10 Simple & Easy Ways On How To Clean Anal Toys In 2024

You might be wondering how to clean anal toys, so they don’t carry a smell. The easiest way to go about it is to simply use some mild soap with some warm water and make sure that you’re cleaning your anal toys right after each use.

cleaning butt plug under the running water

Everyone loves a good anal sex toy, right?

The pleasure they can provide is awesome, and it’s always more fun to experiment with butt plugs, dildos (our favorites here), anal beads, and prostate massagers than use only your own fingers.

And some people love to spice up their sex life by even going to the office wearing their butt plugs. 

Spicy, right?

Well, not everything is all that great as anal toys have this one downside…

… They’re very quick to catch a bad smell. 

And no one wants their sex toys smelling like poop, right? 

While many people think that if they buy anal toys that are made out of non-porous materials like glass and silicone, they won’t have to deal with bad smell, I have bad news for you

Even non-porous material like silicone can catch a scent if you don’t care for your anal toys properly. 

So, today I have a quick guide that will show you how to clean and maintain your anal toys so that they don’t smell.

Let’s jump in!


Preparing For Anal Toy Cleaning

So, there are a few things you need to know about cleaning your anal toys. 

If you’re thinking about getting some new toys or you’re just the first time getting into anal play, it’s always best to be prepared in advance. 

Because if you’re not prepared to clean your anal toys, you’ll end up with smelly toys, and no one wants that, right?

Know Your Anal Toy Materials

Know Your Anal Toy Materials

If you want to maintain your anal toys, the first thing you need to do is find out what material they’re made out of. 

There are two main categories for sex toys materials:

  • Porous – all the toys made of rubber, CyberSkin, jelly, and other similar materials. 
  • Non-porous – toys that are made of stainless steel, glass, and silicone. 

While it’s always best to buy anal toys made of non-porous materials (as they’re the best materials for anal play), I can understand that not everyone can afford expensive toys. 

Most people tend to go for silicone anal toys. 

And really, silicone is a great material as it’s cheaper while still being non-porous and feels great on your skin. 

Today I’m mostly going to be focusing on how to clean silicone anal toys.

Now, if you’re using anal toys made of porous material I have some bad news for you:

There is no way to completely remove the smell from them, and your best bet would be to clean them right after each use with some water and antibacterial sex toy cleaner.


Is Your Anal Toy Waterproof?

To determine the best way to clean your toy, you’ll need to know its waterproof rating. This is especially important if your toy includes electronic parts like a vibrating motor. 

You don’t want the wrong kinds of sparks to be flying when you use your sex toy!

Your anal toy should be either waterproof (submersible) or splashproof

If it’s waterproof, you can submerge it to clean it. If it’s only splashproof, it’s better cleaned with a damp cloth or a quick run under the tap.

Check its rating in your user manual or the manufacturer’s website. If it’s fully waterproof, it should be rated IPX7 or higher or be labeled 100% waterproof.


How Long Does It Take To Clean Anal Toys

Your method of cleaning will determine how long it takes (as well as how many sex toys you have to clean, of course).

It could take just a minute or two per toy if you’re cleaning with a damp cloth, or a couple of hours if your toy is dishwasher safe and cleaned on a full cycle. 

If you do go the dishwasher route, make sure you’re only cleaning 100% waterproof silicone, borosilicate, or stainless steel toys with no electronic parts.

If you’re boiling your toys to disinfect them, you’ll need a few minutes to boil the water, plus at least 10 minutes of disinfecting once the water is at a boil. Bleaching takes about ten minutes to ensure it’s done properly.


7 Ways How to clean Anal Toys: remove smell on your Silicone Anal Toys or Butt Plugs

Now that you know what you’re dealing with let’s talk about the best ways to clean your anal toys. 

It’s pretty straightforward, and once you find the best way that works for you, you’ll never have to worry about nasty odours.

Let’s get right into it:

#1: Try Boiling Your Anal Toys

Try Boiling Your Anal Toys

This tip works only for non-porous anal toys as you can’t boil special materials and rubber. 

Trust me; it might not end well!

Boil your silicone toy in the water for about 15-20 minutes and then let it dry. 

This should help remove the smell and disinfect your toy very well. 


#2: Don’t Underestimate Your Dishwasher

Don't Underestimate Your Dishwasher

If you want a quick way to clean your toys, I recommend tossing them in your dishwasher.

The temperature is hot, and the detergents you use for the dishwasher are harsh, so this should give your anal toys a good wash.

Not only will it steam your toy real good, but it will also disinfect it, preventing any bacteria lingering on the toy. 


#3: Soak Your Anal Toys In Vinegar

Soak Your Anal Toys In Vinegar

Now, this method might not sound like the most appealing, but vinegar is very strong and is very effective in cleaning your house. 

So, why not clean your anal toys with it?

For this, you’ll need to use room-temperature vinegar, just toss your anal toy in it and leave for about 15-20 minutes. 

Once it’s done soaking, remove it and wash it with some soap and warm water. 

Your anal toy should be clean, and there shouldn’t be any bad scent left. 


#4: A Simple Soap And Water Is Always A Good Choice

A Simple Soap And Water Is Always A Good Choice

The easiest and most popular way is to clean your toys straight after each use with some soap and warm water. 

