Cleaning toys!

[NaughtyEyes]

So I've always had a variety toys and always used toy cleaner on all of them, however after having some of them for a while I've noticed that I don't think the toy cleaner is doing the trick. This is especially true for the jelly/ silicone type ones. Eventually even though I clean them very well every single time I use them they turn a strange color and start to smell ewwww! It really grosses me out! Does this just mean its time to throw them out or is there something I can do to prevent this from happening?

So I've read all over and some silicone toy sites recommend boiling, dishwashering, or even bleaching them. If I boil a jelly or silicone toy will this melt it or mishape it? And what about the vibe ones, I'm afraid this would somehow mess up the inner workings, especially the glue that keeps the jelly on the vibe part? And what of bleach, lol I'm sort of a greenie type person I don't even use it for laundry or anything but would be willing to try if it helps Won't it burn my skin the next time I use the toy?

 

[Cathleen]

Welcome to Lit, NaughtyEyes.

Bleach would scare me too. I use hot water and soap then use hydrogen peroxide. If the toy can be submerged then I do that too. I clean mine and use the h2o2 before and after use. Sometimes I'll use a basin of soap and boiling water letting them soap. I use a few tooth brushes to make sure 'nooks and crannies' are clean too.

I, too, have heard of dish-washing them but don't do it -- if my glasses have water spots then my toys can too so I just let that method go.

There is a point when I do throw it out -- depending on useage. ; )

 

[Chicklet]

Silicone toys are fine with whatever you want to do with them. I generally run mine through the dishwasher.

Jelly toys are just disgusting, period. They fall apart because they're made of shit. Throw them out and invest in more silicone, or glass.

 

[tickety_tock]

Boiling silicone toys works really well. I've never had any trouble with melting or burning mine. If it has a vibe component you should definitely not submerge it unless it is a water friendly toy though.

I have no idea about cleaning the jellies. All I know is that they are serious bacteria houses. I'd ditch them.

 

[Weird Harold]

So I've always had a variety toys and always used toy cleaner on all of them, however after having some of them for a while I've noticed that I don't think the toy cleaner is doing the trick. This is especially true for the jelly/ silicone type ones. Eventually even though I clean them very well every single time I use them they turn a strange color and start to smell ewwww! It really grosses me out! Does this just mean its time to throw them out or is there something I can do to prevent this from happening?

So I've read all over and some silicone toy sites recommend boiling, dishwashering, or even bleaching them. If I boil a jelly or silicone toy will this melt it or mishape it? And what about the vibe ones, I'm afraid this would somehow mess up the inner workings, especially the glue that keeps the jelly on the vibe part? And what of bleach, lol I'm sort of a greenie type person I don't even use it for laundry or anything but would be willing to try if it helps Won't it burn my skin the next time I use the toy?

If the silicone or "jelly" portion turns color an begins to smell, then there's probably nothing that can be done to save it because the material it's made of is oxidized (rotten.)

Depending on the specific formulation, 'Silcon Rubber' melts at around 350F, so boiling isn't going to hurt it -- although just heating the wash water to 160-180F will sanitize it as well as hydrating it without the risk of softening components made of lower temperature plastics like. Your dishwasher probably doesn't get even quite that hot except for a "heated drying cycle" (which should be turned off for any load containing plastic item, anyway)

Bleach is safe enough if you rinse the toys well -- although I wouldn't use it straight from the bottle; just use it as recommended for a "disinfection wash" -- about a quarter cup of bleach per gallon of water, IIRC.

Hydrogen Peroxide or other non-chlorine bleaching agent/disinfectant qould ropbably be a better choice, though.

 

[NaughtyEyes]

So how long do you boil them? And if you do go for the dishwasher do you put dish soap in or something else?


Thanks for all the help, I feel much better now! *dons rubber gloves* off to clean woot!!!


And I think in the future I'll just avoid this problem all together by buying glass and stainless toys even if they are sorda pricey.

 

[Weird Harold]

So how long do you boil them? And if you do go for the dishwasher do you put dish soap in or something else?


Thanks for all the help, I feel much better now! *dons rubber gloves* off to clean woot!!!


And I think in the future I'll just avoid this problem all together by buying glass and stainless toys even if they are sorda pricey.

