Cleaning silicone when using toys on different people?

Contributor: sol sol
I'm just wondering how you should clean silicone vibrators if you're going to be using them one different people: I'm a guy that's buying one for foreplay and I was wondering how one would go about cleaning them from person to person: especially if one person has an std.

Fyi: I'm not poly, I just want a toy that I can keep over and use with whomeever I'm with.
03/30/2013
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Contributor: GingerAnn GingerAnn
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03/30/2013
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Silicone dildos (without motors) can generally be boiled, cycled through the dishwasher on the "sanitize" cycle (top rack, no detergent), or soaked in a 10% bleach solution.

Silicone vibrators (with motors) can be soaked in a 10% bleach solution - that's 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.

Hope this helps!


(Another option is to always slip the toy inside a fresh condom before use, thus meaning you wouldn't have to worry about sanitizing it.)
03/30/2013
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
Silicone dildos (without motors) can generally be boiled, cycled through the dishwasher on the "sanitize" cycle (top rack, no detergent), or soaked in a 10% bleach solution.

Silicone vibrators (with motors) can be soaked in a 10% ... more
Just an fyi, dishwashers typically don't reach high enough temperatures to clean any better than hot soap and water. You can do it, but there really isn't any benefit.
03/30/2013
Contributor: Gone (LD29) Gone (LD29)
Quote:
Originally posted by sol
I'm just wondering how you should clean silicone vibrators if you're going to be using them one different people: I'm a guy that's buying one for foreplay and I was wondering how one would go about cleaning them from person to person: ... more
As has already been commented, a 10% bleach solution is probably the best way to go.

Just my 2 cents though, even if a toy has been fully sterilized I know a lot of people have a stigma about using toys that have been used by someone else. Especially if it was a toy used for couples play in a previous relationship. I'm not saying not to do it, but don't be surprised if you occasionally get that reaction.
03/30/2013
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
Just an fyi, dishwashers typically don't reach high enough temperatures to clean any better than hot soap and water. You can do it, but there really isn't any benefit.
My understanding is that newer dishwashers that have a "sanitize" cycle do get hot enough to kill microbes/germs. (Certainly not to the sterile level, however.) Especially if they're rated to meet NSF/ANSI standards for sanitizing, they will reach 140-155 degrees at a minimum on the sanitize cycle.

Just running it through a normal dishwasher cycle certainly won't do anything for it though, that is for sure!
03/30/2013
Contributor: Lioncub Lioncub
I use a 10% bleach solution on ours.
03/30/2013
Contributor: eri86 eri86
I find hot water and mild soap work well. But if you're planning to use this toy with each partner as they come along, you should cover it with a condom each time.
03/31/2013
Contributor: freeport freeport
So is the battery compartment not harmed by the bleach solution? Or do you need to arrange the toy in a way so only the silicone is submerged?
04/01/2013
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
Quote:
Originally posted by freeport
So is the battery compartment not harmed by the bleach solution? Or do you need to arrange the toy in a way so only the silicone is submerged?
This is assuming that the toy is completely waterproof and that the battery cap is made of an inert material. If the toy is completely waterproof, and the battery cap is made of ABS plastic (for example) it should be fine to be submerged in the bleach solution.

If your toy is NOT waterproof, or the battery cap is NOT made of an inert material (including but not limited to: glass, metal, ceramic, ABS plastic, silicone) then it would be best to arrange it so that only the 100% silicone body is submerged in the bleach solution.
04/01/2013
Contributor: freeport freeport
Quote:
Originally posted by indiglo
This is assuming that the toy is completely waterproof and that the battery cap is made of an inert material. If the toy is completely waterproof, and the battery cap is made of ABS plastic (for example) it should be fine to be submerged in the ... more
Oh, cool. That's a huge relief for a germaphobe like me! Now I'll be less reluctant to look at battery-powered toys. Thanks, indiglo!
04/01/2013
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
You are quite welcome! I can understand the germ concern 100% (I'm a recovering germ-a-phobe myself! ).
04/01/2013