How to clean your bedroom toys to prevent infections

Let’s get honest today. More and more ‘ordinary’ folk are using bedroom toys, either by themselves or as a couple, to spice things up in the bedroom. They’re no longer exclusive to the naughty. And while intimacy is the one moment when you get to leave the turmoil of the world at the door and enjoy yourself uninhibited, you still need to pay attention to hygiene practices so that you don’t have to deal with unwanted illnesses later.

As women, our body is self-cleaning. You don’t need to do much when it comes to upkeep. Miss V basically needs washing with plain water, taking a short call after intimacy and staying hydrated.

When you add bedroom toys to the mix, you need to take a little more care since these are essentially foreign objects you’re introducing into your body.

So how do you ensure your toys don’t make you sick? Let’s look at some tips below.

What material are they made of?

The toys are made of different materials: glass, rubber, silicone, plastic, stainless steel, porous or non-porous. They can be stand-alone or battery-operated.

Porous toys have small holes which, if not cleaned properly can harbour dirt and bacteria which will make you sick.

Non-porous toys are considered safer, however, if they are also not cleaned well, they can transmit an infection particularly if you used them when you had either a vaginal or sexually transmitted infection.

The best place to find this information is on the packaging. However, a quick research online should give you the information you need.

Whichever material your toy is made of, it should be of the highest quality (medical grade) since it’s going into your body.

What soap do you need?

Use a mild soap like an anti-bacterial hand wash. Remember these toys will go into Miss V and you don’t want to change her pH and get an infection.

Motorized toys

For motorized toys that are made of silicone, stainless steel or glass, wipe them clean with a damp cloth (dip the cloth in warm soapy water).  Rinse them with a damp cloth dipped in clean water.

You want to keep the motor functioning for as long as possible so avoid dunking these in water or washing them under a tap.

Non-motorized toys

These are easier to clean since you can submerge them in water. Pour boiling water into a clean container and allow them to soak for about 10 minutes. The hot water will serve as a sterilizer.

Skin-like material

Some toys are made of a material that mimics human skin. These need a little bit more care during cleaning so as not to damage the material. Use a cloth and a little bit of the mild soap to wipe it clean.

Hard plastic and rubber toys

These are porous toys. Take extra care when cleaning them. Ensure you not only remove the dirt (and bacteria) but also all the soap you used to clean them.

Extra protection

For added protection, use a condom along with your toy to prevent cross-infection.

Storage

Dry your clean toys with a clean towel ensuring all the tiny holes of the porous toys are completely dry. Bacteria thrives in humid conditions.

Once they are dry, place them in a sealable container or bag. Some toys come with bags that you can use for storage. Keep them away from dusty or moist environments to prevent contamination.

Clean your storage container once in a while. Washable bags are a huge plus since you can easily clean them.

Ideally, you should clean your toys again before you use them but since this might not be possible especially when you’re caught in the heat of the moment, cleaning them after use and storing them well should be enough.