Raise your hand if you've ever thrown a sex toy back in your drawer after a well-executed solo sex session so you can turn around and enjoy the afterglow ✋🏼.

When you've just had a great orgasm, cleaning your sex toy is probably the last thing on your mind. But cleaning your sex toy or vibrator is actually very important, if you don't take the time for it, it can be bad for your health and the shelf life of your sex toys.

Why should you clean a sex toy?

The hygiene of your sex toy is very important. Depending on the type of sex toy, these products come into direct contact with the skin of the vagina, penis or anus - all sensitive skin areas that are very susceptible to infection - and many sex toys are actually inserted into the body.

Bacteria, dirt, sperm, etc. that are responsible for STDs can all collect on the surface of a sex toy. Cleaning your sex toy helps prevent infections, the bacteria can then not linger. So to prevent these infections, you should clean your sex toy regularly. Preferably after every time you have used your sex toy.

What Happens If You Don't Clean Your Sex Toy?

You can imagine with all those bacteria and sensitive skin areas that infections can quickly develop down there… Think of vaginal infection, bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Especially if you share your sex toy you can easily transmit diseases to each other.

And that is not the only risk you run, the quality of your sex toy also deteriorates quickly if it is not cleaned properly. Many people put their sex toy aside, only to find out a few days later that it still needs to be cleaned. So don't do this anymore! This shortens the lifespan of your sex toy. If you do not clean your sex toy immediately, the material of your sex toy can be damaged . And if you bring a sex toy into your home, you naturally want it to last as long as possible.

How do you clean a sex toy?

Every sex toy is different. To determine how to best clean your vibrator, it is important to know what it is made of. When you buy a new vibrator, read the instructions carefully. They often state what it is made of and/or how it can be cleaned.

A vibrator made of silicone, glass or steel can be boiled, but if a plastic vibrator that is not 100% waterproof is immersed in boiling water, it will not survive. There are even vibrators that can go in the dishwasher, but certainly not all of them. Each material requires its own care. We will list it for you. Below you can read how to clean the different materials of your sex toy.

Cleaning different materials

When buying sex toys, find out what it is made of. The material determines how the sex toy is cleaned. It is also important to check whether there is a motor in it. This is also important for cleaning. Usually the packaging states how to clean the sex toy or vibrator, but if not, ask a sales associate or look up the product online.

The most important thing to look for is porous vs. non-porous materials . Avoid porous sex toys, even if they are cleaned, they can still harbor bacteria. These include materials like TPE or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Non-porous sex toys, on the other hand, are safer and include materials like medical-grade silicone, glass, medical-grade stainless steel, and Pyrex.

Once you know what material your sex toy is made of, follow these guidelines for cleaning your sex toy. If your sex toy is made of…

• Silicone, glass, stainless steel or wood - and it's motorized : Use mild antibacterial soap that you would use on your body and a damp cloth to wipe the sex toy clean.

• Silicone, Pyrex, stainless steel or stone - and it's not motorized : For a deeper clean, place the sex toy in boiling water for eight to ten minutes. The dishwasher is another method. Put the sex toy in the dishwasher without soap. The hot steam helps sterilize it.

• Cyberskin : Use a little soap and warm water to clean. Too much foam can damage the delicate material.

• Hard plastic, elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer (TPR) or jelly rubber : these porous materials can still harbor bacteria after washing with soap and water. So use a condom if you are going to share the sex toy with a partner.

Use Toy Cleaners

Toy cleaners are specially formulated to clean your sex toys properly. This special 'cleaning agent' ensures that you can continue to use your sex toys and vibrators safely and that all bacteria on your favorite toy are killed.

Other cleaning agents such as soap and water can be harmful to your sex toy and to yourself. A toy cleaner is specially made to extend the life of your toy and prevent skin irritations. The toy cleaners are dermatologically gentle on the skin and are aimed at removing bacteria, fungi and other viruses and infections. The best thing for your sex toy is to clean it with a toy cleaner. With a toy cleaner you guarantee the hygiene and lifespan of your sex toy. View the toy cleaners from Pure Lust here.

Protecting your sex toy

A good vibrator is not cheap and you want it to last as long as possible. You do not want to risk damaging your favorite toys by not using cleaning agents or by using the wrong cleaning agents. In addition, aggressive cleaning agents that are dangerous for the vibrator are probably also dangerous for your own body.

So clean your sex toys after (and, if you really want to do it right, before) every use, use a good toy cleaner and protect yourself and your sex toys.