How should I clean my silicone toys?
Soap and Water
For general cleaning, soap and hot water is just fine. Soap up your toy with plenty of soap and work it in generously. Rinse and set it aside to air dry.
This is great if you are not sharing your toys and just need to keep it generally clean.
The Dishwasher
Another super easy way of giving your toys a good cleaning is the dishwasher! Drop your toys on the top shelf of the dishwasher and run them through a cleaning cycle. If your dishwasher has a “sterilize” setting you can use that too!
Just remember: don’t mix your toys and your dishes!
Bleach and Water
If you need a bit more cleaning power or you plan on sharing your toys, a bleach solution might just be the ticket!
Mix up some hot water (not boiling!) and bleach in a 10% solution – or a 10:1 ratio of water to bleach. Wash them as above with soap and water then soak your toys for an hour or two in the bleach solution. Then wash with soap and hot water to remove any bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and set it aside to air dry.
Boiling Water
Silicone can be boiled! Drop your toy in a pot of water and bring it to a full boil. Let it boil for 10-15 minutes and then let it cool. Wash with soap and water, rinse thoroughly and set it aside to air dry. This will also help make your toys safe for sharing.
NOTE: Some silicones can get firmer due to exposure to heat. This is variable and unpredictable so proceed with appropriate care. Also, some pigments are sensitive to heat and may fade when boiled or exposed to heat.
What about butt stuff?
If you use a silicone toy for butt stuff, you can occasionally find that your toy is stained or retains an odor after cleaning. Here are a few tips to help clean your silicone toys:
Avoid the problem in the first place by using a condom!
Wash your toy using one or more of the methods above to start with.
Do not just toss your toy in a plastic bag and hope it gets better. All you have done is trap the smells.
- Put your toy in a place where it can air out naturally. Sunlight helps immensely. 2-3 days in a sunny window will do wonders.
- Soak in vinegar. Leave it in the vinegar for 15-30 minutes then wash as above.
- Bake it! Put it in the oven at 250F for up to 30 minutes. Remove and let it cool.
- You can also use several of the above – wash it, bleach it, air it out for a couple days, and then bake it. Silicone is surprisingly resilient!
- NOTE: Some silicones can get firmer due to exposure to heat. This is variable and unpredictable so proceed with appropriate care. Also, some pigments are sensitive to heat and may fade when boiled or exposed to heat.
For more info about lubricants, check this out: https://amavidi.com/lubes-for-silicone-toys/