Care and Cleaning - Keeping Them Healthy and Functional

Although there are many different thought patterns to the care and cleaning of sex toys, we recommend the following:

First off, it is essential to comprehend that dirty toys can transmit STD's and viruses and if you have any kind of vaginitis or other medical problem you can end up re-infecting yourself if you do not keep anything that comes in contact with your genitals absolutely clean and sterile. Sextoys and other devices will last longer if they are properly cleansed and maintained. Here are a few suggestions you'll need to know:

After You Bring it Home

After purchase you should first inspect it to make sure there are no rough edges that might cut, scrape or irritate. This is especially true of anything that is hard plastic. If you find a rough edge you should immediately smooth it down with a nail file or emery paper. If there are instructions, read through them and make mental note of any tips they have about the care and storage of the item. If the product is rubber you'll probably want to air it so that any of the odors dissipate. Always, and I repeat ALWAYS clean all new items before use. How you clean it will depend on the materials that the product is made of.

All Sex Toy Use

If you are going to share toys or use the same toy vaginally and anally, the most reliable way to prevent the spread of any disease is to use a condom. The use os a condom will prevent having to wash up in between and also will reduce your risk of any type of transmission. You can find lots of information about condoms online! If you use a condom ona toy make sure that you clean it after every use. Most toys and devices feel better when used with a quality lubricant - but not all lubricants are the same and some can actually cause harm - water-based lubricants are recommended for most toys.

Preparing a Cleansing Solution

Using antibacterial soap and warm water is suggested for cleaning toys. Toys that have come in contact with the slightest amount of blood, should be scrubbed in soapy water and then soaked in a solution of bleach and water, one part to eight parts respectfully. Don't forget to rinse completely in clean water afterwards to remove any of the remaning bleach. There are also several commercial cleaning solutions that can be purchased, specially formulated to kill bacteria and germs while still preserving the life of your toys.

Cyberskin Toys

Cyberskin is extremely sensitive and should be cleansed following every use with ONLY warm water and stored in a sterile dry place. Be sure to read the instruction that you recieved with the toy on how to care for these products.

Silicone

Silicone is a very durable material so it can be easily cleaned with soap and water, boiling will not harm it and it can even be placed on the top rack of the dishwasher. Make sure that the entire product is silicone and that it does not have any plastic parts if you are going to put it in the dishwasher. Anything not silicone would be damaged and in this particular case a cleaning with soap and water will be all that you should do. Even though silicone is very durable it could crack or tear, so be careful with nails or teeth when you are handling these silicone wonders.

How to Store your Toys

No matter what the material might be, leather, rubber, silicone, or something else, moisture, sunlight or intense heat could cause damage. All battery powered products should should be stored without the battery between usage to keep them from corroding or accidentally turning on and draining your batteries.

Latex

It is important to know that latex can be severely damaged by anything that is oil or petroleum based. Latex is primarily used in condoms and dental dams. Use only water-based products with latex, store anything latex away from heat or sunlight and discard them after use. Also, be aware that some peolple can have a severe allergic reaction to latex. If you notice a rash or anything unusual, discontinue use immediately.

Leather

Leather is very difficult to keep clean due to all the irregularities on the surface. Clean leather by washing the edges with a strong foaming cleanser and a semi-stiff brush, then wipe off the entire surface with peroxide and dry. Follow this by using saddle soap to clean and preserve. The last process is using a leather conditioner to restore it back to its natural finish. A leather conditioner is a must because without it the leather will begin to dry out, rot or crack. Do not perform this on suede.

Rubber Dildos, Plugs and more...

Rubber is a very porous material, as discussed, the best way to keep them clean is with a condom. Clean all rubber products after use with warm, soapy water. They'll also need to be rinsed well to remove any left over soap which could cause damage to the rubber and also irritate your skin.

Vibrators

There are two types of vibrators - waterproof and non-waterproof. If you own the waterproof variety then the vibrator can easily be cleansed with warm, soapy water. If the vibrator is not waterproof then you should be very careful not to get water in or around the motor or the batteries. DO NOT ever immerse a non-waterproof vibrator in water. If it is a hard plastic model, use a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean and let air dry. Never use a non-waterproof vibrator under water and don't take an electric vibrator near the bathtub or any other body of water. It can cause electric shock just like any other electrical appliance.