Alcohol, soap or special cleanser: What should you use?

Posted by PSEDEN

2025-05-15

On 2025-05-15

Two key reasons to keep sex toys clean: protect your health and ensure the lifespan of the toys. That’s why it’s so important to know exactly how to clean sex toys.

The best way to clean a sex toy depends mainly on the material that the toy is made of toys and the cleaning product you have on hand. You will see that there are multiple ways to clean your toys and how to clean your silicone vibrator may be different from the way you clean your jelly dildo.

If you’ve ever wondered if you could wipe silicone toys with alcohol, or if you’re worth investing in a good but expensive sex toy cleaner, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re here today!

This guide breaks down three main sex toy cleaning options: alcohol, soap, and a professional sex toy cleaner – so you can make the right choice without headaches.

Cleaning and disinfection: What is the difference?

Before digging into each cleaning option, let’s first discuss the difference between cleaning and disinfection. When people talk about cleaning sex toys, the two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are some differences between the two:

clean Meaning to remove dust, lint, dirt, liquid, lubrication, surface bacteria and debris.
disinfect Meaning kills bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that may live on sex toys.

When it comes to sex toy maintenance and cleaning, there are places and times to clean and disinfect. However, how you clean and disinfect will depend on the material of the toy – some materials are more forgiving and can handle stronger disinfectants (stainless steel), while others require a more gentlemanly cleaning to avoid damage.

What is the best way to do it? After each use, the toys are thoroughly cleaned and occasionally disinfected as the toy materials allow (check the toy manufacturer’s manual if you are not sure).

The best way to clean sex toys #1: Use soap and water

The easiest, most straightforward and budget-friendly option to clean sex toys is to use mild soap and warm water. It’s easy for everyone to access and it’s gentle on most materials, so you can be sure your sex toy will stay intact (in most cases), and this cleaning method is very effective in removing liquids, lubricants and bacteria.

Of course, this method also has some disadvantages. It may not be enough to completely sterilize sex toys, kill all bacteria or remove odor from toys used in anal. Also, if you don’t rinse the toys thoroughly every time you wash them, residue may accumulate from the soap, which can affect the lifespan of the toys and your health.

Before using this cleaning method, make sure it is compatible with sex toy materials. Using mild soap and water is the best way to clean a toy made from:

Silicone
ABS plastic
Borosilicate glass
Stainless steel

Quick guidance

If you want to clean your sex toys with mild soap and warm water, here’s how to do it easily:

Rinse the toys under warm water.
Apply gentle, flavorless (the best soap for sex toys is odorless Castilla or baby soap).
Good sex toys are soaked well, keep an eye on all gaps and textured areas.
Rinse thoroughly until all soap is washed away.
Place it somewhere, dry it completely on a clean towel, or dry it with a wool-free cloth (pay particular attention to these gaps, especially textured areas).
Store it in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight.

One thing to know if you’ve been motorized or non-waterproof toys – use a damp cloth to wipe the surface with soapy water instead of immersing the toy under water.

The best way to clean sex toys choose #2: Use isopropyl alcohol

Well, the next popular cleaning option is to clean sex toys with isopropanol. The advantage of this cleaning method is that it provides a strong disinfection capability and kills most bacteria and viruses that may live on the surface of sex toys. It’s a quick drying method that does wonders on non-hole, waterproof toys.

This cleaning method is not very good, it can degrade silicone and porous materials over time (if frozen). Therefore, this can negatively affect the lifespan of your toy. If you are particularly sensitive, this cleaning method may also cause skin irritation, so it is worth paying attention to.

Using isopropanol is the best choice for sex toys made from these materials:

Stainless steel
Hard ABS plastic (patch test before use)
Borosilicate glass

Can you clean silicone with alcohol?

Technically, you can use alcohol to clean silicone sex toys, but if you want your toys to be as long as possible, alcohol is not recommended. Over time, alcohol can dry out and degrade silicone, which can make the surface viscous.

Now, occasional use may not ruin your silicone sex toys, but for a long time? This may not be the best way to clean sex toys made from silicone, so you may want to choose another cleaning method.

Quick guidance

Well, if you want to clean sex toys with isopropanol, here’s the right way to do it:

Choose 70% or higher isopropanol (avoid wiping wine with additives).
Suppress soft cloth or cotton pad (avoid soaking).
Wipe the toy thoroughly to ensure you get into all corners and gaps.
Let the toy air completely dry before storing or using it.

If you have sex toys with motors, avoid using isopropanol to clean them unless the sex toy manufacturer’s manual says it is safe. It’s better than sorry, so be sure to check it out!

The best way to clean sex toys #3: Use a special sex toy cleaner

The last, most popular and best way to clean sex toys is to use special sex toy cleaners. These sex toy cleaners are great now because they are designed specifically for sex toy hygiene and maintenance. Most of them are usually pH-balanced and physically safe, which should not cause any irritation. In addition, sex toy cleaners are very easy to use and are safe for all sex toy materials, including delicate and porous toy materials (such as frozen).

