Clean, Lube, Store, Love - Taking Care of Sex Toys 101

Sex toys are a fun, satisfying way to get more out of your X-rated activities, and knowing the right way to take care of them will keep you enjoying "The Big O" for years. Here are a few tips for storing your dildos, vibrators and more:

Extreme Pleasure, Not Extreme Temperatures

Keeping your toys too hot or too cold can lead to material issues like softer substances breaking down, or batteries running out before they should. If your bedside table or dresser drawer is close to a heating or air conditioning vent, it's a good idea to either insulate or relocate your toys. 

Clean Them After Every Session

It's totally understandable that you just want to roll over and take a well-deserved nap after a romp between the sheets, but do your sex toys a favor and hit the bathroom first for a little scrubdown. Following the manufacturer's instructions (don't submerge an electronic toy unless it's fully waterproof, for instance) use a mild soap and water to clean off any surface that's been in your body. If using anal toys, be sure the soap is anti-bacterial, or use a condom on the toy during play, which can then simply be removed and tossed afterward. If you have a lot of trouble with non-nap motivation, consider picking up a pack of toy wipes for a quick clean that doesn't require leaving the bed - just be sure you give your toys the full treatment after you wake up.

Take Out The Batteries

A lot can happen between uses of a sex toy - you might neglect it for a new favorite, or find yourself short on time to enjoy it. Taking the batteries out of battery-operated toys will keep them fresh and help them retain power between uses, regardless if that's months or weeks. Left in an powered-down toy, batteries will slowly leach power until your favorite vibrator is DOA, and that's no way to start a night of erotic fun.

Check Your Lubricants - The Bottled Kind

There are essentially three types of sexual lubricants available in the adult products market.

  • Water-based lube, which is good for all toys and body uses and washes off easily.

  • Silicone lube, which is good for long-lasting applications like anal sex, a little harder to clean off, and should not be used on silicone or silicone-blend toys.

  • Hybrid lube, which combines both types but still shouldn't really be used on silicone or silicone blend toys.

Silicone and silicone don't get along well together, so using the wrong type of lube for your adult toy's material could lead to the surface deteriorating or flaking away. If you'd like to use silicone lube on a silicone toy, just put a condom on the toy first to provide a barrier and protect your favorite dildo, vibrator or butt plug.

Keep these tips in mind when shopping for sex toys or taking care of the ones you already have. Properly cared for, you'll be able to enjoy your favorite bedroom toys for many years to come!

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