Sex Toy Cleaner or Soap? Let's Get the Dirty Bit Right

Your vibrator has put in a decent shift. Now it needs a wash, not a solemn farewell under the doona until next weekend.

But does that mean buying sex toy cleaner? For many washable toys, mild unscented soap and warm water do the job. A dedicated cleaner is another option, not a compulsory extra at checkout. You don't automatically need both.

How soap cleans a washable sex toy

Soap helps lift away lube and other leftovers so you can rinse them off. On a washable toy, a gentle wash with mild unscented soap is a perfectly sensible bit of housekeeping. Pay attention to grooves and joins where residue likes to linger.

Go easy on the perfume. Your toy doesn't need to smell like tropical cocktails, and your bits don't need scented soap tagging along for the next round.

Rinse away the suds thoroughly. A toy that feels slippery because it's still covered in soap isn't ready for an encore. That particular slipperiness belongs in the sink.

So what's the point of toy cleaner?

Convenience, mostly. Some people like keeping a dedicated cleaner with their toys rather than sharing the bathroom soap. Sprays and foams give you another way to tackle surface mess, especially when a whole toy can't go under the tap.

They aren't all used the same way: some need rinsing, others wiping off. Buying a cleaner doesn't mean you can leave lube and body fluids sitting there, give everything a hopeful spritz and call it done.

Our toy cleaners and hygiene range is there if a dedicated bottle suits you. If ordinary mild soap already works for your washable toy, there's no need to assemble a bedroom cleaning trolley.

Cleaning is not the same as sterilising

A fresh-looking toy isn't necessarily disinfected or sterile. Neither soap nor the words “toy cleaner” promise that every germ has been killed. Keep cleaning separate from any specific disinfecting claim.

That's particularly worth remembering when toys are shared. Clean them between people and use a fresh condom where a toy can be covered. Cleaner is for the toy, too, not for washing inside your body.

Keep non-waterproof controls out of water

A washable surface isn't the same as a waterproof electrical housing. Keep water out of charging ports, battery compartments and non-waterproof controls. A damp cloth lets you clean those surfaces without drowning the part that makes the fun happen.

With a removable washable sleeve or liner, clean that part separately from the powered case. Combining the two into one enthusiastic dunk is an expensive shortcut.

Let it dry before it goes back in the drawer

Clean, rinse where needed, then dry thoroughly. Sealing a damp toy away isn't doing tomorrow-you any favours, especially if moisture is still sitting inside a sleeve.

Our sex toy storage guide covers where to put everything afterwards. For sleeves and strokers, the masturbator care guide gets into the fiddly bits.

You can spend ages choosing what makes you moan. Choosing what washes it afterwards can be considerably less dramatic.