When boiling water to sterilize it for drinking, you're supposed to boil it for five minutes, IIRC -- using that as a reference point, I'd say five to ten minutes at a "rolling boil" would definitely sterilize your toys. I don't think it's absolutely necessary to be quite that throrough and one minute or long enough to raise the temperature of your toy over 160-180F.

I'd use dishwasher detergent or nothing at all in the dishwasher. It would depend on how oily the toys get; if they're oily -- either from natural oils or lubricants -- you'll probably need the dishwasher detergent to get them clean. If you're only looking for the sterilzation factor, then don't use any detergent and let the water temperature and water volume do the cleaning job.

 

[SweetErika]

So how long do you boil them? And if you do go for the dishwasher do you put dish soap in or something else?


Thanks for all the help, I feel much better now! *dons rubber gloves* off to clean woot!!!


And I think in the future I'll just avoid this problem all together by buying glass and stainless toys even if they are sorda pricey.

We run ours in the top rack of the dishwasher with the load of dishes, and they come out great.

My rabbits are jelly and the manufacturer said to wipe them down with rubbing alcohol. They've held up fine with this, though I still use a condom on the because jelly is chemically junk I don't care to have touching my body. If yours is discolored or smells bad, I agree with throwing it out.

Make sure any toys that say "silicone" are 100% silicone. Often toy manufacturers will call a toy "silicone" even though it contains a bunch of junk. The labeling laws are such that anything with at least 10% of one material can be advertised as that material (just like 10% juice, 80% water and 10% corn syrup can be called "juice" ), so a lot of the companies try to pass off inferior toys as higher quality goods. Pure silicone toys are great, but pricey.

Glass toys are actually not that expensive in many cases. There's a lot more competition than there was a few years ago, so you can get a nice, heat-resistant ("Pyrex"-type) dildo for around $30.

And some vinyls/plastics can be sterilized as well. We run the attachments for our Hitachi Magic Wand through the dishwasher quite often, and they're as good as when we got them.

http://www.babeland.com/shoppingadvice/sextoymaterials is an awesome tutorial on different toy materials and how to clean them.

 

[tickety_tock]

Often toy manufacturers will call a toy "silicone" even though it contains a bunch of junk. The labeling laws are such that anything with at least 10% of one material can be advertised as that material (just like 10% juice, 80% water and 10% corn syrup can be called "juice" ), so a lot of the companies try to pass off inferior toys as higher quality goods. Pure silicone toys are great, but pricey.

That's just criminal!

 

[moelucy]

So I've always had a variety toys and always used toy cleaner on all of them, however after having some of them for a while I've noticed that I don't think the toy cleaner is doing the trick. This is especially true for the jelly/ silicone type ones. Eventually even though I clean them very well every single time I use them they turn a strange color and start to smell ewwww! It really grosses me out! Does this just mean its time to throw them out or is there something I can do to prevent this from happening?

So I've read all over and some silicone toy sites recommend boiling, dishwashering, or even bleaching them. If I boil a jelly or silicone toy will this melt it or mishape it? And what about the vibe ones, I'm afraid this would somehow mess up the inner workings, especially the glue that keeps the jelly on the vibe part? And what of bleach, lol I'm sort of a greenie type person I don't even use it for laundry or anything but would be willing to try if it helps Won't it burn my skin the next time I use the toy?

Best thing to do with them is to clean them well with antibacterial soap, dry them, and rub baby powder on them.....works very well in keeping them in great shape, and no smell...just remember to rinse before using again!!!

 

[dynamics]

dildos I have, I clean before and after every use... that went fine for a while, but even with that they start to hurt, like a burning sensation when I use them now... they are made of that 'jelly' shit, is this stuff just really that bad? or is there some way I should be cleaning them? I use a condom on them, and that is fine... just ive looked up 'burning sensation with dildo' and couldnt find anything... anyone have any ideas? thanks

 

[SweetErika]

Best thing to do with them is to clean them well with antibacterial soap, dry them, and rub baby powder on them.....works very well in keeping them in great shape, and no smell...just remember to rinse before using again!!!

Putting talcum (baby) powder on the vulva or in the vagina is a risk factor associated with ovarian cancer. Click Me

If you need to use something on cyberskin-like material, use cornstarch, not baby powder.

 

[OnlineMasterX]

Silicone could be water porous and then there is NO way to prevent it from soaking up the tissue fluids and such and start giving out that smell...

