How to Clean Your Dildos?

The perfect dildo has been found, you have enjoyed some truly amazing adventures with it, and now it comes time for the least glamorous-but most important-part of all this fun: cleanup. You shouldn't just clean your dildos so they look nice; proper cleaning is what will allow them to last as long as possible. Safety for future uses is a primary concern.

To understand why this is a good practice, think about reusing a dinner plate - washing it is the only logical step taken before reuse. Your dildos are no different. A simple form of self-care requires that each and every use be followed by at least some kind of cleaning. A blissful, healthy (physical and mental) experience for both you and your partner depends on it.

The following guide will walk you through all the specific steps needed to clean your dildos. Material doesn't matter; whatever the dildo is made from, the principles apply. Different types of dildos will be covered, products to use at each stage, storage methods, and just about every small detail that comes with the 'post-use' cleaning process. Getting to work on cleaning is the last, and I believe essential, part of the adventure.

Why Cleaning Your Dildos is a Must

The body is an incredible, complex ecosystem. Before we get into the "how," let's discuss the "why." Unclean dildos disrupt this delicate balance; yeast infections, various forms of bacterial vaginosis, and simple irritations are all potential outcomes.

Washing is important for these specific reasons:

• Health and Hygiene: Bacteria, bodily fluids, and to a large extent lubricant residue are removed during cleaning. Following this simple step prevents infection - intimate relationships (of any sort) benefit from at least some form of constant, small scale hygiene.
• Toy Longevity: Proper cleaning and all associated storage is what will prevent future damage to the dildo. Certain materials break down if not well cared for; a good, regular cleaning routine is near impossible to overestimate as a part of maintaining the 'investment' you make in a dildo.
• Better Experiences: The cleaner the dildo, the happier it will be! Fully immersing oneself into a moment with a dildo (or any object) is only possible when the physical aspects of using it are taken care of. Worrying about 'freshness' removes a large part of the anxiety from the experience.

Your Cleaning Toolkit: What You'll Need

A few simple steps are required to prepare your dildos for cleaning. Almost everything you need already exists within your home.

• Warm Water: A good foundation for all cleaning.
• Soap or Toy Cleaner: One or the other. Mild, unscented (preferably) antibacterial soap is ideal. Dedicated sex toy cleaners are formulated for both effectiveness and near perfect safety to body and toy.
• Soft Cloth: Completely drying your dildo is the final touch - lint free is best.

How to Clean Dildos by Material?

As dildos are made of different materials, there is a certain way to clean them depending on the material they are made of. There are several types of viruses, and we will break them down by the most common ones.

Silicone Dildos

Among all the dildos available in the market today, silicone is without a doubt the MVP. In addition to being body-safe, non-porous (meaning that it doesn't harbor bacteria in tiny holes) and presenting a wonderful, skin-like feel, it is also non-toxic.

Cleaning Steps:

• Rinse It: If there are any lubricants or fluids on the dildo, wash it under warm water to remove them.
• Lather Up: The dildo cleaner or mild, antibacterial soap should be applied with a good amount of force. Make a lather by working it up and make sure you cover the entire surface, paying close attention to any textures or crevices on the surface.
• Rinse Again: It is recommended that you rinse the dildo thoroughly with warm water until all of the soap and cleaner have been removed. Ensure that there are no residues left behind after you have cleaned the surface.
• Dry Completely: You can either let it air dry on a clean surface or you can pat it dry thoroughly with a clean, lint-free cloth. It is important to make sure that the item is completely dry before storing it.
• Pro Tip: It is only recommended that silicone-based lubricants should not be used with silicone dildos. When these two silicones react, the surface of the dildo can become gummy, and this will cause the dildo's surface to begin to break down over time. All of your silicone friends will appreciate it if you stick to a water-based lube.

Glass, Metal, and Stone Dildos

In addition to being elegant, firm, and great for temperature play, these materials are also incredibly durable. Moreover, they are also nonporous, which means that cleaning them is definitely not a problem.

Cleaning Steps:

Wash and Rinse: You can wash it with warm water and mild soap or a dildo cleaner. Because these materials are so durable, you can wash them more vigorously.

• Boil for a Deep Clean (Optional): The biggest advantage of glass dildos as well as solid metal dildos or even stone dildos is that they can be sterilized before being used again. Depending on how deep you would like to clean them, you may want to place them in a pot of boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Remove them carefully with tongs and make sure that they have cooled down completely before handling them.
• Dishwasher Safe? In fact, some dildos, whether they are made of glass or metal, can be put in the dishwasher on the top rack. Depending on the manufacturer's instructions, this can be a quick and easy way to clean your carpets and keep them looking great for a long time.
• Dry Thoroughly: Before storing them, make sure they are completely dry and that they are cleaned with a soft cloth to prevent water spots.

Jelly and Rubber Dildos

The cost of jelly and rubber dildos generally tends to be lower, but they tend to be porous materials. There are microscopic holes in them where bacteria can be able to hide, so they are very vulnerable to bacteria. As a result, they require a bit more attention, so they are best to keep them to yourself, and they should not be shared between partners.

Cleaning Steps:

• Wash Immediately: The fact that these dildos should be washed immediately after use makes them extra important. Warm water should be used along with mild, antibacterial soap or a cleaning solution for dildos.
• Be Gentle: If you want to keep the material in good condition, avoid harsh chemicals and boiling it, as these may damage it.
• Dry, Dry, Dry: When storing a dildo, it is important to ensure that it is completely dry before storing it. There is a possibility that bacterial growth can be encouraged by any leftover moisture.
• Consider a Condom: In order to ensure the safety of your child while playing with porous dildos and to make cleanup easier, it would be a good idea to place a condom over them during play.

How to Storing Your Dildos?

It is not only important how you store your dildos, but also how you clean them; lasting as long as possible is the end goal. Proper storage of the devices ensures a certain form of protection - dust, small damage, and various types of cross-contamination being the main concerns.

• Separate Storage: Each dildo should be stored separately. Different materials touching one another can and will sometimes react and degrade. Jelly or rubber dildos in particular should never be stored touching any form of silicone.
• A Toy Bag or Box: Keeping your dildos in some sort of dedicated silk, cotton, or velvet bag / storage box protects them from both dust and direct sunlight. Discreet tucking away is a large part of the beauty of good storage.
• Avoid Plastic Bags: Ziploc type plastic is to be completely eliminated. Trapped moisture is one thing plastics can do, poor reactions with certain dildo materials are the other.
• Cool and Dry Storage: A cool, dry place (drawer preferred, closet if necessary) is where the collection should go. Sunlight must be removed from the equation.

Checklist for Your Quick Cleaning

Having a hard time managing your workload? These steps will help:

After each use, washing is non-negotiable. All rules must be followed.

Warm water and either a specific toy cleaner or mild unscented soap on the surfaces is best.

Rinse, shake well, air dry. Soap residue on skin is the last thing anyone wants.

Completely dry surfaces are the end result of all of the above. Clothes and dildos both need to be or at least appear, clean.

Make sure you store the items correctly. Keeping the bags or boxes in some sort of cool, dark place is ideal for as long as possible.

Conclusion:

Taking care of your dildos doesn't take much time; getting used to the 'routine' of it is almost second nature. Cleaning an object (a simple give and take of TLC if you will) is only one part of it. Investing into your own pleasure, various forms of wellbeing and to a point health, is what giving those dildos TLC truly represents. Washing up after having fun is part of the process - have a great time, don't stress over the small things, but do take care of them.