If you love using adult toys whether for partner or solo play, cleaning your pleasure toys is not to be neglected, EVER. Otherwise, you are running the risk of getting bacterial infections or even STD, if you practise sharing your sex toys. The basic rule of thumb is that you should not do anything with your sex toy that you wouldn’t do with a part of your body. Of course, if you don’t want to bother with cleaning, you can always cover your pleasure toy with a condom, however, this usually dulls the acuteness of sensations, you would otherwise have, feeling the texture of your sex toy. Keeping your sex toys clean will both make sure you’re safe using them and make them last longer. With all the countless types of sex toys available, and newer and more life-like materials being continuously invented, figuring out how to take the best care of your sex toy can be quite confusing. Here are some useful tips on how to properly maintain your sex toys.

Once your pleasure pal has arrived, go through this small checklist:

- Check your sex toy for imperfections (e.g. rough seams, edges). In case of a tiny imperfection, a small nail file can usually do a good job of solving the problem.

- Make sure that you correctly insert the batteries. Usually the manufacturer includes a diagram showing how to do this right.

- Ensure that all the items you’ve ordered are in the package.

Basic Cleaning Tips

- Follow all cleaning instructions given in the packaging of the sex toy
- Use a mild soap or a special sex toy cleaner to keep your sex toys clean
- Do not use strong detergents that may break down the material of many dildos
- Rinse waterproof sex toys thoroughly in hot water
- Dab your sex toys with alcohol to disinfect them
- If your sex toy is not waterproof, give it a sponge bath with a soapy damp cloth
- Wash your sex toys directly before and after use
- Avoid using oil-based lubricants with your sex toys as they are harmful to latex. Water-based lubricants are safe for any toy

Some people may have allergic reaction to latex. If this is the case with you, discontinue use of that toy. Covering it with a condom that is not made out of latex can prevent such a reaction.

Never use your sex toys anally, and then insert it directly from the anus into the vagina. While not harmful to the anus, there are some bacteria that can cause urinary infections if allowed to grow in the vagina. If you like stimulating your vagina with a sex toy after anal play, either use a condom or thoroughly wash it. In this case, you may want to have a collection of toys, so you don’t have to constantly interrupt play to do the cleaning.