How to Clean Fleshlight: Ultimate Care Guide (2024)

Learn the best ways to clean, dry and maintain your Fleshlight for hygiene and longevity. Step-by-step guide with tips from Fleshlight experts.

Fleshlights are among the best inventions for the men’s sex toy industry today. 

And while they’re fun to use and can enhance your solo play quite a bit, I must admit that cleaning and maintaining them is a pain in the ass sometimes. 

There are many things you need to know beforehand, and it takes a lot of time.

But I have good news for you:

Once you get your technique right, it will be a breeze. 

And, you’ll be able to have your best Fleshlight sleeve last you many years to come instead of re-purchasing them yearly. 

So, let’s jump into the good stuff!

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Why You Need to Be Cleaning Your Fleshlight Sleeve

Before we discuss cleaning techniques, I want to chat about why you need to clean your fleshlight. 

I assume you know that you need to clean your fleshlight after every single use, straight away, preferably. 

But I know some men don’t think it’s that important. 

Well, I’m here to tell you that it is. 

You put your dick inside it, after all, so it should be important. 

I know you don’t want to catch a UTI or something more serious that will make your dick fall off. 

Just kidding, don’t freak out; your dick is not going to fall off. 

But when you think about it this way, you sure as hell want to clean your fleshlight more often, right?

I hope that it’s a yes!

You don’t always see bacteria that can be inside the sleeve, but it’s always best to be safe than sorry. 

So, always ensure you take care of your sleeve properly if you’re using it for masturbation. 

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Before We Start – What Will You Need

OK, it’s time to get to the good stuff!

There are two ways you can clean your fleshlight that I recommend. And there are five ways you can dry it. 

And you’ll need different things for each method. So, before I tell you those methods, let’s discuss what you’ll need to use.

You don’t need to get all these things to clean, dry, and maintain your fleshlight. 

Choose a few according to your preferred method, and It will be more than enough. 

Now, let’s get into how to clean your fleshlight properly:

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Step 1: How To Clean Fleshlight Case

Almost all Fleshlights and most similar sex-toy lines come with an outer case that holds the soft inner sleeve. A Fleshlight’s outer case can also pick up fluids and grime during the fun time, so it’s equally important to keep it clean.

Fortunately, it’s as easy as 1..2..3.

• 1. Removing the case. Remove the inner sleeve from the case so you have only the hard outer case. Your male sex toy will generally come with instructions on how to do this. Make sure that there are no electrical components on the outer case.
• 2. Wash the case. Since the outer case is made of a sturdy material, you can use warm water and regular hand soap to clean it. Make sure you wash the inside and the outside surfaces, and pay special attention to any grime that might be stuck in ridges, where mold and bacteria like to grow.
• 3. Make sure it is dried. Drying is as essential as washing because moisture can lead to a lot of bad smells. Use a microfiber cloth to remove any excess fiber, and then leave the case to dry in a well-ventilated area or near a fan. Remember not to put the inner sleeve back into the case until it is completely dry.

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Step 2: How To Clean Your Fleshlight

So there are two ways you can go about this: 

• The boojee way.
• The cheap way. 

Both ways work well, so it just depends on how much cash you want to spend. 

Let’s start with the more expensive way first. 

1. The expensive way to Wash your Fleshlight

Step by step:

• 1. Remove the sleeve from the case after you’re done using it. 
• 2. Wash the hard case using soap and warm water. Do take time cleaning it and making sure that all the nooks and crannies are clean.
• 3. Next, take the sleeve and rinse it from the main side first. With warm water only, no soap! Let the water run for around 30 seconds.
• 4. Then, switch sides and rinse it on the other side, once again, for around 30 seconds. Make sure that you take your time.
• 5. Next, put your finger inside the sleeve and gently ensure that all the nooks and crannies are clean and there is no sperm hiding there.  
• 6. Then, it’s time to get your Fleshlightwash; spray it on both sides of the Fleshlight and go through the inside with your finger once again. 
• 7. Once you are done with the Fleshlight Wash, rinse the sleeve with warm water very well again. 
• 8. Leave the sleeve to dry (we’ll talk about it a bit later).

This is the official way that Fleshlight recommends you clean their toys after every single use. 

It’s fairly easy and quick; you just need to have the Fleshlight cleaner, which is pretty expensive.  

