Yes. A toy cleaner is for the toy, and it comes off with water before the toy goes anywhere near your body. People with sensitive skin sometimes wonder whether a toy cleaner like ours, Clean, is safe for them, and the answer starts with where the cleaner goes: on the toy, which is rinsed before it's used.
This article answers that one question properly: why the rinse matters, how to dry a toy so it stays clean, and what to do with toys that can't be cleaned well at all. Our general guide on how to clean sex toys covers cleaning by material, so we won't repeat it here.
In this article
- Where a toy cleaner goes, and where it doesn't
- Why the rinse matters
- How to use Clean, step by step
- Drying and storing a toy
- Porous and non-porous toys
- When a toy needs replacing
- Frequently asked questions
Where a toy cleaner goes, and where it doesn't
A toy cleaner is a product for a surface. You spray it on the toy and work it over every part with your hands or a cloth before washing it off. At no point is it meant to sit on your skin or go inside your body.
The Clean page says this in its safety notes: it's for external use only, it shouldn't be swallowed, and it should be kept away from the eyes. It also asks you to test it on a small area of the toy first, in case a material reacts badly.
So if you have sensitive skin, the cleaner itself isn't what touches you. What touches you is the clean, rinsed, dry toy. That's the reason the rinse step exists, and it's why we'd never skip it, even with a gentle formula.
Why the rinse matters
Every cleanser works the same basic way. It loosens lube and body fluids from a surface so water can carry them off. If you don't rinse, part of what you loosened stays on the toy, along with the cleanser that loosened it.
There's a skin reason too. The NHS lists soaps and detergents among the most common irritants behind contact dermatitis, a red, itchy reaction where something touched the skin. A mild cleanser is far gentler than a dish soap, but any cleanser is still something you'd rather not leave against thin, warm, covered skin. Rinsing removes the question, and if a red, itchy patch shows up after using a toy and doesn't settle within a few days, a doctor or pharmacist can help find the cause.
Rinsing also helps with the feel of the toy. Clean contains vegetable glycerin and jojoba oil, and a quick rinse takes off anything left so the surface is ready for lube.
Why we use a mild formula anyway
Rinsing is the safety step, but what's in the bottle still matters, because a little can stay in seams and grooves. Clean is distilled water, eastern white cedar hydrosol (water distilled from the plant), polyglucose (a mild plant-derived cleanser), vegetable glycerin, jojoba oil and potassium sorbate as a preservative. It has no fragrance and no alcohol.
The fragrance point matters for intimate skin. DermNet, the dermatology reference, says fragrance allergy is second only to nickel as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis, and fragrance turns up in far more products than perfume.
How to use Clean, step by step
These steps come from the Clean label, with a few notes from us.
- Shake the bottle.
- Spray directly on the toy. Cover every surface, including the base, any seams and the area around buttons.
- Rub it over the whole toy with clean hands or a clean cloth. Pay attention to ridges and joins, where lube tends to collect.
- Rinse with water. Warm running water is easiest. For a toy with a motor, check that it's waterproof first. If it isn't, wipe it with a damp cloth instead of holding it under the tap, and keep water away from the charging port.
- Let it air dry completely before you store it or use it.
Clean works on the non-porous materials its page lists: silicone, rubber, latex, glass, stainless steel and ABS (a hard plastic). If you're not sure what a toy is made of, our article on whether your sex toys are safe explains how to tell.
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spray | Cover every surface, base and seams included | Lube and fluids collect in joins |
| Rub | Hands or a clean cloth, about 20 to 30 seconds | Loosens what's on the surface |
| Rinse | Warm water until the surface feels clean | Takes off loosened residue and the cleanser |
| Dry | Air dry fully, on a clean cloth or paper towel | A damp toy in a closed bag stays damp |
| Store | A breathable pouch, one toy per pouch | Keeps dust off and materials apart |
Clean ships in two sizes, 4 oz at $16 CAD ($12 USD) and 8 oz at $24 CAD ($18 USD). The full ingredient list and both sizes are on the Clean page.
One buyer told us what they liked about the spray: "The spray top is very practical and delivers a very fine mist for your toys. I also love that I can use this on all my toys because it's compatible with so many different materials." (D.I., verified buyer, August 2024).
Drying and storing a toy
Drying is easy to rush, and it's the step that decides whether a clean toy stays clean. A toy put away wet sits in a closed, dark, damp space, and damp is where microbes do well.
Dermatologists give the same advice for razors. The American Academy of Dermatology says to let a razor dry completely between shaves to prevent bacteria from growing on it, and never to leave it in the shower. A toy is no different.
