Hygiene is essential to a healthy, happy sex life. At High Tide, we believe pleasure and desire should be explored and celebrated, and we champion a diverse range of adult toys to facilitate it. One of the most important parts of owning adult toys is understanding how to clean them properly and regularly. We believe safety is integral to pleasurable sex, and different products need different cleaning products to support them.
How to Clean Sex Toys
Pleasure Starts with Clean Play
Cleaning your products effectively helps prevent bacteria build up, extends toy life and supports body-safe play. Without regular washing, toys can accumulate bacteria, yeast, and other microbes that lead to irritation or infections. A simple cleaning routine protects your body and ensures every experience stays comfortable and care free. It also helps your toys last longer. Residue, lubricant, and body fluids can break down certain materials over time, so caring for them properly preserves their texture, performance, and durability. And yes, even waterproof toys need thoughtful care. While they can handle a rinse, they still require the right techniques and products to stay truly body-safe. A little attention after each use goes a long way in keeping your pleasure tools clean, safe, and ready for next time.
Know What You’re Playing With
Cleaning looks a little different depending on what your toy is made of and that’s why choosing body-safe materials is always worth the investment.
Silicone
High quality, non-porous medical-grade silicone is one of the easiest materials to care for. It can be washed with warm water and a gentle, toy-safe cleanser, and because it doesn’t absorb bacteria, it’s ideal for anyone prioritising hygiene. Make sure to avoid harsh soaps, which can degrade its velvety texture. Here are a couple of great brands making silicone based toys.
Explore the SVibe Range
Explore the Dame Products Range
Glass
Tempered or borosilicate glass toys are completely non-porous and incredibly durable. They can be cleaned with warm water and a mild cleanser, and some can even be boiled, so always check your product details first. Their smooth surface makes them especially simple to keep spotless. If you’re someone interested in anal play, glass also does a better job when performing anal dilation exercises. Here are some of our recommendations for glass toys.
Explore the Icicles No. 24
Explore the Adam & Even Twisted Love
Stainless Steel
Like glass, medical-grade stainless steel is non-porous and easy to sanitise. A gentle wash is usually enough, and with proper care, these toys can last a lifetime. Their weight and smooth finish make them both hygienic and luxurious in design. Body-safe materials don’t just feel better, they are safer. Non-porous toys resist bacteria build-up, last longer, and offer a more consistent experience over time. If you’re building a pleasure toolkit that prioritises safety and quality, choosing well-made materials is one of the smartest steps you can take. We believe nJoy make some of the best stainless steel toys.
Explore the njoy range
At High Tide, your body comes first. That’s why we only stock body-safe products and carefully research every item before we decide to carry it.
Browse our body-safe toy collections
Waterproof Toys
Always check a toy’s waterproof rating before cleaning. It makes all the difference between needing to wipe it down with a damp cloth or being able to rinse it under running water.
Porous vs Non-Porous Materials
When it comes to sex toy hygiene, the biggest factor is whether a material is porous or non-porous.
Non-Porous Materials
Silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass have a completely smooth surface that doesn’t absorb bacteria, fluids, or lubricants. This makes them far easier to clean thoroughly and much safer for repeated use, especially with partners.
Porous Materials
Jelly rubber, TPE, Cyberskin, or other soft, inexpensive blends contain tiny microscopic holes. Even when they look smooth, these pores can trap bacteria and can’t be fully sanitised. Over time, this can lead to irritation, infection, or material breakdown, even with careful cleaning.
For this reason, non-porous, body-safe materials are always the recommended choice if hygiene, longevity, and safety matter to you. Toys made from these materials are best suited for toys giving external stimulation and are good for toys like Strokers and Masturbators.
Easy Cleaning Methods by Material
Silicone Toys
Medical-grade silicone is non-porous and straightforward to clean.
How to Clean
Wash with warm water and a gentle toy-safe cleanser after every use. For a deeper clean, some silicone toys (without motors) can be boiled for a few minutes, but always check your product details first.
Compatible Cleaning Products
- Toy-safe cleaners
- Mild, fragrance-free soap (only if necessary)
- Avoid harsh detergents, alcohol-based cleaners, silicone-based lubricant or anything abrasive that could break down the silicone.
Glass Toys
Glass toys, especially borosilicate and Pyrex glass (the same glass used in scientific laboratory glassware like beakers) are incredibly durable and ultra-hygienic.
How to Clean
Rinse with warm water and wash with a mild toy cleanser. For a deeper clean, many glass toys can be boiled or placed in a dishwasher (no detergent cycle).
Compatible Cleaning Products
- Toy-safe cleaners
- Mild, antibacterial soap
-
Boiling water (if toy is non-vibrating and instructions allow)
- Avoid abrasive scrubs that could create micro-scratches
Metal Toys
Stainless steel is non-porous, long lasting, and extremely easy to sanitise.
How to Clean
Wash with warm water and a toy-safe cleaner. For deeper cleaning, you can boil stainless steel toys or run them through the dishwasher if they contain no motorised parts.
