If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we should all try to be more mindful about sanitization — especially when it comes to the most sensitive areas of your body. While it may not seem sexy, cleaning your sex toys can just be another (perhaps the last) step when you masturbate or play with a partner. Just as you wash your body after sex and rigorously wash your hands after…well, touching anything, cleaning sex toys is crucial to being as safe and healthy as possible. Below, We've rounded up the best sex toy cleaners worth investing in to ensure you're using your toys in the safest and healthiest way possible. Clean sex toys are also among the strongest pillars of a safe and healthy sex life,” says sex and relationships advisor for Peaches and Screams, Barbara Santini. “Sex toys require high hygienic standards to keep away infections, including STIs. Cleaning also helps keep them in good shape for future use.” Washing sex toys before you use them is also a good idea because they can accumulate dust and dirt while sitting in your drawers, which can majorly throw off your vaginal pH. Once you've pinned down which sex toy is best and safest for you, you'll want to make sure that you're cleaning it properly after each use (even if you're tempted to catch some z's!) But don't stress, that's where sex toy cleaners come in: "There are toy cleaners out there if you want to do the clean-up job from the comfort of your bed," says Fine. FYI: If you have pets, that “other debris” will likely include pet hair, and that gets on everything.

You can, and probably should, think about how you're going to clean a new toy even before purchasing one. Look for nonporous material, such as silicone, because a porous sex toy is more likely to hold harmful bacteria according to Laurie Mintz. Mintz is a Ph.D., author of Becoming Cliterate and A Tired Woman’s Guide to Passionate Sex as well as the "sexpert" for sex toy brand LELO. When storing your toys, keeping them separate is a good idea, especially when it comes to certain materials, according to Deysach. This water-based cleaner (also available in travel size!) is safe to use with all toys. Just give 'em a thorough spritz, and they'll be good as new. What sex toy cleaner ingredients should I watch out for? Ya, it’s not super sexy to think about, but your toys can (and will!) accumulate lots of lube, bacteria, and bodily fluids if you’re not keeping ’em clean, even if you’re using them just to masturbate. And according to Engle, it’s even more important to keep things sanitized when you use toys made with porous materials (such as PVC, elastomer, and jelly rubber)—unless, ofc, you like yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis.

Depending on your budget or what you and your partner(s) are comfortable with, either use a separate toy for each partner or use condoms. "To maintain the cleanliness of the toy it’s best to cover insertive toys with a condom and switch out the condom when switching orifices," Bard says. We know it’s tempting, but after cleaning and drying your beloved sex toys, don’t just stuff them in your bedside drawer. Even if it’s your designated place for sex toys, there’s probably a bunch of lint and dust in your drawer, and (as we mentioned) you don’t want that stuff inside you. When it comes to storage, you have a few options: Safety is the most important element to consider when looking for a toy cleaner. Ensure that there are no harmful chemicals in the cleaning agent, such as glycerin, triclosan, alcohol and parabens. You will also want to avoid sulfates, phthalates, synthetic dyes and fragrances, chlorine and formaldehyde. Ahead, we talked to a panel of sexperts and field tested a few sex toy cleaners to find the best ones that will help keep your prized rigs squeaky clean, after doing the dirty. Many people love using coconut oil as lube because of its effectiveness as a natural moisturizer. If you try this, just be careful. "Oil-based lubricants are used for sexual activity; however they can break down condoms, stain sheets, and be messy," sexuality expert Kelly J. Connell, M.S. Ed., previously told Elite Daily. Plus, coconut oil can sometimes disrupt the vaginal pH, so it’s not the best choice for people prone to UTIs or yeast infections. But as a massage oil on other parts of your body, it’s a safe and great-smelling natural option. 9. Spatula

Some final advice from Deysach about storing your sex toys: For the sake of longevity, store any battery-operated toys with the batteries outside the toy. Batteries can drain or corrode if left in toys too long. There are some handy-dandy sex toy storage containers you can buy, but chances are you have something lying around the house that’ll work just fine, like: One way to decrease that risk of an infection is to actually use a condom with your sex toy. "Using a condom can help decrease the risk of transmitting bacteria, especially when sharing toys between partners," says Fine. "You’ll just want to make sure you use a condom-safe lube." (Translation: one that's water-based.) Keeping them clean is all about storage.

Also known as benzene methanol or phenylcarbinol, benzyl alcohol is a preservative found in many skincare, cosmetic, and personal products, and while it’s generally safe for topical use, Santini says it can trigger irritation in vaginas. It’s also a good idea to skip anything with fragrance, parabens, and triclosan (which is an antimicrobial agent that potentially poses health risks). Figure Out Your Priorities Realistically, it's important to have the best sex toy cleaners on hand in your bedroom. It may not be the sexiest thing to think about, but if you own one or more sex toys, the two go hand in hand. “When toys aren't cleaned properly between uses, they can spread vaginal infections and even STIs,” says Monica Grover, D.O., a board-certified gynecologist at VSPOT Sexual Health Spa in a chat with our sister team at GLAMOUR US. “They should be cleaned before and after each use,” she notes, adding that many could use cleaning even if you haven't used them in a while. Borosilicate glass and stainless-steel toys are the only ones safe for bleaching, Finn says, but you really don’t have to take this extra step. Washing as directed above is absolutely enough. If you do decide to bleach a sex toy, though, you want a weak solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, Finn says. Let the toy soak for 10 to 15 minutes, rinse it off thoroughly, then wash it with mild soap and water. Bleach is persona non grata for your vagina and related parts. You need to make sure there’s not a trace left before using the toy.