If you’re using silicone or other non-porous material and you didn’t put your toy up your anus right after the toilet visit, it should be enough to remove bacteria and any smell left. 

If you’re using other material toys, it might worth checking the manufacturers’ guidelines on whether it’s safe to use soap on your anal toy material.

Some toys are very sensitive and can be easily ruined by soap.


#5: Sex Toy Cleaner

Find The Best Cleaner

The next thing you need to prepare for cleaning your anal toys is to find the best cleaner. 

The most common option that I see other people use would be using simple soap with some warm water. Everyone has it at home and you don’t need to spend money. 

Quick warning: 

I do recommend you check the manufacturer guidelines before cleaning your toys with soap. 

Each toy is made of specific material, and some of them can be ruined if you use soap. 

And even if the box says that it’s OK to use soap, I would opt for a mild soap, so it’s not as harsh on the material.


#6: Bleaching

First, give your toy a wipe-down with a damp cloth and some mild soap. Then make a mix of about 5 tablespoons of bleach to a gallon of water

You can then spray it on your toy and leave it for ten minutes if it’s only splashproof. If your toy is fully waterproof, however, you can submerge the toy in the solution for ten minutes. 

After, thoroughly wash your toy with soap and water and allow it to air dry. You want to make sure you get all the bleach off it to avoid any damage or lingering smell.


#7: UV Storage Boxes

This is a fancy-pants method of cleaning sex toys, and it seems to be all the rage at the moment. 

In case you haven’t seen them, here’s what they’re all about: You can buy specialty boxes that aim to eliminate bacteria through the use of UV light. 

The problem is they will only work on the areas that the light reaches.

Anal toys will sometimes have nooks, crannies, or other hard-to-reach features that can harbor bacteria, so this method isn’t entirely effective. It’s also an expensive way to clean your toys that rests more on novelty value than anything else.

If you do decide to try out a UV box, always give your toys a good surface clean with soap and water first. UV light alone might not be effective enough to ensure your toy is really clean.


3 Ways On How To Prevent Smell From Your Anal Toys

#1: Use A Condom

Prevent The Smell In The First Place - Use Condom

Use a condom with your anal toy if you don’t want to deal with bad smells after. 

This is really the only way to guarantee that your anal toy won’t smell and get ruined. 

It shouldn’t make to much of a difference when using, but I do recommend you get the unlubricated condoms as the lube can get tricky with sex toys. 

Also, if you’re using a condom over your silicone anal toy, you can use silicone lube for anal play!

So, if you’re a fan of a silicone lube but can never use it because of silicone toys, now is your chance. 


#2: Use Coconut Oil

Some people claim that coconut oil can help prevent your anal toys from getting smelly. 

You can use coconut oil instead of the lube and generously coat your toy before inserting it inside. 

This should create a barrier between the smell and your toy, and once you take it out and clean it, it won’t have the smell. 

If you have a toy that smells, try applying coconut oil on it, then leave it for 20 minutes and wash it with soap and water. 

This should help get rid of the smell as well, so it’s worth your try. 


#3: Clean Yourself

If you make sure that you’re clean before using your anal toys, it will minimize the cleanup that’s needed after you use them. 

Get into the shower, clean yourself, and maybe even douche if you intend on playing with your anal toys. 

This will ensure that you’re as clean as possible, and the chance of getting poop on your anal toy is smaller. 

Discover some of the best tips on how to anal douche in this guide and keep your rectum and anus squeaky clean!


How Often Should You Clean Your Anal Toys

This should go without saying, but you need to clean your anal sex toys after every use, and preferably before each use too.

Anal toys, in particular, can harbor harmful bacteria, especially if they’re made of porous materials. 

The last thing you want is to give yourself or somebody else an infection because you’ve been lazy with your cleaning routine.

If you put in the time to keep your toys clean, they’ll not only be safer to use but also last longer! 

Make cleaning part of your playtime ritual, and you’ll enjoy your sex toys for years to come.


Other People Tips & Experiences

Let’s see what other people on the internet are sharing their best practices to clean anal toys:

I have zero problems with my glass and metal toys – I just wash them with antibacterial hand soap and warm water. The silicone toys seem to pick up a nasty smell and I too have resorted to covering them with condoms. I have found that toothpaste does a good job of taking the ass smell off my hands and fingers.

sarahsssmile

Reddit user


Just soap and hot water usually works for me unless the toy is really dirty. You can also use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol after washing as an extra disinfectant.

If there’s a lingering odor, try washing again but leave the soap on it for a few hours. Then rinse well, and let the toy air-dry. That gets rid of all the odor every time (except a faint smell of the soap).

Jond357

Reddit user


Conclusion

And here you have it – everything there is that you need to know about cleaning your anal toys and getting rid of the bad smell!

It’s very easy to care for your toys, but it’s crucial that you prepare for it.

Now that your toys are squeaky clean, take it to the next level with this anal depth training guide.

Dainis Graveris

Dainis Graveris

Over last 4 years Dainis have helped millions of people through his advice on this site (200+ guides and 1M+ visits/monthly). His work & advice has appeared on sites like: Healthline, Vice, Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, WomensHealthMag, MindBodyGreen & more. Read More.

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