Cleaning your sex toys helps to prevent infections, as bacteria can linger if they aren’t washed regularly.

To ward off these infections, you should wash your sex toys regularly—as in every time you use them.

When buying a toy, find out what it's made of, since its material and the presence of a motor will determine how it's washed. Usually, this info will be on the packaging, but if it's not, ask a sales associate or do a product search online.

Tips for you:

• Porous vs. non-porous materials. Avoid porous toys, which can gather bacteria inside the toy even after cleaning. This includes materials such as TPE or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Non-porous toys, on the other hand, are safer and include materials such as medical-grade silicone, glass, medical-grade stainless steel, and Pyrex.
• Look for ‘medical grade’ materials. Just because something is ‘body safe’ doesn’t mean that it is medical grade, nor does ‘FDA approved. Believe it or not, in some cases, a sex toy will be FDA-approved as food. What you want to see is the term "medical grade." It's is the highest quality and safest.

Once you know what material your sex toy is made of, follow these guidelines. If your sex toy is made from

• Silicone, glass, stainless steel, or wood—and it's motorized: Use mild antibacterial soap you'd use on your body and a damp cloth to wipe the toy clean.
• Silicone, Pyrex, stainless steel, or stone—and it's not motorized: For a deeper clean, place it in boiling water for eight to 10 minutes, or run it through the dishwasher without soap.
• Cyberskin: Use a little bit of soap and warm water to clean it. Too much sudsing can damage the sensitive material.
• Hard plastic, elastomer, thermoplastic elastomer (TPR), or jelly rubber: These porous materials can still contain bacteria after washing with soap and water. So, use a condom if you're going to share with a partner.

Protection applies to sex toys

One way to decrease that risk of an infection is to actually use a condom with your sex toy. Using a condom can help decrease the risk of transmitting bacteria, especially when sharing toys between partners. You’ll just want to make sure you use a condom-safe lube - water-based.

Keeping them clean is all about storage

Once your toy is squeaky clean, dry it off completely with a clean towel and store it in a case or silk bag to protect it from other bacteria-laden items.

If you didn't keep the box, case, or bag your toy came in, there are plenty of options you can shop for online. Just make sure it's something sealable, whether with a zipper, velcro, or a top. Something washable is an even better find to really keep the germs away.

Once it's closed in its case, store your toy wherever you choose—some popular spots include the nightstand, a bathroom cabinet, or underwear drawer. Just be sure to keep your vibrator away from areas that may have oils, powders, and perfumes around.

Is it OK to just use a toy cleaner?

A toy cleaner is great to use when you’re in a pinch for time; however, this shouldn’t be your main source of keeping it clean. This UV Disinfection Box works super well for disinfecting and spot cleaning when you don’t feel like getting up to clean your toys right after sex with a partner. They’re also great for travel!