Adulthood is great, except for the annoying chores like paying bills and tidying up. Just like you cannot ignore dirty dishes, you must also figure out how to clean the sex toys you own. If this last responsibility sounds a bit daunting, it is understandable. Cleaning your sex toys is necessary, but as long as you know what you are doing, it is easy.

I get it-thinking about cleaning your sex toys may not be the most pleasant idea. Sex, whether alone or with a partner, is a good time to let the stress of daily life dissipate. However, if you want sex toys to be part of the time to keep your mind clear-and if you want these sex toys to have a good lifespan-you will have to clean them properly and regularly. In addition, poor sex toy hygiene may actually lead to infection; so yes, even when toys are involved, safe sex needs to be considered. This is the correct way to clean these toys.

To figure out how to clean sex toys, you’ll need to know exactly what they’re made of.

You can put the toys in the kitchen and in the water. Please, do not do that. Divided into three categories: raw materials and non-porous materials.

Sex Toys Babe’s sex educator Lisa Finn told SELF that if the material is from the ground, it will have small holes (such as bacteria) that can hide microbes, fungi and general slime.

Finn believes that all materials include:

Elastomer (rubber), for example:

Rubber sponge, TPR for short; sometimes "wearing safety rubber"

Elastic elastomer, also known as TRE; sometimes called "skin-safe rubber"

Jelly rubber; sometimes (not always) contains other possible biological species, which is a chemical substance that may affect human health and be shocked (according to the National Library of Medicine, the scientific jury has not yet determined)

-Polyvinyl chloride (ethylene); sometimes also contains o-chloride salt

Materials such as Sensafirm and UR3 can make toys feel like skin

The elderly are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration in sex toys, just like in condoms

If your plaything is made of non-porous material, it will not have those holes, so there is no possibility that various emotions will stick to it. The following are common toy materials:

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic (a hard plastic)

Borosilicate glass (such as heat-resistant glass and similar varieties)

Soda lime glass (such as the one used in drinking glasses)

Silicone

Metals such as stainless steel and gold

To find out which material your toy is made of, please check the box or search online. It’s worth noting that even if you clean porous toys, you may not be able to remove as many bacteria as you can with non-porous toys, so it’s best to save them for personal play or use them with condoms for cooperation. Fun-will be described in detail later.

Regardless of your toy’s material, you should wash and dry it after each use so it’s as clean as possible.

Although porous toys are more likely to breed bacteria or other microorganisms than non-porous toys, it is best to clean them immediately after used toys. I know, I know: it's great. However, integrating this critical step into your daily life can keep your toys as hygienic as possible.

Your vagina is home to countless bacteria and fungi that help keep you healthy. When you use a sex toy, some of these microorganisms are likely to be attached to the toy. In most cases, this is not harmful, Lauren Streicher, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told SELF. Your vagina is used to dealing with these microorganisms, so they are not a real threat.

However, this is not always the case. Suppose you have a sexually transmitted disease or vaginal infection, and you decide to use toys to masturbate. Some pathogens that cause infection may stay on the surface of the toy (if it is non-porous) or enter small holes (if it is porous) and continue to live there, Peter Leon, MD, University of North Carolina Infectious Diseases Expert medical school, tell self. He explained that if you don't clean the toy before sharing it with your partner, you could theoretically spread the infection to them. After you have cleared the infection, you can even reintroduce the problematic microorganisms into your system.

This risk of infection is not limited to vaginal problems. Leone said there are similar concerns for gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria. The rectum is home to all kinds of bacteria that your vagina is not used to, such as Escherichia coli, some of which may be transferred to the toys you use in the anus. If this bacteria comes into contact with your (or your partner's) urinary tract, it may cause a urinary tract infection (UTI).

To clarify, you may not get infected every time you clean your sex toy thoroughly, but it is important to know that it depends on the type of bacteria or virus and how you use the toy. "It really depends on what kind of organism you are talking about," Dr. Megan A. May, associate professor of microbiology at the University of New England School of Medicine, told SELF.

For example, bacteria usually cannot survive long in or on non-porous sex toys because they thrive in humid environments, Leone said. May estimates that bacteria like Gardnerella vaginalis can cause bacterial vaginosis, which usually does not survive on hard surfaces for more than a day or two. Similarly, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which spreads gonorrhea, can persist on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours, she said. For Chlamydia trachomatis, these already short time frames are reduced to only a few hours. Chlamydia trachomatis may cause chlamydia infection. Once your sex toy dries, no bacteria will survive for more than a few hours.

Leone said that fungi like Candida albicans can cause yeast infections, and they last longer than bacteria, which can last for several weeks, depending on the situation involved. Mei said: "This is something you really need to worry about, because it may last a long time," Mei said, explaining that after you have gotten rid of the yeast, sex toys may reintroduce excess yeast. Your vagina. Infect.

Leone explained that some viruses usually die within a few hours in the open air. "It is not terrible for HIV and herpes viruses to survive on the surface for a long time because they are very easy to dry out," Mei said. However, the human papillomavirus may survive longer, Leone said.

Keep in mind that these are general estimates of hard surfaces, not estimates of how long these pathogens can survive in the body fluids on these hard surfaces, which may be longer. Mei explained that if the toy is porous, there are more problems because these small holes can absorb water and prevent it from drying out quickly, so that the pathogen can live longer. "Even if you just talk for a few hours, you are extending your lifespan, which is not ideal," she said.

