motor or not.

Remember, if your toy has any tricky grooves or ridges or nozzles, bacteria can gather in them. Take extra care to clean these areas really thoroughly.

Keeping Toys Clean Between Uses

Once you’ve finished cleaning your silicone sex toys, how do you keep them clean between uses?

To be honest, I store my silicone toy by just throwing them all in a box or drawer when they’re clean. That thing about silicone toys melting together in storage? It’s 100% not true. Silicone doesn’t work that way! The myth is a holdover from the time when “silicone” sex toys weren’t actually 100% silicone. If you don’t believe me, check out Dangerous Lilly’s experiment to prove this myth false.

If you use this storage method, I recommend giving your toy a quick wipe down before you use it again. This will get rid of any dust or lint that may have settled on it.

Alternatively, you can also keep your toys in individual bags or pouches to keep them clean between uses. I have some of Lovehoney’s drawstring sex toy bags but you can also buy similar bags from a craft store or online. Many toys also come with their own storage bags, so make use of these if you have them.

Hope this helps!

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