It’s Time to Clean Your Sex Toys – Introduction
Sex toys are an extension of most people’s sexual wellness programs, allowing for experimentation, enjoyment and self-expression. However, despite the widespread use, people neglect to clean their sex toys. In this article, I’ll explain why it’s important to regularly and thoroughly clean your sex toys in order to keep your sexual wellbeing intact.
The Risks of Neglecting Sex Toy Hygiene:
Infections Bacterial and Viral
Like any other living thing, sex toys can serve as a host to all sorts of bacteria, viruses and fungi. These can make it easier to infect something that you do not want, like urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, or yeast infections. Such bacterial development can happen whenever you keep the items in a temperature-controlled room, creating a warm moist atmosphere that allows the bacteria to develop, so cleaning before and after use is of great importance. Sprucing the sex toys will avoid you getting these kinds of normal infections and make it easier for you to have sex without fear.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
Other critical hygiene concerns around sex toys involve sexually transmitted infections. Sharing sex toys, and especially when they aren’t cleaned between each session, dramatically increases the likelihood of STIs. But even in a single user’s hands, toys can harbour pathogenic microorganisms if not disinfected. I cannot overemphasise the necessity of cleanliness: strict pre-and post-use cleaning is one of those low-cost, dependable ways to safeguard yourself against most illness.
The Risks of Neglecting Sex Toy Hygiene:
Silicone Toys
Silicone toys are not porous and are harmless to the body, but they must be taken care of. When it comes to cleaning silicone toys, you should boil them for five minutes to kill the germs, or rinse them in warm water with a mild antibacterial soap or use a sex toy cleaner designed specifically for the job. Immediately after cleaning the toy, one should dehydrate the toy completely to ensure that there’s no moisture remaining on the surface that might allow bacterial growth.
Glass and Metal Toys
Where glass and metal sex toys excel is their durability and cleanliness. These can be easily cleaned with some antibacterial soap and hot water, or a sex-toy cleaner. They can also be boiled for five minutes total to thoroughly clean them, some of which even fit in the dishwasher. Just make sure to lock the disassembled pieces in place and verify prior to use that they can go into the dishwasher. If you clean them right, they’ll be bright and safe to use.
Porous Materials
Toys made from porous materials such as jelly, TPR or TPE, Thermoplastic Elastomer or Cyberskin are another matter. As they are porous, it is impossible to disinfect them properly and so these toys might be susceptible to bacteria. Washing these toys with low bactericidal soap and warm water will do the trick. We shouldn’t ever share these kinds of toys and switching them out regularly will ensure hygiene.
Vibrators
Vibrators are cleaned by the same general method, but with a few extra steps. Unplug the battery pack every time you clean the toy, to save it from getting damaged. Apply a mild antibacterial soap with warm water or use a sex toy cleaner. Once cleaned, air dry the toy, re-package, and store.
Best Practices for Sex Toy Hygiene:
Clean Before and After Each Use
The golden rule of sex toy hygiene is to wash them both before and after use. This action is critical to keeping bacteria and viruses away from the body. Toys contact the most delicate areas of your body, and residual contaminates or body fluids can cause infection or irritation. Hot water and mild soap will do the trick on most toys, but repetition will greatly improve safety.
Use a Sex Toy Cleaner
Soap and water do the job, but a sex toy cleaner adds an extra measure of security. These cleaners are meant solely to remove bacteria and viruses without causing harm to the surface of your toys. The sprays, wipes, and other types are abundant and easy to apply. Make sure your toys are germ-free before they contact your skin so that you can have a better experience and sleep at night.
Dry Thoroughly
You shouldn’t just wash your toys once they are cleaned – you should also dry them properly. Wetness is an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi. You need to keep your toys fully dry before you place them away. Use a dry towel or dry it out in a ventilated area. You don’t want moisture unless you need it, which will keep your area clean and free from unwanted fungal growth.
Regularly Inspect and Replace
Checking your sex toys frequently for damage should be part of your daily maintenance plan. Look for any cracks, tears, or wear in the material. Not only do these imperfections contain bacteria, they can lead to greater injury when used. Porous toys, like those made of rubber or jelly, are less easy to clean and must be changed more frequently than other non-porous toys, like silicone or glass.
Store Properly
How you put your sex toys away is an important aspect of their hygiene. You should always keep your toys dry and clean, perhaps in a separate storage box. This practice helps keep them away from dust build-up and cross-contamination with other toys or objects. Consider an all-purpose bag or box, lined with a material that minimizes friction and scratches. Furthermore, you can separate materials so that your toys don’t break down from one material to the next.
Conclusion: It’s Time to Clean Your Sex Toys
Keeping your sex toys clean is part of your sexual health and wellness. Failure to properly wash can cause all sorts of infections, including STIs, and ruin your sexual life. You can still use your sex toys and get the pleasure of using them safely and responsibly if you are taking into consideration regular cleaning practices, using the right cleaning techniques depending on your toys material and best practices.
