A rechargeable toy charges the way a phone does, from a cable or a case, with no batteries to swap. That saves you buying batteries, but it also means the battery's health decides how long the toy lasts. A few simple habits keep it working well and keep charging safe.
This guide covers how to charge a rechargeable toy, where and how long, what to do in cold weather and between uses, and the signs that a battery shouldn't be used anymore. Cleaning and storage go hand in hand with charging, and our article on cleaning and storing your toys covers that side in more depth.
In this article
- How a rechargeable toy charges
- Charge times for our toys
- How to charge it safely
- Water, cold and charging
- Storing it between uses
- Signs a battery shouldn't be used
- If it won't charge
- Frequently asked questions
How a rechargeable toy charges
A rechargeable toy has its battery inside the body, and you charge it through a cable or a charging case. There's no compartment to open and no battery to replace. All of our toys run on a lithium-ion battery, so everything below applies to each of them.
Health Canada notes that lithium-ion batteries are common in rechargeable products, from phones and laptops to children's toys, and that they're generally safe to use but carry risks such as overheating, fires and explosions when they're damaged, charged the wrong way or kept in the wrong conditions. Transport Canada puts it plainly: lithium batteries are considered dangerous goods for transport, and it warns that cheaper aftermarket or counterfeit batteries often don't meet safety standards.
For a toy in your drawer, that comes down to charging it the way the maker says, with the cable it came with, on a hard surface where you can see it.
Charge times for our toys
The two numbers that matter are how long a full charge takes and how long the toy runs afterward. Run time depends on speed: a toy on its lowest setting lasts longer than one at the top.
| Toy | Full charge | Run time on a full charge |
|---|---|---|
| Cakepop, mini wand | About 90 minutes, by USB | About 1 hour at the highest speed |
| Aura, air pulse | About 90 minutes, by USB | About 90 minutes at the highest speed |
| Peak, dual stimulation | About 90 minutes | About 1 hour with both motors at the highest speed |
| Glow, dual stimulation, compact | About 2 hours | About 1 hour with both motors at the highest speed |
Glow charges through its round carrying and charging case, 3.5 inches across, so the toy has one place to live and one place to charge. That also keeps it covered in a drawer or a bag.
How to charge it safely
Health Canada and Transport Canada give the same core advice for any device with a lithium-ion battery. Here it is, applied to a toy.
- Follow the manual. The maker's instructions come first. Health Canada's advice is to charge your batteries according to manufacturer instructions.
- Use the cable that came with it. Transport Canada advises using only the charging cord that came with the device. If you lose it, Health Canada says a replacement should come from a trusted source and have a voltage and current compatible with your device.
- Plug it into a certified adapter. Health Canada recommends chargers that carry a recognized Canadian certification mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL. Chargers without these marks don't meet electrical safety standards.
- Charge on a hard surface, where you can see it. Health Canada warns against charging on soft surfaces, like a couch or bed, which can trap heat around the battery. A dresser, a shelf or a desk is a better spot than the pillow next to you.
- Don't leave it charging for longer than it needs. Health Canada says overcharging can cause a battery to overheat. Unplug it once it's full, which for most of our toys is 90 minutes to 2 hours.
- Charge at room temperature. Keep it away from heaters and hot cars, and let it warm up after time in the cold (more on that below).
Before the first use
Give it a full charge. A full first charge tells you how long your toy takes to fill up, so you know what to expect the next time you plug it in.
Water, cold and charging
Dry it before you charge it. A waterproof toy can be washed under the tap, but charging is the one time it needs to be completely dry. Health Canada advises not letting moisture form on either end of a battery's terminals. On a toy, the charging contacts are the part to keep dry. After washing, pat it with a clean towel and let it air dry fully before you plug it in.
Never charge it in the bath or shower, even if the toy is waterproof. Water and a live cable don't belong together, whatever the toy's rating.
Let it warm up after the cold. If your toy has spent time in a cold car or a bag on a winter day, Health Canada advises bringing batteries to room temperature before using them, and not charging in below-zero temperatures. Give it time to warm up indoors before you plug it in.
Keep it out of the heat. Don't leave it in the sun, on a radiator or in a hot car in summer.
Storing it between uses
How you store a toy affects both the battery and the surface.