Here are some more products you can get to clean your Fleshlight. 

What Fleshlight Cleaning Products Do I Need?

Fleshwash is a proprietary product made by the company to wash your sleeve with. It comes in a handy spray bottle and isn’t too expensive. This is the best way to clean your Fleshlight, and you can be sure that this cleaner will not damage the soft inner sleeve.

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Now, if you’re looking for something a little more premium to pamper your sleeve with, this cleaner comes in a gorgeous and discreet bottle that you can carry around with you, and no one will ever know what it’s for. It is also safe to use for cleaning all your sex toys.

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If you’re going to be cleaning multiple sex toys, this one is your best bet. It comes in a larger bottle, which also includes a spray nozzle. It also happens to be cheaper than the other two cleaners and is mild enough to use on all your sex toys.

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2. The cheap way to clean your Fleshlight

OK, so if you don’t want to get the original Fleshlight cleaner that they recommend, I have another cleaning option for you. 

Instead of using the Fleshlight cleaner, you’ll use the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, which you can find at your local drugstore. 

Don’t mix it with rubbing alcohol or the alcohol you drink. It has to be 70% Isopropyl Alcohol so as not to damage the sleeve and work well. 

Now, let’s get into step-by-step:

• 1. Remove the fleshlight from the hard plastic case and wash the case with warm water and soap. 
• 2. Put the soap away; don’t you even dare think about using it on your Fleshlight!
• 3. Rinse your fleshlight from both sides with warm water ONLY for 30 seconds on each side. 
• 4. Then cover one side of the fleshlight hole with your hand, pour the isopropyl alcohol inside, and close the other hole with your other hand. Now swoosh the alcohol inside for 30 seconds. 
• 5. Pour everything out. 
• 6. Apply the 70% isopropyl alcohol on both sides of the fleshlight to really clean everything. 
• 7. Leave your fleshlight to dry.

It’s also great because it kills all the bacteria, so you don’t have to worry about mold or other things forming inside your sleeve. 

And, it helps the sleeve to dry a bit faster, so it’s also a plus.

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Step 3: So, Now, How Do You Dry Your Fleshlight?

This is the part I hate the most personally. 

It’s fairly difficult to dry your fleshlight, but it’s crucial that you do it properly. 

You don’t want your dick to fall off now because of bacteria, do you?

So, there are many different techniques and ways that men dry their fleshlights, and I made a list of the best ones out there. 

If you want to get deeper into the subject, check out our in-depth guide on How to dry Fleshlights.

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Before we jump into the good stuff, let’s talk about drying the case: 

Now, drying the case is the easiest part. 

Because it’s made out of hard plastic, you can dry it with a simple paper towel.

Of course, make sure that you dry it properly, and don’t leave wet spots anywhere.

If you really want it, you can air dry it as well, though. 

Simply put it on the rack for a few hours, and it should be good to go. 

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Now, let’s talk about drying the sleeve:

There are five different ways I recommend you dry your fleshlight. 

They’re all different difficulty, effort, and danger methods, so choose the one you feel most comfortable with. 

Let’s dive in: 

1. Air-dry on the towel

The most basic and easy way to dry your fleshlight is to leave it on a towel to air-dry. 

Make sure that the towel is microfiber and that there are no cats or dogs around your fleshlight, as it will catch fairs and lint real fast. 

But this is the method that requires the least amount of effort. 

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2. Wire hanger method

You will have to sacrifice one of your wire hangers for this method, but trust me, it’s totally worth it.

Once you’ve washed your Fleshlight, bend the bottom of a wire hanger around the orifice of your sleeve and then use the hanger’s hook to hang it in a ventilated area or near a fan. The hanger helps hold the sleeve securely so it hangs vertically, allowing any excess water to drain out from the open side.

Sure, it will still take a couple of hours for your Fleshlight to dry out completely. But this method is far better than leaving it on a table or bathroom counter to dry. And, if you want to be even more discreet, you can hang it in your cupboard to dry, though that will increase the drying time even more.

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3. Leave it to dry on a radiator (not a hot one, though!)

Another very popular and easy method is to stand your Fleshlight up close to the warm radiator. 

NOT a hot one, slightly warm. 

This way, the water will be able to drip out from the fleshlight, and the warm air will speed up the process as well. 

Easy peasy, isn’t it?

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4. Hairdryer method (on a cold setting tho!)

