Taking Care Of Sex Toys
Most people know how to protect themselves using safe sexual practices like condoms, but many people don’t know the proper way to keep their sex toys from spreading bacterial infections and STD/STIs.
The best way to avoid infecting others is to use each individual toy with one person only. If you plan to share toys between partners, it’s imperative you clean your toys properly.
Whilst metal and glass sex toys can be safer than their silicone and rubber counterparts, it’s important to be aware that they still have the potential to transmit disease and infection, just like unprotected sex. No material on the market prevents bacterial growth. A biofilm can form on any sex toy.
It’s not just sex itself that can transmit disease and infection - unsanitised sex toys can transfer nasty infections like Bacterial Vaginosis, Chlamydia, Herpes, and Syphilis, amongst others.
A good recommendation is to cover the toy with a condom to help reduce bacterial build up. However, when using glass or metal toys, which are nonporous and therefore more hygienic, bacteria will not absorb past the surface, but you still have to look after them properly to have any chance of them looking after you.
Sex Toys and Bacteria
When playing with sex toys, these are just a few forms of bacteria to be mindful of:
Candida Albicans (Thrush)
Thrush is a nasty fungal infection caused by overproduction or an allergy to a natural yeast called Candida Albicans. The yeast itself is perfectly normal and found in around 40-60% of healthy adults, but Candidiasis needs to be treated by anti-fungal medication.
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)
E. Coli is a relatively harmless form of bacteria that lives in the intestine, however, some unhealthy strains of E. Coli can lead to urinary tract infections, gastroentiritis, and Crohn’s Disease.
Gardnerella Vaginalis (Bacterial Vaginosis)
Whilst Gardnerella Vaginalis is a normal part of the vaginal flora, an overgrowth can cause Bacterial Vaginosis, which causes discharge and odour, and usually requires a course of antibiotics for treatment.
Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Lactobacillus Acidophilus is an important form of bacteria for your gastrointestinal wellbeing. It’s responsible for producing the enzyme lactase, which forms lactic acid. Overexposure, however, can lead to abscesses, gastrointestinal distress, and digestive disorders.
Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph Infections)
Although it’s found on the skin and in the upper-respiratory tract of healthy adults, open wounds or sharing sex toys can cause the Staphylococcus bacteria to develop into nasty skin infections including sepsis.
Streptococcus (Strep Throat)
The leading cause of pink eye and strep throat, Streptococcus can even lead to necrotic skin conditions and really are a nasty bunch of bacteria.
How To Keep Your Sex Toys Clean
It’s not as simple as running them under hot water and soaping them down.
Have you considered if the chemicals for cleaning are safe for your body?
The best practice for glass and metal toys is to sterilise them.
Sterilisation is a simple process most commonly done by people with the correct equipment - some Dungeon Masters or fellow kinksters may be able to put you in touch with someone who can provide this service locally.
Using boiling water to clean sex toys
What’s in your water? Tap water is typically chemically treated and varies depending on where you live, so the best option is to use distilled water.
Most bacteria cannot live past boiling point, but in order to kill the bacteria, it requires long exposure. This means just pouring hot water over the toys won’t work, since the water begins to cool when removed from the heat source.
Be careful if you’re leaving the toys in boiling water - this process leaves the toys extremely hot, so removing the toy out of the water can be dangerous. Don’t use the toys until they’ve completely cooled.
Note: Hand-washing isn’t a thorough practice, nor is just submerging your toy(s) in water with antibacterial soap - especially if it has ridges and crevices. You need to get right in there to clean it, but be wary of abrasive materials.
Using chemical disinfectants on sex toys
Rubbing alcohol, bleach and other disinfectants are great for killing germs, however they are also harmful toward your body. Dried residue left over on the toy transfers into your body upon next use.
Some cleaning products on the market are not safe for metal products or can be abrasive and damage the toy, so always check the label first.
Using the dishwasher to clean sex toys
The old saying “Don’t shit where you eat.” holds true about cleaning your toys. We’ll let you use your imagination as to why.
Also, the soap used in a dishwasher has abrasive qualities, which may damage the surface of the toy.
Looking After Sex Toys After Cleaning
There is no use in cleaning your toys if you then touch them with dirty hands. Hand washing is always good practice, but wearing gloves is the best option to help prevent transferring bacteria back onto the toy(s) after cleaning.
Properly dry your sex toys after cleaning
There are all kinds of dust, spores, and other fine particles in the air that can settle onto the toy, so try to keep it somewhere free from this airborne dirt.
Avoid using a fibrous towel or tissue to dry, as the fibres can transfer onto the toy. Paper and cloth towels are designed to absorb and collect… Do you know what might already be on the product?
Store your sex toys safely after cleaning
Never store multiple toys together. The contact points of metal toys can cause discoloration and/or blemishes, and whilst they’re strong in design, you can splinter, crack, and break glass toys.
Tupperware or plastic bags can leach chemicals onto your toys over the course of time, as can returning toys back to their original packaging - try to use a lint-free cloth as a barrier.
Fibrous cloth pouches may transfer fibres or contaminants. Lint-free pouches can help to reduce this issue.
Finally, always store toys in a dry environment to prevent mould or mildew forming on the item.
Special thanks go to The_Carnie for his assistance in providing this guide for us to share with you. The_Carnie is a highly experienced practitioner of suspension, needle play, and piercings, and can provide toy sterilisation to local kinksters. If you have any questions about caring for your glass and metal toys, or if you’d like to know more about sterilisation, please reach out to him directly.
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