In the end, you can’t really tell whether these microorganisms are still on or in your sex toy, so it’s better to be safe when cleaning than to regret.

You might also want to wash your toy before every use too.

Even if you try to clean the toy thoroughly every time you use it, you should consider cleaning it before using it. Why? Since you last used it, it may come into contact with dirt, lint, dust and other materials. We guess that you do not want to expose yourself to these elements, so you should consider washing your toys beforehand.

If you want to skip this step, you can; Finn said that cleaning toys after each use is a must, and cleaning them beforehand is a recommendation.

Here’s exactly how to clean your sex toys before and after you use them.

The proper cleaning of each of your sex toys is as important as cleaning them regularly. Otherwise, you may corrode the material of the toy, distort its shape, or destroy any battery-powered functions it may have.

The first thing: You will want to find the right soap. Finn recommends using mild hand sanitizer or dish soap-as long as it is odorless. Your vagina has a natural pH, which can maintain the balance of the vaginal microbial community. The ingredients in the soap will make your pH unbalanced, making you more susceptible to infections. You also need to make sure that the soap you use is light enough not to leave residue on the toy.

Now that we have determined this, things will become very specific. The following is Finn’s guide to cleaning sex toys:

Is your toy made of elastomer or latex? These porous materials are more sensitive to temperature than non-porous toys, which means they may deform if they are exposed to too much heat. If your toy vibrates, wipe it with a warm, damp soapy towel. If it does not vibrate (or vibrates but is waterproof), run the toy under warm water and clean it with a soapy towel.

Is your elastomer toy specially made from a leather-like mixture? Do the same with the toys listed above, but don't expose them to too much soap. This will damage the material, causing it to lose its well-known skin-like texture.

Is your toy made of ABS plastic? Just like an elastomer or latex toy, if it vibrates, you can wipe it with a damp cloth and mild soap, if not, you can wash it with water and mild soap. (Or if it vibrates but happens to be waterproof.)

Is your toy made of soda lime glass? This glass is sensitive to temperature (which is part of the reason why it is so interesting in sex games). Clean soda-lime glass toys like latex or elastomer toys.

Is your toy made of borosilicate glass, silicone or metal? You can use mild soap and warm water or a damp soapy towel to clean these toys, just like the toys above. Another benefit is that if your borosilicate glass, silicone or stainless steel toys do not vibrate, you can boil them for 3 to 4 minutes to thoroughly disinfect them. Finn does not recommend boiled gold sex toys, as many of them are only gold-plated and may contain other materials. In addition, although some people recommend that you wash these toys in the dishwasher, Finn recommends not to do this because the dishwasher will leave soap residue.

Finn says that borosilicate glass and stainless steel toys are the only ones that can be safely bleached, but you don't actually need to take additional steps. Washing according to the above instructions is definitely sufficient. Finn said that if you decide to bleach a sex toy, you need a weak solution of one part of bleach and 10 parts of water. Let the toy soak for 10 to 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and then wash with mild soap and water. Bleach is an undesirable role in your vagina and related areas. Before using the toy, you need to make sure that no traces are left.

No matter how you clean the toy, check carefully whether it is dry before storing it. "Whether it's porous or not, you don't want anything that will mold or mold, or make your toys smell weird," Finn said. Ensuring that your toys are completely dry can also reduce the possibility of any pathogens attaching to precious lives.

If you’re feeling lazy, you can (occasionally) get away with using a sex toy cleaner.

You can take sex toy cleaners such as Babeland Toy Cleaner with you. Finn said that this is a quick and prudent choice. You can use it to sterilize toys without damaging the materials, but it is not suitable for daily use. "The cleaner is more like a dry shampoo," Finn said. “It’s better than nothing, but it’s not a substitute for washing your hair thoroughly.” If your ORGASM is so earth-shaking that you can’t motivate yourself to move at all afterwards, you can wipe your toy with a detergent and apply it when you’re ready to get up. Deeper cleaning.

You can also use condoms (especially if you’re sharing toys).

This is a simple solution: each time you use it, just put a new condom on the sex toy, depending on the shape of the toy. This can completely eliminate the need for cleaning. This is a great trick for those of us who don't like cleaning, but if you are sharing sex toys (for all the bacterial reasons we mentioned above), this is also a wise choice. If you decide to use a condom, make sure that any lubricants you use will not corrode the condom (oil-based lubricants are fine).

And yes, how you store your sex toys matters.

We know it's tempting, but after washing and drying your beloved sex toys, don't stuff them into the bedside table. Even if it is a designated location for your sex toy, there may be a pile of lint and dust in your drawer, and (as we mentioned) you don't want these things in your body. In terms of storage, you have several options:

Use the original packaging: Isn't this simple? To protect your toys from natural disasters, just put them in the small bag or box where they come in to protect them from natural disasters.

Prepare a plastic container: Finn suggests that if you want to keep your sex toys away from dust and relatively organized, you might choose a simple plastic container. JoyBoxx ($44, Amazon) is a small plastic storage container that can be washed in the dishwasher and can be locked.

Take a satin bag: Finn also recommends buying a small silk or satin bag. You can find a travel bag large enough to meet your needs, or you can choose a bag specifically designed for sex toys. For an inanimate object, this may sound like a lot of care, but doing so is more likely to allow you to live a long and happy life with your sex toy.