For everyday storage, wash it, let it dry, and keep it in a pouch, a drawer or its own case, away from other toys. Glow's carrying and charging case does that job.
For long breaks, such as a toy you only use when travelling, Health Canada suggests storing lithium-ion batteries with about a 50% charge and checking them every 3 months to make sure they haven't lost their charge.
Keep it somewhere dry and at room temperature, out of direct sunlight and out of reach of children.
Clean it before you put it away. A toy stored with lube on it is harder to clean later. Cleveland Clinic advises that you wash sex toys or other objects before placing them in your vagina, so a quick wash before use is worth doing too if it's been sitting a while. Our toy cleaner, Clean, is made for non-porous toys such as silicone: spray, rub, rinse with water, then let it air dry.
Signs a battery shouldn't be used
A sealed battery doesn't last forever. Over the years it holds less charge, and now and then a battery is damaged. Health Canada says not to use batteries that are swollen or dented, or that show other signs of damage or wear.
On a toy, that means stopping if you notice any of these:
- the body of the toy bulges, splits or feels puffy in one spot
- it gets hot to the touch while charging or running
- it smells of burning or of chemicals
- the surface cracks or tears near the charging contacts
Unplug it, let it cool on a hard surface, and don't charge it again. Don't try to open it or repair it, since Health Canada advises against modifying or tampering with a battery.
When a toy has reached the end of its life, it doesn't belong in the household garbage. Health Canada lists batteries as hazardous waste and asks you to check with your municipality on how to dispose of them.
If it won't charge
Most charging problems are simple. Work through these in order.
- Check the cable and the adapter. Try the cable in another USB port or adapter you know works.
- Check the contacts. Make sure the charging contacts on the toy, and on Glow's case, are clean and completely dry. Lube or lint on the contacts can stop a connection.
- Seat it properly. On a toy that charges in a case, make sure it's sitting fully in place.
- Give it time. A toy that's been completely empty for a long time can take a while to respond.
- Write to us. If none of that works, contact us with your order details. We answer within 24 to 48 hours.
Glow is $139 CAD ($99 USD), with 9 reviews averaging 5.0 on our store. It's our compact dual stimulation toy, with an internal vibration and an external air pulse, 10 speeds each, and the page mentions the latest sound-suppression technology. Our article on how quiet a quiet vibrator really is has more on that. Full details are on the Glow page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to charge a vibrator?
It depends on the toy. Our Cakepop, Aura and Peak charge in about 90 minutes, and Glow takes about 2 hours. Other toys vary, so check your manual, and unplug it once it's full rather than leaving it on the charger.
Can I leave my vibrator charging overnight?
It's better not to. Health Canada advises not charging a lithium-ion battery for longer than recommended, because overcharging can make it overheat. Charge it while you're nearby, on a hard surface rather than a bed, and unplug it once it's full.
Can I use a phone charger for my vibrator?
Use the cable that came with your toy. Transport Canada advises using only the charging cord that came with the device. A USB wall adapter is usually fine if it's certified, with a mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL, and its voltage and current are compatible with your toy.
Can I charge a waterproof vibrator when it's wet?
No. Dry it completely first, including the charging contacts. A waterproof rating covers the toy in water, and charging still needs it fully dry. Pat it dry with a clean towel and let it air dry before you plug it in.
How should I store a vibrator I don't use often?
Clean it, dry it and keep it in a pouch or case at room temperature, away from sunlight. For long breaks, Health Canada suggests storing lithium-ion batteries at about a 50% charge and checking them every 3 months so they don't run completely flat.
What should I do if my vibrator gets hot or swells?
Stop using it. Unplug it, let it cool on a hard surface, and don't charge it again or try to open it. A swollen or overheating battery is a sign of damage. When it's time to get rid of it, Health Canada asks you to check with your municipality and keep batteries out of household garbage.
Sources
- Lithium-ion battery safety, charging, storage, damage and disposal: Health Canada, Battery safety: Lithium-ion batteries
- Lithium batteries as dangerous goods, and charging tips: Transport Canada, Lithium batteries part 1
- Washing toys before use: Cleveland Clinic, Vaginitis
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Product facts come from the Cakepop, Aura, Peak and Glow product pages. Battery advice comes from Health Canada and Transport Canada. This article is general information, not medical advice.