OK, with this one, you have to be careful. 

If you don’t have a lot of time or can’t leave your fleshlight lying on a table to dry, then using a hairdryer in the cold air setting might be a good option. 

And, keep an eye to make sure that it doesn’t overheat or start feeling weird while you’re drying it this way.

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5. Grated surface method

This is another simple method that doesn’t require much. Simply place your Fleshlight with the open side facing down on a grated surface like a dish rack or radiator. This will help the water drain out and ventilate the sleeve’s insides.

Two important points to remember here:

• First, you must ensure the grated surface is completely clean and dry before placing your Fleshlight on it.
• Second, when placing it on the radiator, make sure that it is not hot, as even a slightly raised temperature can damage your Fleshlight.

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6. The Fan Method

Another way I’ve seen men dry their sleeves is by using a fan. 

It speeds up the drying so much better, and with the moving air, it properly dries your sleeve. 

And because the fan works with cold air, you don’t have to worry about your sleeve melting or material degrading. 

You can either use a fan this way or a more simple, relaxing way by laying your sleeve down on a towel with a fan running. 

Here’s one of what men on Reddit are saying:

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7. Use an air pump (yes, you read it right)

Now, if you want a very fast way to dry your sleeve in 20 minutes or less, you can try using the air pump from a mattress. 

You’ll need to do some work yourself, so keep that in mind. 

But it’s very effective and very easy. 

It will dry your sleeve very efficiently. 

And you won’t have to do your arm day in the gym anymore. 

Win-win right?

The more intense and complex the texture of the sleeve is, the longer it will take for it to dry. 

Something like a Classic Pink Lady will take so much less time to dry than a Stoya Destroya.

So keep that in mind, and don’t be confused about why one sleeve dries in 3 hours and the other one takes 7. 

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8. How to Dry Your Fleshlight FAST

Consider this a fancier version of the wire hanger method. So, if you don’t want to destroy one of your wire hangers, get the Hang Dry instead. It holds your sleeve securely and has a hook so you can hang your Fleshlight to dry and not have to leave it lying around a surface.

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The Stand Dry is even better at holding your Fleshlight sleeve out to dry. Once you place it in the stand, your sleeve will be held vertically straight, allowing air to flow right in. This stand also has a flat surface, so you can place it where you want to dry your Fleshlight.

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The Screw Dry holds your sleeve and the case once you clean them both. Simply insert the sleeve back into the case and then screw the case onto the Screw Dry.

This stand will hold your Fleshlight up like a proud trophy, making it an excellent product if you like displaying your Fleshlight. And, of course, you can use it to dry your sex toy as well.

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Step 4: Refreshing Your Sleeve: Renewing powder vs. cornstarch

OK, another thing you need to be aware of:

Maintaining your sleeve and refreshing it. 

After multiple uses, you’ll notice the material getting sticky and hard to handle. 

Nothing is wrong with your sleeve; this is just how the material works. 

In order to restore it to the way it was when you first bought it, you need to be renewing the sleeve after every five uses or so. 

Here, we have the same deal – the more expensive version and the cheaper version of doing so. 

So, let’s discuss both: 

1. Using the Fleshlight Renewing powder

Fleshlight offers its Renewing powder that they use when manufacturing the sleeves, which is created specifically for this purpose. 

It is quite expensive for what it is, but it comes in a special package that makes the application of the powder very easy and comfortable. 

However, if you don’t want to spend that much on a renewing powder, I have good news for you:

There is a cheaper alternative!

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2. Using the simple cornstarch from your local food shop

Fleshlight renewing powder is basically cornstarch. 

Yes, you heard me right: simple cornstarch you use for cooking and can buy in bulk on amazon.com.

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Other Fleshlight Refresher Products To Consider

This big bag of renewal powder will last you a long time and can be used with any of your sex toy sleeves. It’s basically cornstarch, but a much finer grade than you’d find at the store, so it won’t clump up when you apply it. And, it’s not too expensive either.

To use it, all you have to do is put a little bit into a clean plastic back along with the inner sleeve of your Fleshlight and then roll the sleeve inside the bag so that all the surfaces get covered with the powder.

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This is a slightly more specialized powder for a more realistic-feeling sleeve to maintain its skin-like texture. After a wash, your toy’s texture might feel a little rubbery. Simply sprinkle a fine powder coating on it, and it’ll feel like new once again. A little bit of this powder goes a long way!