Compatible Cleaning Products
- Toy-safe cleaners
- Mild, antibacterial soap
- Boiling water or dishwasher (detergent-free cycle)
- Avoid bleach or harsh chemicals, which can damage the finish
Cleaning Products
We stock different types of toy cleaners, including alcohol based options like Sensuva Think Clean Thoughts, alcohol free options like Eros and Intimate Earth in both spray and foam, and cleaners that can be used on toys as well as the body, such as Eros. Sprays are ideal for a quick application, while foams reach into small areas and make it easy to see where you’ve cleaned. We usually recommend foams for anyone using anal toys.
Explore the Eros Intimate & Toy Cleaner
Explore the Sensuva Think Clean Thoughts
Porous Materials & Why They Need Extra Care
As mentioned above, non-porous materials are safer, more hygienic, and built to last; but, porous materials still exist in the toy world, and they need a little more attention. Porous toys (like jelly rubber, cyberskin, crystals and other soft blends) contain microscopic openings that can trap bacteria, fluids, and lubricant even when they look perfectly smooth on the surface. Because they can’t be fully sanitised, porous toys require extra care. This means cleaning them immediately after use, storing them separately to prevent cross contamination, and replacing them more regularly.
Using a condom over porous toys is also a smart way to make them safer, especially for shared or internal play.
They may feel soft or realistic, but they won’t last as long and their hygiene limitations are the reason many people transition to non-porous, body-safe toys over time.
Browse our non-porous adult toy collections
Your No-Stress Cleaning Routine
Keeping your toys clean doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple routine is enough to keep things safe, hygienic, and ready for your next use. One of the easiest ways to build toy care into your sex life is to treat it as part of your aftercare ritual; a moment to reflect, prioritise sexual health and look after both your body and your pleasure tools.
Our Tips for Before Use
- Give your toy a quick rinse or wipe-down to remove any dust, lint, or residue from storage. We love using the Drip Body Wipes and recommend keeping them in your bedside draw for quick accessibility.
- Check for cracks, discolouration, or changes in texture, these are signs it may need replacing.
Our Tips for After Use
- Rinse with warm water to remove any residue from your toy.
- Wash with a mild, fragrance-free soap or a toy-safe cleaner.
- Rinse again to remove any products.
- Dry fully with a clean towel or air-dry to prevent moisture build-up.
- Store properly in a toy bag or separate compartment to avoid dust, lint, and material damage.
Deep Clean Like a Pro
Most toys just need a quick wash after each use, but sometimes a deeper clean is essential, and especially if you’re using them for internal play, sharing them with a partner/s, or switching between body areas (always remember to clean your product in the moment if switching to and from anal). For non-porous toys like silicone, glass, and stainless steel (without motors), you can sanitise them by carefully boiling them, placing them in a dishwasher on a detergent-free cycle, or using an antibacterial toy cleaner designed for deeper cleansing. Always check your product instructions first and remember that anything with a motor or batteries should never be submerged or boiled. A deep clean keeps your toys truly body-safe and extends their lifespan, making every use feel like the first.
Skip the Harsh Stuff
While it can be tempting to use whatever soap’s next to the bathroom sink, harsh household cleaners can seriously damage your toys and disrupt your body. Avoid alcohol, bleach, abrasive scrubs, and dish soap, as these can degrade materials, dry out silicone, or leave behind residue you absolutely do not want near sensitive skin.
For vulva and vagina owners especially, using gentle cleaners and body-safe materials is crucial. Harsh chemicals or porous, low quality materials can disrupt the vaginal microbiome, increasing the risk of irritation, allergic reactions, thrush, or bacterial vaginosis (BV). Stick to non-porous, body-safe toys and toy-specific cleansers to keep both your toys and your body in balance.
Our Pick - Think Clean Thoughts
Explore the Sensuva Think Clean Thoughts
Our Alternative - Intimate Earth Green Foam
Explore the Intimate Earth Green Foam
Give Your Toys a Happy Home
We believe that proper storage is just as important as properly cleaning your toys. After your toys are completely dry, keep them in a dedicated pouch or separate storage bag to protect them from dust, lint, and material degradation.
Separating toys also prevents different materials from reacting with each other, which can cause melting, discolouration, or texture changes. For example, don’t leave silicone toys resting against other silicone toys as it can cause the toys to degrade (much like silicone-based lubricant can’t be used with silicone toys). If using a pouch to store your toys, we recommend that they should be made from breathable materials such as cotton or microfibre. We suggest avoiding anything made from cheap satin or plastic of any kind as it can create bacteria buildup.
Our disclaimer: We know these cheaper bags can be tempting to use because they often accompany toys in their packaging, but they’re usually not in the best interest of the toy itself.
A simple storage routine keeps your collection clean, organised, and is always ready when you are.
Keep It Clean, Keep It Sexy
Good hygiene should protect your body, protect your toy investments, extend the life of your toys and support more pleasurable, accessible sexual health. By making cleaning part of your pleasure ritual, you’re setting yourself up for safer, smoother, and more satisfying experiences every single time.
Ready to build your care routine? Explore High Tide’s curated range of cleaners, wipes, and essentials.