How to Clean and Store Silicone Toys

Silicone is the gold standard for sex toy materials — body-safe, non-porous, durable. But "non-porous" doesn't mean "self-cleaning." Toys still need to be cleaned after each use, and there are a few specific things you should and shouldn't do.

This guide covers daily cleaning, deep cleaning for shared toys, and storage. Takes about five minutes after each session.

What you need

  • Warm water
  • A body-safe toy cleaner OR fragrance-free, dye-free soap
  • A clean towel
  • A soft storage pouch or container

Toy cleaner is purpose-formulated to be safe for silicone and gentle on skin. Most are alcohol-free and fragrance-free. The Toy Care collection has options. Fragrance-free dish soap or hand soap works as a substitute — avoid anything scented or "moisturizing" (those leave residue).

After each use

  1. Rinse the toy under warm running water to remove lube and bodily fluids.
  2. Apply a small amount of toy cleaner (or soap) and lather the entire surface with your hands.
  3. Pay attention to seams, the base of any controls, and any textured areas where residue can hide.
  4. Rinse thoroughly until no soap remains.
  5. Pat dry with a clean towel, then let air-dry fully before storing. Storing damp silicone in a closed container can grow mildew.

For motorized toys: don't submerge unless the toy is rated waterproof. Wipe the motor end with a damp cloth and clean the rest under the tap.

Deep cleaning (weekly, or for shared toys)

For toys that haven't been used in a while, are shared with partners, or have been used anally and need a thorough clean before use elsewhere:

Boil it. 100% silicone toys without motors can be boiled for 3-5 minutes. Use a pot dedicated to non-food use. This fully sanitizes the toy.

Dishwasher (top rack). Also works for motorless silicone — no soap or detergent in the cycle. Same effect as boiling but takes longer.

Neither of these is appropriate for vibrators or anything with a battery, motor, or charging port. For those, the regular soap-and-water clean is the maximum you can do safely.

Storage

The biggest storage mistake is letting different silicone toys touch each other for long periods. Silicone can react to silicone — leaving two soft silicone toys pressed together in a drawer can cause them to stick, discolor, or develop a tacky surface where they touched.

Solutions:

  • A cotton or satin storage pouch per toy. Most quality toys come with one.
  • A dedicated drawer with each toy separated by cloth or in its own pouch.
  • Original packaging if it's a hard case.

Store somewhere cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Heat and UV degrade silicone over time.

What NOT to do

  • Alcohol or alcohol-based cleaners. They dry out and degrade silicone surfaces.
  • Bleach. Damages silicone and leaves residue that can irritate skin.
  • Silicone lube on silicone toys. Already covered elsewhere, but it bears repeating: silicone lube bonds to silicone toys and ruins the surface.
  • Storing wet. Always fully air-dry before putting away.
  • Sharing without cleaning between users. Toy cleaner between sessions, or use a fresh condom over the toy if you're switching users mid-session.

Other materials at a glance

Glass and metal: easiest to clean — soap and water, can be boiled, dishwasher-safe. No special storage needed beyond protecting from impact.

TPE and jelly: porous, harder to fully clean. Treat as solo-use. Replace every 6-12 months even with good cleaning.

Hard plastic (ABS): non-porous like silicone but not heat-tolerant. Soap and water only, no boiling.

If you're not sure what your toy is made of, treat it as TPE — solo use, regular replacement, soap and water only.

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