Another important advantage of these sex toy cleaners is that they are very useful for cleaning sex toys that are difficult to rinse or may not allow for immersion (splash-proof or water-resistant toys).

Of course, there are some disadvantages. One of the biggest obstacles to using sex toy cleaners is that they tend to be expensive and are often much more expensive than soap or alcohol. Likewise, some of these sex toy cleansers may have odors and ingredients that may irritate sensitive skin.

Quick guidance

If you choose to use a dedicated sex toy cleaner to clean your sex toys, you can do this correctly:

Spray the sex toy cleaner directly onto the toy (however, avoid spraying to the charging port).
Let the sprayed toy sit within the recommended time (check the instructions for the sex toy cleaner you use).
Wipe the toy with a damp cloth or warm water (again, see the instructions for the sex toy cleaner you use).
Let the sex toys dry on a clean towel, or dry them with a lint-free towel and store them.

Before purchasing, it is best to check the toy cleaner ingredients to make sure the cleaner is free of alcohol, parabens or unnecessary perfume to avoid skin irritation and protect toys made with silicone or porous materials.

How to choose the right cleaning method for toys

As you know, not all sex toys are created equally. Each toy is unique and is made of different materials that require different care – for glass dildos, it may not be safe for rubber dildos.

Let’s break down each material and the best cleaning method:

Medical grade silicone: Use soap and water or sex toy cleaner.
Glass or stainless steel: Use soap and water, isopropanol or choose to boil the toy.
ABS Plastic: Use soap and water, sex toy cleaner or alcohol (if the patch test results are OK).
Jelly Rubber or TPR: Use only sex toy cleaners and always avoid isopropanol.
Other porous materials (such as leather, cotton, etc.): Use sex toy cleaners to find cleansing and avoid immersion in water.
Wood or silicone mixture: Use mild soap with water or sex toy cleaner. Avoid isopropanol.

When to disinfect and just wash?

Well, if you’re still confused about when to clean sex toys and when to sanitize them, then we have you! Here are general guides to help you decide:

disinfect When you share sex toys with your partner, use them frequently, only if the toy’s material allows them.
Clean Sex toys before and after each use.

Ordinary sex toy cleaning errors to avoid

Even if you only have the best intentions and want to keep your sex toys clean, some cleaning habits can do more harm than good. That’s OK – Once you know the common mistakes people make frequently in sex toy cleaning practices, you will be able to find the most effective way.

Here are the most common sex toy cleaning mistakes you want to avoid:

Error 1: Use a demanding household cleaner

Using bleach, ammonia and disinfectant sprays that are not suitable for sex toys is a bad idea. These harsh chemicals can break down the material and can even irritate your skin. Avoid using demanding household chemicals and then choose sex toy cleaners, soap, water, or alcohol (if the sex toy manufacturer allows).

Error 2: Don’t rinse thoroughly

Another common mistake that is totally understandable, because most of us are always in a hurry and don’t rinse the sex toys properly after cleaning. Residues of soap or sex toy cleanser can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions and even infections. After each wash, make sure you will rinse the sex toy thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before storing it.

Error 3: Use alcohol on the wrong material

We’ve answered a popular question: “Can you clean silicone with alcohol?” Earlier, but again, the message – while not prohibited, it can be risky. That’s a mistake people make often when caring for toys – they don’t check if the sex toy materials are compatible with the cleaning method they choose. Always read the sex toy manual to make sure your cleaning method does not harm your sex toys.

Error #4: Storage toys are wet or dirty

One of the most dangerous mistakes you can make is to let go of the toys completely and dry them completely, or store them without washing. Store wet toys are breeding grounds for bacteria and mold, which can be harmful to your health. Storing toys is dirty, which can also cause harmful bacteria to grow, which is dangerous.

Always let your sex toys dry thoroughly before storing them in the distance. When storing, make sure to keep them in a cool, clean and breathable place so that the mold and bacteria don’t grow.

Bottom line

You might say that when choosing the best way to clean sex toys, there is no one suitable answer. However, there are the best practices to choose from, depending on your preferences and the sex toys you have.

For most sex toys, using mild soap and water will have the ability to solve the problem. However, if you want to add a guarantee, a sex toy cleaner can be a safe and convenient option, especially for more refined materials.

While isopropanol is a powerful disinfectant (no one will argue with), it may not be the best for every sex toy material. It should be reserved for specific materials such as glass or stainless steel.

Sex toy hygiene does not have to be complicated! Once you know the right way to suit a toy, it is very simple, but has great benefits – it protects your health, extends the lifespan of the toy, and allows you to have a worry-free time every time.

What is your preferred method to clean sex toys?

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