How to Clean Silicone Toys, Properly

Pure silicone is the easiest sex-toy material to keep. It is non-porous, doesn't absorb fluids, and tolerates more than buyers give it credit for. The same cannot be said of "silicone-blend" or "soft-touch silicone" toys — most of which are not silicone at all. This is the practical UK 2026 guide to cleaning, sterilising, and storing real silicone toys.

How to tell if it's actually silicone

Manufacturers labelling toys "silicone" without qualification often mean TPE, TPR, jelly, or a silicone blend. Three tests:

• The flame test (do this on the base only, briefly): real platinum-cure silicone is flame-retardant — it chars but won't burn. TPE and PVC blends melt and drip.
• The smell test: real silicone is odourless. Blends often have a faint plastic or chemical smell out of the box. If the toy "off-gasses" for the first week, it's not 100% silicone.
• The lube test: silicone lubricant applied to real silicone will react over hours — the surface becomes tacky and slightly swollen. On TPE, the silicone lube sits on top without reaction.

Reputable UK brands declare 100% platinum-cure silicone explicitly: Fun Factory, Tantus, We-Vibe, Lelo, Doxy attachments, Tomboi, Vixen. If the listing says "silicone" without the word "platinum-cure" or "medical-grade", look for a clearer declaration before buying.

Everyday cleaning

For routine post-session cleaning:

1. Warm water (not hot — boiling is for sterilisation, not everyday clean). Lukewarm is correct.
2. Fragrance-free, antibacterial soap. Carex Original or Cussons Soft & Gentle work fine. Skip anything with fragrance, citrus oils, or "moisturising" additives — they leave residue.
3. Thirty seconds of attention — front, back, every textured surface, especially the base.
4. Rinse thoroughly, then pat dry on a clean cloth or paper towel.
5. Air-dry for 10 minutes before storing. Trapped moisture in a sealed bag is the most common cause of premature toy degradation.

Total time: under 90 seconds.

Deeper sterilisation

For silicone toys without motors, batteries, or electronics, deeper sterilisation is genuinely possible — unique among toy materials.

Boiling

• Submerge in boiling water for 3 minutes. Not longer; the silicone is fine but the dyes used in colouring can fade with extended exposure.
• Use a pot reserved for the purpose (a small saucepan; not the kitchen stockpot).
• Lift out with tongs; allow to air-cool on a clean surface.

Dishwasher

• Top rack only, no detergent (residue lingers), normal cycle, no heated drying.
• Place in the upper basket where there's no direct heat element contact.
• Effective for routine deep clean; not as thorough as boiling but useful for batch-cleaning multiple silicone pieces at once.

Isopropyl alcohol (70%)

• Wipe-down with 70% IPA on a microfibre cloth. Rinse thoroughly with water afterwards — alcohol residue irritates mucous membranes.
• Useful for spot-cleaning between body parts or partners when boiling isn't practical.
• 70% IPA is the right concentration; 90%+ evaporates too fast to disinfect properly, and pure rubbing alcohol can carry skin oils that interfere with the toy surface.

When sterilisation matters

• Between partners, every time.
• Between body parts — anal use and vaginal use of the same toy without sterilisation transfers gut bacteria into the vaginal microbiome, a leading cause of UTIs and bacterial vaginosis. Either sterilise between, use a condom and change it, or own separate toys.
• After STI testing exposure if relevant.
• Before storing for an extended period (over a month).

What destroys silicone

• Silicone-based lubricant. Causes the surface to swell, tackify, and gradually break down. Use water-based with silicone toys, always. The reaction is gradual but irreversible; the toy never recovers its original surface.
• Storing toys in contact with each other. Different silicones from different manufacturers can react on prolonged contact, leaving smudges and texture changes. Store toys in breathable cotton bags (most quality manufacturers include one); not plastic, not airtight.
• Sun exposure. Coloured silicones fade in direct sunlight over months. Store in a drawer.
• Heated drying or radiators. The silicone itself tolerates heat, but pigments and bonding agents in dyed silicones can break down. Air-dry at room temperature.
• Petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or oil-based products. Less aggressive than silicone-on-silicone, but still leave a residue that's difficult to fully remove and that can attract bacteria.

Care for motorised silicone toys

• Never submerge unless explicitly rated waterproof (look for IPX5 or IPX7 ratings). Most "splashproof" toys can be rinsed under a tap but not held underwater.
• Wipe-down only for the motorised parts; the silicone exterior can still take water and soap if the battery compartment is sealed.
• Charge port care — make sure the port is fully dry before charging. Trapped moisture kills more rechargeable toys than dead batteries do.

Storage

• Breathable cotton or canvas pouch per toy — most reputable manufacturers include one in the box. Use it.
• In a drawer, room-temperature, out of direct sunlight.
• Separated from other silicone toys — minor surface interactions over months can mark even pristine silicone.
• Away from porous toys (TPE, TPR, jelly) — those materials off-gas plasticisers that silicone absorbs slowly.

Realistic lifespan

Looked after correctly: 10–15 years of regular use for a Fun Factory or Tantus piece. Looked after badly (silicone lube, no separate storage, sunlight, never sterilised): 2–4 years before noticeable degradation.

The case for buying one good silicone piece rather than three mediocre ones is durability as much as feel.

What to read next

For the broader body-safe materials breakdown, sex toy materials guide UK. For materials to avoid entirely, sex toy materials to avoid UK. For cleaning across all materials, how to clean sex toys UK. To browse the silicone toy range at BondageBox.

Frequently asked

What is how to clean silicone toys?

Pure silicone is the easiest sex-toy material to keep. It is non-porous, won't absorb fluids, and tolerates more than people give it credit for. The same cannot be said of "silicone-blend" or "soft-touch silicone" toys — most of which are not silicone at all.

Is this beginner-friendly?

Yes — this guide is written for readers new to the topic as well as those refining what they already know. Everything covered uses body-safe materials available across the BondageBox catalogue: platinum-cure silicone, medical-grade stainless steel, borosilicate glass, full-grain leather and 100% latex. No PVC, no jelly-rubber.

Where can I buy the gear mentioned in this guide?

The BondageBox catalogue covers everything referenced here, with UK next-day dispatch on in-stock items. Browse the relevant range, or jump to the glossary for plain-English UK terminology.

How discreet is delivery?

All UK orders ship in plain unmarked packaging. The sender label and bank-statement descriptor both read "BBox" — neither identifies BondageBox nor the product category. The most non-identifying discretion combination in the UK adult sector.

Where else can I read about how to clean silicone toys?

For terminology, see our glossary of UK bondage and sex-toy terms. For more editorial coverage, see the full guides index. For made-to-spec BDSM furniture, see the commission programme.

Read next

• On Leather: Bridle, Suede, and Bonded
• Latex Care: Rubbing, Polishing, and Storing
• Rope Materials Compared: Cotton, Jute, Hemp, Silk

Sources & further reading

Sterilisation, materials care, and UK public-health cleaning guidance.

• NHS — STIs and cross-contamination — NHS UK
• HSE — Blood-borne viruses guidance — Health and Safety Executive
• FPA — STI help — Family Planning Association
• WHO — STIs fact sheet — World Health Organization