Let’s just be honest - when you use a vibrator, you are going to get some bodily fluids on it. And that’s ok! While the amount and type of bodily fluids depends on how you use your vibe and who you use it with, if left to sit, these fluids can quickly cause germs and bacteria to grow on the vibrator once you’ve stopped using it. On top of being unsanitary, over time, your vibrator may even break down if you’re not properly cleaning it on a regular basis.
We totally understand – after your little erotic rendezvous with a good vibrator, you may be spent (and we hope you are!) and ready for a nap (or a good night of sleep), but you do want to clean it properly before you use it again. It’s definitely easier to clean your vibrator when it has just been used, but you can also clean it later on - the trick is to just do it before you use it again, or you could risk getting an infection. No thank you!
So, when learning how to clean your vibrator, what steps are essential? Let’s explore together!
1. Pick the Right Product for The Right Type of Vibrator
We’ve gotten pretty lucky over the years with the advancement of vibrators. If you are new to the concept and are asking, “what is a vibrator and how do you know which one is best?”, it’s important to note that there are plenty of options out there that are comfortable and easy to use. Some people still prefer those hard-plastic vibrators while others want something that is a bit softer and more realistic. Hey, we’re not judging – whatever works!
However, after you learn how to choose a vibrator that suits your preferences, you need to pick a cleaner that is going to work best for your adult sex toy. A vibrator that is made out of a material that doesn’t have tiny holes in it (such as a silicone, plastic, or glass vibrator) is much easier to clean than a vibrator made out of a jelly rubber or latex. Bacteria collects in the softer, more porous toys, so try to make your life easier and avoid these.
Antibacterial Soap & Water
No matter what your vibrating companion is made out of, you can always use a bar of basic antibacterial soap and warm water to get the job done. Just be careful not to use a soap that has a heavy fragrance, as this could potentially cause irritation or even a yeast infection.
Sex Toy Cleaner
Another good thing to know when learning how to clean a silicone vibrator is that oil-based soaps can break down certain sex toys, so you want to avoid those as well. If you want to be super cautious, you can always buy a sex toy cleaner that won’t break down your vibrating buddy in any way. These come in many different forms, including bars of soap, sprays, gels, and even wipes. So, you can pick your poison!
Boiling Water or Alcohol
If you want to get really frisky and then really clean, there are ways to thoroughly clean your toys including placing them in boiling water (best for glass, Pyrex, stainless steel, and silicone toys that aren’t motorized), using alcohol (best for leather toys), or utilizing cleaners from sex toys manufacturers. If there are moving or removeable parts (as is the case with many suction vibrators), you want to take them apart first to ensure that you are cleaning out all of the crevices. Don’t let bacteria growth get in the way of your sensual playdates!
2. Put Some Muscle into It
Just like when you are scrubbing out your bathtub, you will need to put some effort into your vibrator cleaning process. Scrub the adult toy for at least 90 seconds before you deem it “clean.” You will want to use warm water and mild soap for this, and your hands are your best tools. You can also use a damp cloth, but like we said, your hands will be the most effective. After washing, pat your little buddy dry with a clean towel that doesn’t leave behind a lot of lint.
You also want to clean off your hands before you handle your newly cleaned vibrator, or you could just be redepositing some of the fluids you cleaned off. The same goes for your lube bottles and anything that came into contact with your vibrator if you didn’t clean it off before you put it back in a drawer. It’s best to simply clean and wipe everything down!
3. Remember That Not All Toys Are Waterproof
Oops! If you have a rechargeable vibrator, you won’t need to worry about this, but you should always take the batteries out of a vibrator (if you can) before cleaning. Unless you know for a fact that your vibrator is waterproof (many of them are today, but not all of them), you should never submerge your vibrator in water. If it is waterproof, by all means, submerge it, and turn it on to get those remnants off, baby!
But just note that even if your vibrator is waterproof, you still want to pat it dry after washing, as prolonged exposure to water can cause breakdown over time. And we definitely want our vibrating companions to last as long as possible!
4. Think About Storage
While most of us just store our vibrators in our nightstands, there is actually a far better way to store your toys. You may have received a pouch with your sex toy, and if you did, keep it there. You can also put it into a box for safekeeping. The idea is to eliminate contact with dust and other debris as much as possible.
You also want to keep it away from other items in your house that may have germs, such as your cell phone or your hands when you rifle around in the drawer for your glasses or Chapstick at night.
5. Clean Before & After Use
When it comes down to how to clean a vibrator, it really doesn’t matter how frequently or infrequently you use it, you should always clean it before and after you use it. You want to clean it after because the fluids from your body can break down the porous or nonporous material used to make the vibrator, and you want to clean it before to remove any dust and debris that has built up while your playmate has been waiting for you - even if it hasn’t been that long since you used it.
It is particularly important to clean your vibrator if you’ve used it with another person, as those competing fluids can cause even more bacteria to grow. And you also want to clean your vibrator quite thoroughly if you used it for both vaginal and anal play.
6. Pay Attention to Your Toy & Your Body
If you are just starting to use a new sex toy cleaner, you want to pay close attention to both your body and to your toy. If your vibrator takes on a weird appearance, such as the color changes, the texture feels weird, or it just doesn’t operate the way it did, stop using that cleaner immediately. If the toy starts to chip or bubble up, throw it away and purchase a new one, as this toy is no longer safe to put into your body. This is especially important if you are expecting and are using specific vibrators safe for pregnancy.
If you notice that your body reacts poorly to your toy, the selected cleaner may not be the best option. If you notice a burning sensation or itching, you could be allergic to cleaner. So, just listen to what your body is telling you!
We all know there are parts of our homes that we always keep clean no matter what, and your vibrator is something else you should keep clean at all times. After you use it is best, but if your vibrator doesn’t get a ton of action, you may want to clean it just to remove the dust that may have accumulated. No one wants a dusty buddy in their sweet spot! Be sure to clean your vibrator properly so that it has a long, healthy life – after all, who wants to wait days to play while a new vibrator is being shipped?
