How to Clean a Dildo the Right Way (Without Ruining It)

Body-Safe & Materials

Here's the short version: wash your dildo with warm water and a mild, unscented soap right after every use, then pat it dry with a lint-free towel and let it finish air-drying before you put it away. If it's nonporous silicone, glass, or stainless steel, you can go further and truly sanitize it. Porous materials can't be sanitized, so they need extra care.

I spent years behind the counter of an intimacy shop, and cleaning was the thing people asked me about most, usually in a lowered voice somewhere near the register. So let's talk about it plainly, the way I wish someone had talked to me the first time.

First, figure out what your toy is made of

Everything about cleaning comes down to one question: is the material porous or nonporous? Nonporous means the surface has no tiny holes for bacteria to hide in, so you can sanitize it completely. Porous means it does, and no amount of scrubbing gets it fully clean. When a customer handed me a toy and asked how to disinfect it, my first move was always to ask what it was made of. Half the time they didn't know, and that told me a lot.

Here's the cheat sheet I kept in my head on the floor:

If you're not sure what yours is, treat it as porous to be safe, and use a condom on it. And if you're shopping for something you can actually keep spotless for years, body-safe silicone and glass dildos are the ones worth the money.

The everyday clean, step by step

This is the routine for after most sessions, and it takes about a minute:

• Rinse the toy under warm (not scalding) running water.
• Work a small amount of mild, unscented soap into a lather with your hands or a soft cloth. Get into any ridges, the base, and around suction cups where lube collects.
• Rinse until there's zero soap film left. Residue is what irritates sensitive skin, not the toy itself.
• Pat dry with a clean, lint-free towel, then set it out to finish air-drying before storage.

One thing I told every customer: skip the antibacterial and heavily scented soaps. They smell nice on the bottle and leave a residue that a lot of people react to. The unscented stuff you'd wash a baby with is honestly perfect.

How to actually sanitize a nonporous dildo

Everyday washing keeps a toy clean for solo use. Sanitizing is for when you want it truly disinfected, like before sharing, after anal play, or if it's been sitting in a drawer for months. This only works on nonporous, non-motorized toys.

• Boiling: Drop a 100% silicone, glass, or steel toy into boiling water for about 3 minutes. Let glass and steel come up to temperature with the water so they don't crack from a shock.
• Dishwasher: Silicone can ride the top rack, no detergent, no heated dry. Easy for a batch.
• Bleach solution: A soak in a roughly 10% bleach-to-water mix for a few minutes, then a thorough rinse. This is the move for anything you can't boil safely.

The first time a nervous first-timer asked me if boiling would "melt" her new silicone toy, I got the display model and dunked it right there at the counter. Watching her relax when it came out perfectly fine is exactly why I like doing this in person. Real silicone can take it.

What changes if your toy vibrates

The second there's a motor, battery, or charging port involved, the rules shift. You cannot boil it, and you should never submerge it unless the packaging clearly says it's fully waterproof (look for an IPX rating). I saw more toys killed by a hopeful dunk in the sink than by anything else.

• Wipe the silicone body with a soft, soapy cloth, then a clean damp one.
• Keep water away from the charge port and battery cap. Dry those spots first.
• If it's rated waterproof, a gentle rinse is fine, but still dry the port before charging.

Same logic applies to your rechargeable vibrators and any dual-density toy with electronics inside. When in doubt, wipe, don't dunk.

Drying and storage matter more than people think

A toy you cleaned perfectly can still go bad if you toss it damp into a drawer with everything else. Here's what actually protects it:

• Let it fully air-dry. Trapped moisture grows the exact stuff you just washed off.
• Store toys separately. Some materials, especially cheaper blends, react when they touch each other and can turn sticky or melt. A cotton pouch or a dedicated box per toy solves this.
• Keep them out of direct sun and away from heat.

This goes double for anything used for backdoor play. Cleaning and separate storage are non-negotiable there, so browse anal toys with a flared base and a nonporous surface if that's your thing, because they're the easiest to keep genuinely clean.

The cleaning mistakes I saw most

• Waiting too long. Lube and body fluids get harder to clean the longer they sit. Rinse right after.
• Using rubbing alcohol on silicone. It can dry out and degrade the surface over time. Soap and water is gentler and works.
• Trusting a "toy cleaner" spray to sanitize. Sprays are fine for a quick refresh, but they don't disinfect a porous toy. Nothing does.
• Keeping a porous toy forever. If it's cloudy, sticky, torn, or smells off after washing, it's done. Let it go.

FAQ

Can I use regular soap to clean my dildo?
Yes, as long as it's mild and unscented. Antibacterial and heavily fragranced soaps leave a residue that irritates sensitive skin, so plain and gentle is the goal.

How do I clean a dildo that vibrates?
Never submerge a motorized toy unless it's rated fully waterproof. Wipe the body with a soapy cloth, keep water away from the charging port and battery cap, and check the label before rinsing.

Do I need a special toy cleaner spray?
No. Sprays are handy for a quick refresh between rounds, but warm water and mild soap do the same job. Just know a spray won't sanitize a porous toy.

How often should I replace a porous dildo?
Porous jelly and TPE toys break down and can trap bacteria over time. If you see cloudiness, stickiness, tears, or a smell that won't wash out, retire it, and use a condom to extend its life in the meantime.

Can I boil my silicone dildo?
Yes, if it's 100% silicone with no motor. Boil it for about 3 minutes, or run it through the top rack of the dishwasher with no detergent. Glass and stainless steel can be boiled too.

What's the safest way to share a dildo?
Put a fresh condom on it and swap the condom between partners, or fully clean and sanitize it between uses. This matters most for anal play, where cross-contamination is a real risk.

Take care of a good toy and it'll take care of you for years. When you're ready to find one that's built to stay body-safe and easy to clean, come look at our body-safe dildo collection whenever you feel like it. No pressure, just good, honest options.

Written by Emily Roth. Updated August 2026.