Do I really need a special toy cleaner, or is unscented soap + warm water fine—and what should I avoid (like scented soaps, alcohol, boiling) depending on the material?

1 Jan

For most sex toys, you do not need a fancy cleaner. A gentle, unscented soap plus warm water is usually the safest, most effective option for non-porous materials like medical-grade silicone, glass, stainless steel, and hard ABS plastic. Special toy cleaners can be convenient, but a lot of them are just marked-up soap or full of fragrances your vagina hates.What to avoid: scented soaps, harsh antibacterial washes, bleach, straight alcohol, essential oils, and boiling toys that have motors or soft/porous materials. Porous toys (jelly, TPE, rubber, “real feel” styles) are harder to fully disinfect, so clean them carefully, use condoms if sharing or switching from anal to vaginal, and replace them more often.Not sure what your toy is actually made of or how your body reacts to it? Talk it through with Gush and get a reality check that isn’t sponsored by a toy brand.

Do you need special sex toy cleaner, and what soap is safe for different materials?

When unscented soap and warm water are enough

For most high-quality, non-porous toys, the recipe is simple:- **Materials this applies to**:- 100% medical-grade silicone (not silicone-blend mystery jelly)- Borosilicate glass- Stainless steel- Hard ABS plastic vibrators or bullets- **Routine**:- Rinse with warm water.- Lather with a small amount of **gentle, unscented soap**.- Scrub for 20–30 seconds, paying attention to seams and ridges.- Rinse thoroughly until no soap residue remains.- Dry completely before storage.This is usually enough to remove body fluids, lube, bacteria, and yeast from smooth, non-porous surfaces.

What “toy cleaner” actually is – and whether it’s worth it

Toy cleaners come in sprays, foams, and wipes. They’re marketed like a magical shield against every STI and infection. Reality check:- Many are basically **mild soap** or **diluted surfactants** in cute packaging.- Some include **fragrance, dyes, parabens, alcohol, or essential oils** – which do not belong anywhere near a sensitive vulva or vagina.- They can be useful if you:- Don’t have easy access to a sink.- Need a quick clean before you can do a proper wash.If you want one, look for:- Fragrance-free- Alcohol-free- Specifically labeled as body-safe and compatible with your toy materialBut no, you are not dirty or reckless if you stick with unscented soap and water. You’re practical.If you feel overwhelmed by the ingredient lists and marketing claims, you’re not alone. Bring a screenshot of the label to Gush and we can walk through what your vagina will side-eye versus what it can live with.

What to avoid: cleaners and methods that piss your vagina off

Skip these, no matter what TikTok says:- **Scented soaps and body washes**: The perfumes and dyes can irritate tissue and mess with vaginal pH, increasing risk of BV or yeast.- **Antibacterial hand soaps**: Often too harsh; they strip everything, including the balance your body needs.- **Bleach, ammonia, or disinfectant sprays**: Absolutely not. They’re corrosive, toxic, and hard to rinse fully.- **Straight alcohol (like rubbing alcohol or vodka)**: Very drying and irritating; can degrade some materials.- **Essential oils (tea tree, lavender, etc.)**: Highly concentrated, can burn or cause allergic reactions. Being “natural” does not mean safe for mucous membranes.- **Dishwasher**: Heat, detergent, and movement can warp toys, damage motors, or leave detergent residue.

Boiling and high-heat cleaning: when it’s safe

Boiling can be a powerful way to sanitize **some** toys, but only under specific conditions:- Generally safe to boil (if manufacturer says it’s okay):- Solid, non-motor **silicone**- **Glass** (borosilicate, not cheap decorative glass)- **Stainless steel**- Never boil:- Anything with a **motor, battery, or charging port**- **Jelly, TPE, rubber, or “realistic feel”** toys – they can melt or leach chemicals- Unknown or mixed materialsIf you do boil:- Place the toy in water **before** turning on the heat so it warms up gradually.- Boil gently for about 3–5 minutes.- Let it cool completely before handling.This doesn’t magically erase STIs, but for personal use it’s an effective deep clean for the right materials.

Porous toys: jelly, TPE, and “real feel” materials

Porous materials have tiny holes microscopic gunk can hide in. You can clean the surface, but you cannot fully disinfect deep inside.Porous materials include:- Jelly rubber- TPE or TPV- “CyberSkin,” “UR3,” or any “real feel” style- Very soft, squishy strokers and sleevesHow to make these safer:- Clean with **unscented soap and warm water** after every use.- Let them dry completely, inside and out.- Use a **condom over the toy** if sharing or switching from anal to vaginal use.- Replace more often (think every 6–18 months depending on use and condition).Red flags that mean toss it:- Sticky surface that doesn’t improve with washing.- Cracks, tears, or flaking.- Lingering smell that won’t go away.

How your cycle and hormones change what cleaners your body tolerates

Your vagina is not the same all month. Hormones change the pH, moisture, and sensitivity of the tissue, which changes how forgiving it is of your cleaning choices.- **During your period**:- Blood raises vaginal pH (makes it less acidic).- Good bacteria are a bit weaker; you’re more open to BV and yeast.- Harsh or scented soaps can throw off the balance faster. Stick to very gentle, unscented cleansers.- **After your period (follicular phase)**:- Rising estrogen thickens the vaginal lining and feeds good bacteria via glycogen.- pH becomes more acidic again, offering more protection.- Your vagina may tolerate minor irritants better, but it’s still not a science experiment.- **Around ovulation**:- Cervical mucus is thin and slippery, sex drive often higher.- You may reach for toys more. If you’re having frequent sessions, proper cleaning becomes even more important between uses.- **Luteal phase (PMS zone)**:- Progesterone is higher; many people feel more dry, swollen, or sensitive.- Dry, delicate tissue gets irritated faster by leftover soap or chemicals.If you’re on **hormonal birth control**, your natural fluctuations are flattened, which often = more baseline dryness. Dry tissue is easier to inflame with the wrong products, so gentle soap, lube, and good rinse habits matter even more.

Soap vs toy cleaner: quick comparison

- **Unscented gentle soap + water**:- Cheap, accessible, effective.- Works for most non-porous toys.- Needs a sink and time to rinse.- **Toy cleaner (good formula)**:- Handy when you don’t have a sink.- Can be useful as a pre-clean or travel option.- Quality depends completely on ingredients; some are great, some are trash.Either way, the big picture is what protects you: regular cleaning, good rinsing, letting toys dry, and not using products that scream at your mucous membranes.Not sure if your current setup is helping or sabotaging your vaginal ecosystem? Bring your products, your patterns, and your questions to Gush and let someone help you connect the dots.