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How NOT To Clean Your Sleeve

I see men online often disregard the recommended cleaning methods and then complain about their Fleshlight being ruined after a few months. 

Don’t be one of those men. 

If you want to preserve your sleeve and use it for more than a few months, I recommend you stay away from these methods: 

1. Don’t turn your Fleshlight inside out

It might be tempting to do so as it would be so much easier to make sure that everything is clean. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s okay to turn your Fleshlight inside out, the answer is:

You can, but you risk ruining it and maybe even getting infected. 

So, as I always say, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

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2. Don’t use soap

I don’t care if the sky is falling, the aliens are attacking the Earth, or the zombie apocalypse starts. 

Never use soap to clean your fleshlight. 

The material it’s made of, SuperSkin, is also SuperSensitive, and ingredients inside the soap ruin it. 

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3. Don’t use a regular sex toy cleaner 

I know that if you’re an avid sex toy user, you might think that one size fits all, and it’s OK to use a regular sex toy cleaner on your Fleshlight. 

But it’s a big NO-NO. 

Once again, because of the unique SuperSkin material, all the ingredients that are found in regular sex toy cleaners can harm your sleeve very easily. 

If you want a cleaner, get the Fleshlight one, or use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol ONLY.

Unless you like buying new Fleshlights every three months or so, then go for it!

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4. Don’t use hand sanitizer

The same as with soap and other sex toy cleaners, ingredients found in the hand sanitizers will ruin the texture of your sleeve. 

So, stay away from them. 

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My Tips For Improving Your Fleshlight Experience

OK, so as we’re already talking about caring for your fleshlight and how to maintain it, I thought I share these two suggestions to make your experience better. 

My two tips for you:

1. Use ONLY water-based lube with your fleshlight

Always use lube with your Fleshlight. It’s so much better than going at it without.

But ONLY use water-based lube.

Fleshlight is made for a super-sensitive material that doesn’t go well with oil-based lubes, and they recommend using ONLY water-based ones. 

They have one that is good on their website: 

However, if you don’t want to get that one, Lovehoney has a wide array of other water-based lubes here.

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2. Get multiple sleeves if you want to use it more than once a week

This way, not only can you pleasure yourself more often and don’t have to wait around, but it also encourages you to try different texture sleeves, which is always so much fun.

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The Uncomfortable Talk: My Fleshlight Smells And Has Mold, What Do I Do?

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, I feel you. 

It’s terrifying when you see small black dots inside the sleeve and when it loses its neutral smell and starts stinking. 

No one wants to deal with mold.

I mean, if you’re brave enough and don’t mind risking, you can do some extra washes with the Fleshlight Cleaner or use mold remover and bleach. 

But I don’t recommend it. 

As we discuss at the beginning of this post, it’s better not to risk the health of your penis. 

You’re better off going and getting yourself a new Fleshlight and start taking better care of it!

But seriously, if you decide to go and remove the mold, do it at your own risk and know that it might not end well. 

But kudos for being a brave one! 

Don’t forget to share your experience on Reddit so the rest of us know what we can expect. 

Note about the smell: 

If you notice that your fleshlight started smelling a little bit, it might not be too late to save it. 

It can be a sign of mold, but if you can’t see anything inside, you can try washing it a few times and sanitizing it better. 

Also, take time to dry it extra well and see if the smell goes away and if the inside of the sleeve looks good. 

However, if the smell doesn’t go away or you start seeing the mold forming, it’s time to say bye-bye and order yourself a new one!

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Other People’s Tips & Experience

It’s always good to check out other people’s experiences because, believe it or not, thousands more just like you are concerned with Fleshlight care.

Here are a few experienced Fleshlight users who have shared their Fleshlight cleaning experience.

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Conclusion

And here you have it – absolutely everything you need to know about cleaning, drying, and maintaining your fleshlight. 

Honestly, fleshlights are a really good time but can be a pain in the ass to take care of.

However, if we look at the bright side – once you learn to care for your fleshlight properly, you can start thinking about getting a pet. Or, you can learn how to clean sex toys and then build yourself a collection of pleasure toys for every mood.

You know that you’ll be ready for it!

But seriously, I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to clean a Fleshlight, and if you have any questions, leave them in the comments.