A few habits help:
- Air dry on a clean surface. A fresh cotton cloth or a paper towel works. A used bath towel can leave lint and whatever it picked up from you.
- Let water drain from any openings. Turn the toy so water runs out of a suction base or a hollow part.
- Wait until it's fully dry, inside and out, before it goes into a pouch. Give it a few minutes longer than you think it needs.
- Store it in something breathable. A cotton or satin pouch lets air move. A sealed plastic bag holds moisture in.
- Keep toys apart, one per pouch, so a toy you didn't use stays as clean as you left it.
If a toy has been in a drawer for a while, a quick clean and rinse before you use it again takes a minute and removes dust and lint.
Porous and non-porous toys
How well any cleaner works depends on what the toy is made of. Non-porous materials, such as medical-grade silicone, glass and stainless steel, have a closed surface. What's on them stays on the surface, where cleaning and rinsing can reach it.
Softer, cheaper materials such as jelly and many elastomers are different. Their surface has tiny pores that can hold on to residue even after a good wash.
One small study shows the difference. Researchers had 12 women use two vibrators, one made of thermoplastic elastomer and one of silicone, then clean them with a commercial cleaner. Among the toys that still tested positive for HPV right after cleaning, 2 of 5 elastomer toys were still positive 24 hours later, and none of the silicone toys were. It's a small study, and the researchers called for better evidence on cleaning, but the direction is clear.
What that means in practice:
- For a toy you keep for years, pick a non-porous material. Our vibrators and plugs are medical-grade silicone.
- For a porous toy you already own, a condom over it each time is the simplest protection.
- Never share a porous toy between partners or move it from one body area to another without a fresh condom.
When a toy needs replacing
Even a well-kept toy wears out. These are the signs we'd act on, whatever the material:
- A crack, tear or split, however small. A break in the surface is a place cleaning can't reach.
- A sticky or tacky feel that doesn't wash off, or a surface that has turned rough.
- A smell that stays after a proper clean, rinse and dry.
- Spots or a cloudy patch that come back after cleaning.
- A porous toy you've had a long time. Porous materials break down faster, and you can't see inside the pores.
If a toy shows any of these, it's time to let it go. For an electric toy, check the warranty first if the problem is a defect rather than wear. The Uno page, for example, states a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects.
Once you've settled on a routine, the cleaner question is mostly a cost question. Our article on toy cleaner or soap and water compares the options side by side, with what each one costs.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to rinse off toy cleaner?
Yes. Spray the cleaner on the toy, rub it over every surface, then rinse it off with water and let the toy air dry completely. Rinsing takes away what the cleaner loosened, along with the cleaner itself, so nothing is left on the toy when it touches your skin. The Clean label includes the rinse as a step.
Can toy cleaner go on my skin?
A toy cleaner is made for toys, so it shouldn't go on your body or inside it. The Clean page lists it for external use only and says to avoid the eyes and not to swallow it. If you rinse the toy well and let it dry, the cleaner never needs to touch your skin at all.
How long should a toy dry before I put it away?
Until it's fully dry inside and out, which usually means a little longer than you'd guess. Set it on a clean cloth or paper towel and turn it so water drains from any base or opening. A toy put into a pouch while still damp stays damp, and that's where microbes grow.
Is it safe to use a toy cleaner if I have sensitive skin?
A toy cleaner doesn't go on your skin, so the toy is what touches you, and it should be rinsed and dry by then. If your skin reacts easily, choose a cleaner with no fragrance and no alcohol, rinse well, and stop if anything bothers you. Clean has no fragrance and no alcohol. Irritation that lasts more than a few days is worth showing a doctor or pharmacist.
Can I use toy cleaner on a porous toy?
You can, but no cleaner fully reaches inside a porous material. In one small study, an elastomer toy still carried HPV a day after cleaning while a silicone toy didn't. For a porous toy, use a fresh condom each time, never share it, and replace it once it shows wear.
How often should I clean my toys?
Clean a toy after every use, and give it a quick clean and rinse before using it again if it has been stored for a while. A toy that has gone from one body area to another, or between partners, needs a full clean in between, or a fresh condom.
Sources
- Soaps and detergents as common skin irritants: NHS, Contact dermatitis
- Fragrance as a leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis: DermNet, Fragrance allergy
- Letting a razor dry fully between uses: American Academy of Dermatology, How to shave
- HPV on elastomer and silicone toys before and after cleaning: Anderson and others, Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2014, PubMed 24739872
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 Clean product page and label; the buyer quote is copied exactly from a verified review on our store. This article is general information, not medical advice.