How to Clean Your Sex Toys the Right Way — Including After a Yeast Infection

Most people give their vibrator a quick rinse and call it done. That's not wrong, exactly — but it's not the whole picture either, especially if you've recently dealt with a yeast infection or any other vaginal imbalance. The question of how to clean your sex toys is one of those things people search privately at 11 p.m., and they deserve a straight answer.

Here's what actually matters, broken down by material, situation, and how thorough you actually need to be.

Why Material Is the First Thing to Get Right

Before you grab the soap, you need to know what your toy is made of — because the cleaning method depends entirely on the material, and using the wrong approach can damage a toy or, worse, leave it harbouring bacteria.

The gold standard for intimate toy hygiene is body-safe silicone. It's non-porous, meaning it doesn't have microscopic holes where bacteria, yeast, or other pathogens can hide between uses. Both the Evolved Novelties Wild Orchid Vibe and the Evolved Rechargeable Slim Vibrator are silicone toys — the Wild Orchid in a vivid pink with its distinctive dual-arm design, the Slim Vibrator in a smooth purple finish with a single control button at the base. That non-porous surface is exactly why silicone is so widely recommended for intimate use. If you want to understand more about what makes silicone body-safe, this breakdown of body-safe silicone covers it thoroughly.

Porous materials — certain rubber, jelly, or TPE toys — cannot be fully sanitised no matter how hard you scrub. If you own one and you've had a yeast infection, the honest answer is: replace it. Yeast can survive in porous surfaces and reinfect you on next use.

Everyday Cleaning: What to Do After Every Use

For silicone vibrators, the everyday routine is simple but it needs to actually happen — not just when you remember.

1. Rinse immediately after use with warm water. Don't let fluids dry on the surface.
2. Wash with a mild, fragrance-free soap — a gentle hand soap or toy cleaner works well. Avoid anything antibacterial with harsh additives, which can degrade silicone over time.
3. Pay attention to texture and seams. The Wild Orchid Vibe has a dual-arm shape with more surface variation than a straight toy, so work soap into every curve. The Slim Vibrator's smooth, tapered body is easier to clean uniformly.
4. Rinse thoroughly — soap residue left on the surface can cause irritation, especially for anyone prone to sensitivity.
5. Dry completely before storing. A clean lint-free cloth or letting it air-dry on a clean surface both work. Storing a damp toy invites mildew.

One thing worth noting for rechargeable toys: check the charging port before submerging anything. The Evolved Rechargeable Slim Vibrator has a small charging slot at the base — rinse carefully and dry that area well before charging. When in doubt, clean with a damp cloth rather than fully submerging, unless the product is explicitly rated waterproof.

After a Yeast Infection: The Extra Steps That Actually Matter

This is the part most guides skip. If you've had a yeast infection — or any other vaginal infection — and you used a toy during that time or shortly before, standard soap-and-rinse isn't enough. You need to go further.

For non-motorised, fully waterproof silicone toys: boiling is the most thorough option. Submerge the toy in boiling water for a few minutes. This kills yeast and most pathogens reliably. Do not do this with any toy that has a motor, battery, or charging component — the heat will destroy the electronics.

For motorised silicone vibrators like the Wild Orchid Vibe or the Slim Vibrator: use a 10% bleach solution (roughly one part unscented household bleach to nine parts water). Wipe down the entire surface, let it sit for a minute or so, then rinse extremely thoroughly with clean water and allow to dry completely. This is the method most sexual health practitioners recommend for motorised toys that can't be boiled.

Alternatively, a toy cleaner specifically formulated for intimate use and labelled as antibacterial can work for routine post-infection care, though the bleach solution is more reliable for a one-time deep clean after an active infection.

The other thing to do: wash or discard anything else that may have been in contact — including condoms used with the toy, and any fabric items. If you used a toy with a partner during this period, they should know so they can take the same precautions.

A Note on Novelty Items and Non-Silicone Products

Not everything in your bedside drawer is a silicone vibrator. The Edible Crotchless Gummy Panties in Watermelon — a single-use novelty item — obviously doesn't get cleaned and reused. It's designed to be worn once and eaten, which sidesteps the hygiene question entirely. Same logic applies to any edible novelty product.

For condoms like the Durex Avanti Bare RealFeel Non-Latex Condom — these are single-use by design. Never wash and reuse a condom. The Avanti Bare is made from polyisoprene rather than latex, which is worth knowing if you're latex-sensitive, but the single-use rule applies regardless of material.

Storage: The Step People Forget

Cleaning the toy and then dropping it into a dusty drawer undoes some of your work. Silicone attracts lint and dust, which then transfers during your next use. A breathable fabric pouch (many toys come with one) or a dedicated storage case keeps the surface clean between uses. Don't store two silicone toys touching each other for extended periods — silicone-on-silicone contact over time can cause surface degradation.

Keep toys away from direct sunlight and extreme heat, and away from lubricants that aren't compatible with silicone. Oil-based lubricants can degrade silicone over time. If you're unsure which lubricant to use, this guide to choosing the right personal lubricant lays out exactly what works with what.

The Short Version

Clean after every use with mild soap and warm water. Dry fully before storing. After a yeast infection, do a proper deep clean — boiling for non-motorised toys, diluted bleach solution for anything with electronics — and consider replacing any porous toys entirely. Material matters more than any cleaning product you buy.

If you're shopping for toys that make this whole process easier, starting with body-safe silicone is the best decision you can make. Browse the full range of silicone vibrators at PersonalCrave — every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging, so your privacy is protected from checkout to doorstep.