What worse, anything that is a bit porous can make it difficult to clean and risk of infection exists ...

As suggested, boiling works and yes, boiling in cooker (steam under pressure) would be better if the material is safe for it ... Most medical grade materials can be subjected to this treatment and it is BETTER than just ordinary boiling in open vessel.

Technically this is the basis of 'sterilization' of medical equipment though they operate on a slightly higher pressure .. still the ordinary food grade pressure cookers are good enough!

 

[lisas_touch]

Keeping them clean

i have a mix of vibes and haven't had many issues with them. I clean them after each use with water and light soap. Even though the jelly vibes are water proof, I don't immerse them. My bullet just gets a cleaning with a damp cloth.

I think the main thing that has made the most difference is taking them out of my drawer and getting a small plastic box to store them in while they wait for the next orgasm to arrive. Jellies and silicone attract lint and cat hair, and keeping them in the box keeps them as clean as when I put them away.

 

[Derya]

Putting talcum (baby) powder on the vulva or in the vagina is a risk factor associated with ovarian cancer. Click Me

If you need to use something on cyberskin-like material, use cornstarch, not baby powder.

An aside from the main topic of toy cleaning...I was not aware of this connection between talcum powder and ovarian cancer risks. I had learned many years ago to use cornstarch in the feminine area for some health needs as well as on my thighs when shaffing was an issue in hot weather and depending on materials of clothing, but I really didn't know why that was the best choice to use. Just that's what I learned to do and knew I had lots of skin and allergic problems and powder often has scent etc so cornstarch is not harmful, but I truly did not know any other concerns so I appreciate the reference.

 

[Chicklet]

I find it amusing that upon visiting the How To section for the first time in six or seven months, the first thread I open up already had a response from me.

haha.

 

[ihavehope444]

Silicone could be water porous and then there is NO way to prevent it from soaking up the tissue fluids and such and start giving out that smell...

What worse, anything that is a bit porous can make it difficult to clean and risk of infection exists ...

As suggested, boiling works and yes, boiling in cooker (steam under pressure) would be better if the material is safe for it ... Most medical grade materials can be subjected to this treatment and it is BETTER than just ordinary boiling in open vessel.

Technically this is the basis of 'sterilization' of medical equipment though they operate on a slightly higher pressure .. still the ordinary food grade pressure cookers are good enough!

I'm glad to see this thread--I was going to post one of my own.

I bought a silicone anal plug specifically because I thought they were easily sterilized. I assumed smell--i.e. making it go away--was something boiling would take care of. I bought mine at a very reputable store, Babeland in Seattle.

Anyway, smelled after one use and it's not going away. Very disappointed.

Guess it's glass and metal for me too!

 

[SweetErika]

I'm glad to see this thread--I was going to post one of my own.

I bought a silicone anal plug specifically because I thought they were easily sterilized. I assumed smell--i.e. making it go away--was something boiling would take care of. I bought mine at a very reputable store, Babeland in Seattle.

Anyway, smelled after one use and it's not going away. Very disappointed.

Guess it's glass and metal for me too!

Have you talked to Babeland? Perhaps the toy is defective or they have suggestions on making the smell go away.

 

[shiny5437]

This is a cool thread - I love the counterposition of the erotic and the domestic. Fab.

 

[ihavehope444]

Have you talked to Babeland? Perhaps the toy is defective or they have suggestions on making the smell go away.

Thanks Sweet Erika. Almost as soon as I wrote it, I thought I should probably call. Babeland is a really great store and they would probably have some idea.

 

[cromsgirl]

Also remember to store your toys separately if you have different types ( we put each one in a zip lock). Different materials can react to each other and cause melting. I don't remember the specifics of the interaction, but you can find it on Sue Johanson's web site ( I think it is talksexwithsue.com).

 

[satindesire]

I scrub mine up with baby wipes. Convenient and fast.

 

[Slider1234]

i left my clear jelly plug on top of a bag from target all summer in my closet. now it has the red bullseye logos all over it

and it DEF isnt coming off

 

[JustImagineMe]

My (horrible) jelly dildo melted a hole in my silicon vibe. Luckily the silicon vibe wasn't one I use very often as it was pretty hopeless, but it showed me what can happen, so keep jelly away from silicon if you have any toys you value!