How to Keep Your Dildo Clean: A Simple Guide

There has been a lot of excitement in your life since you started using sex toys on a more regular basis. Having said that, now comes the time for the 'cleanup'. Would it really be necessary to do so? Cleaning is a part of owning these dildos after all.

Cleaning your dildo specifically may not be one of the most glamorous things to perform, but it is an incredibly important one. Never forget to clean them each and every time you plan on using them; interesting textures make this all the more crucial. Warm, soapy water is pretty much like cleaning your teeth! Once the actual cleaning is completed, proper storage is the final step - cool and dry is what you want. Good working condition for future (near infinite) adventures is the end result you are aiming for.

How Often Should You Clean Your Dildos?

Determining how often you need to clean your dildos is very simple. In fact, one of the easiest things to remember.

Before and after every single use, cleaning the dildo is the rule I follow.

Cleaning them 'before' using them may seem like a bit much, but dust, various forms of dirt, and to an extent bacteria all accumulate on the surfaces of the devices between uses. A dildo (being the most common example I have seen at least) coming into contact with any sort of external matter is perfect fodder for this. Putting something inside your body is a personal act, clean or not - you want that level of purity; near perfect cleaning is the end goal. Full body or partial, it just needs to be cleaned.

What Can You Use to Wash Your Dildo?

It is fortunate that you can easily clean dildos at home; one of the simplest things you can do. Going about this process itself is relatively simple. Mainly two methods are followed:

• Warm, soapy water.
• A dedicated sex toy cleanser.

These products can be applied either with a clean cloth or spray bottle. As soon as you have finished making the dildo, allowing it to air dry is perfect, or using paper towels to pat it down. Completely dry is the end goal - mold of any sort must not be allowed to form inside the device.

Know Your Dildo Materials

A variety of different materials you can choose from when making a dildo (if you already own one) need to be kept in mind. Common types, more specialized ones (squirting being a prime example, anal if preferred, etc.), all require some form of cleaning know-how.

Silicone

One of the more prevalent materials. Non-porous cleaning is not an issue.

The best silicone dildos even fit in the dishwasher, quick and easy cleaning. An excuse never was needed. Intact packaging should be kept, melted dildo messes are to be avoided.

Storing silicone dildos: do not let them touch each other. Physical or chemical reactions between dildos (or any part of the dildo) can and will happen over time. Melting is a part of the degradation of all materials. Prevent it if you can.

Glass

I understand that most, if not all, of the glass dildos on the market are not actually made of glass; Pyrex is the common material used. We can wash these dishes in the dishwasher because essentially they are made from the same (near identical) material as many oven dishes that are specifically labeled as cleanable in said dishwasher.

Cleaning glass diddles themselves comes down to one thing: temperature. Planning on handling them at all, I would recommend using an oven mitt - holding heat well is part of their 'glass' nature, so direct contact should be avoided if possible.

Metal

Stainless or not, metal is to me at least as good as glass. Avoiding the dishwasher completely is the best course of action if you're unsure what to do.

Handling them after some form of hot water interaction is when the heat becomes an issue. Very hot to the touch is a real concern, and again, care must be taken.

Hard Plastics, Cyberskin, and Elastomer Jelly

There is one thing that all three of these materials have in common: they are porous. The very tiny pores all over their surface (almost like little holes) make them extremely fragile. Bacteria having become trapped inside the 'surface' of the dildo is a real possibility. Cleaning them is a important task; extra care must be taken with this process.

There are two main ways to clean the house, and both still work great. The dishwasher however, is definitely not a good option. Melting of these dildos is a much higher chance than with other more common dildos.

Eventually bacteria will build up within that surface as aging continues. Keeping a dildo working properly means at some point replacing it. Checking the dildo thoroughly before use is something you should always do. Replacing a bed mattress (to some small extent) is a parallel situation - discolored or worn out is a sign of old age.

Some types of dildos can have their life prolonged by constant condom use.

What About Other Materials?

More unusual materials, wood being the prime example, and various forms of ceramic can be used to make dildos. Less common indeed, but if you own one of these, read the instructions (they will always tell you how to clean it properly).

Contacting the manufacturer to ask about care of the dildo is a good idea. I think we all just need to clean our dildos. Simple, easy to manage, and to me at least - a small pleasure to see a well kept dildo.