Let's set the scene. You have a rose toy - or other silicone Pika Vibe toys. You're lying in a puddle of oxytocin, legs not quite sturdy after an intense play session with your Pika friends - and maybe even your other half. Getting cleaned up is easy. You hop into a hot shower and get soapy - but how do you clean your sex toys?
It might be as simple as grabbing a wet facecloth with a bit of dish detergent or a toy cleaner and giving it a good wipe down and rinse under warm water. However, sometimes your toys need a good clean.
So before you throw your Pika Vibes into the dishwasher (please don't do this - they will most likely not survive) or the microwave (unless you want your microwave to blow up, don't try sterilizing them in there), here is everything you need to know about cleaning your vibes.
How to Clean Your Rose Toy
Before we dive into the nitty gritty of how to properly clean your sex toys, we will dive into a quick guide on how to clean your rose vibrator! You may be wondering who invented the rose toy? Fortunately, the Pika Vibe Blossom Suction Rose Toy and Blossom Pro Suction Rose Toy are the original rose toys to come with a removable suction cap, which makes them so easy to clean!
-
Remove the suction cap!
-
Surface-clean your rose vibrator by washing it with mild soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Let the vibrator air dry for 24 hours before your next play session. This ensures your toy will be free of any residual icky bacteria.
-
Alternatively, opt for a specialized spray or sex toy cleanser. Apply the product liberally and leave it on the toy for 5-10 seconds, then wipe it off with a damp cloth, or rinse it off.
-
Store vibrators and other sex toys individually in clean carrier bags, in air-tight cases, or PU lined bags, keep them in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Best Easy-To-Find Sex Toy Soaps
When in doubt, grab some dish soap. Mild dish or liquid soap is made to be gentle and safe to use on things that you will come into contact with regularly, i.e., cutlery, crockery, and food prep utensils. It is mild enough to be used on your toys and strong enough to properly clean them without damaging their material.
Still not sure whether you can use the soap you have at home? Let us take the mystery out of cleaning your favorite Pika vibes - Wicked Foam & Fresh Sex Toy Cleaner is your perfect toy cleaning companion - with antibacterial properties and safe essential oils it leaves your toys squeaky clean!
Do I Need Sex Toy Cleaners?
The Short Answer: Nope, you don't need any fancy sex toy cleaners that are scented with ingrediants like like ylang-ylang or patchouli, and you should most definitely avoid or bleach to clean your sex toys. A mild dish detergent will work just fine for most sex toys.
However, choosing one compatible with silicone is essential when opting for a toy cleaner. It can be tempting to use a strong sanitizer, especially if you have an anal toy that you want to clean up; however, ensuring that the ingredients are compatible with your toy will ensure that it is safe to use AND clean.
Some sanitizer products can erode silicone! So we recommend you use a safe sex toy cleaner like Wicked Foam & Fresh Sex Toy Cleaner.
How Long Do Rose Toys Take To Clean?
This depends on how dirty they are and how much lube you have in the nooks and crannies! Deep cleans with warm, soapy water and a few Q-tips can take around 2-5 minutes. However, if you are wiping your toy down with a spritz of sex toy cleaner and a cloth or a wipe - you should be able to leave it clean enough to pack away in about a minute or less.
Can I wash Sex Toys With Soap and Water?
When it comes to Pika Vibes - you absolutely can use water and soap to clean your Pika Vibes. While they are battery-operated toys, they are waterproof and can be cleaned with warm water and a soapy washcloth! Get into the nooks and crannies - remove the top suction cap from your Rose Toy to make sure you get it as clean as possible.
Is Basic Surface Cleaning Enough?
Basic surface wipe-downs are acceptable for the short term. It is, best to clean your rose toy properly, ensuring there is no residue left in the side of the clitoral suction cap or in-between the petals of the Pika Flora!
Leaving residue can create an unsavory environment where bacteria can thrive and ultimately damage your toy's lifespan.
Can I Clean Sex Toys With Wipes?
Absolutely. There are specific sex toy cleaning wipes that you can purchase. Alternatively, water-based wipes with no additional chemicals or essential oils can clean your favorite Pika toys. However, it is important to note that a wipe down with a wipe might not be the best cleaner in the long run.
Instead, aim to wipe them down for a quick clean, leaving a proper cleaning for later. It is important to clean and disinfect toys properly if you are using them with a partner or changing sexual partners. This ensures that you keep the germ transfer to a minimum!
How to Store Sex Toys to Keep Them Clean
Storage is one of the most important concepts when keeping your toys clean, protected, and private. Try not to keep your Pika Rose Toy stored in your travel toiletry bag where it can get coated in toothpaste - I guarantee that the sting from toothpaste won't feel great. Instead, keep your Pika toys in the handy micro-fiber storage pouch that comes with it.
Make sure you store your sex toys in a clean container or an easily cleanable bag or box; picnic baskets lined with PU or makeup bags are the best options as they can be cleaned - try not to store them in a dark, damp area.
Before putting them away, make sure they are completely dry. Putting them away before allowing them to air dry properly can result in mold or a breakdown of your toys.
Are There Any Risks?
This is perhaps the not-so-glamourous side of owning personal pleasure products - unless you have a thing for cleaning - (we all watch CleanTok marathons - no shame there). It is vital to make sure that your toys are clean especially if you have used your toys for any butt play, whether inserted or just teased!
Using toys that have not been properly cleaned can lead to a pretty nasty UTI or an infection. Body fluids and waste products can transfer onto pleasure buddies - this makes it extremely important to clean them properly, especially if you have multiple partners or change partners.
Getting to The Deepest Corners
Bodily fluids can get stuck in the crevices, so try to get them squeaky clean between play sessions. Use a Q-tip or a soft tooth brush and some paper towels to make the cleanup process easier.
Always allow your toys to be left out on a clean towel - air drying for long enough to be completely dry before throwing them into your storage bag.
Try not to store toys made of non-porous materials with porous toys - especially if many toys live in the same makeup bag! Porous toys carry a lot more risk as they have places for the germs to hide, and it is virtually impossible to kill germs properly on porous materials.
Cold Hard Facts:
In a 2014 study reaseachers found that in some cases, HPV could be detected on the surfaces of sex toys and vibrators for up to 24 hours after standard cleaning.
This is where the UV light comes in handy and also leaving your toys out to dry properly for at least 24 hours between sessions.
It also means that you don't have to share your friends until you are totally committed to a person - or keeping them strictly for solo play sessions!
You can read the study here - if you are curious!
When to Skip UV Sanitizers
A sanitizer is just that it sanitizes - it does not clean your toys. So, throwing your toys into a UV sanitizer bag is much like using a shake-and-bake pancake batter without adding the milk and eggs. It won't do much; toys need to be cleaned - wiped down, love gunk removed, and the usual bells and whistles.
It is especially important to properly clean any anal toys or sex toys that have been shared with a partner after every use. Some of our customers prefer to deep clean and use a UV sanitizer bag as an added layer of protection!
UV light is used in sanitizer bags - these rays are intended to kill bacteria; however, your toys still need a clean surface. These bags form part of the cleaning process; however, they are not the complete process.
Read more about how UV rays are big bad germ killers here!
What Not to Do When Cleaning Sex Toys
Now that you know how to clean your sex toys properly - what should you avoid?
-
Unless your user manual states otherwise, do not use boiling water - nor should you submerge your Pika Rose Toy in boiling water to clean them.
-
Harsh cleaners - some antibacterial soap brands can contain harsh chemicals - or other ingredients that might not be safe to use on your toys. Make sure to check that they are mild - alternatively, avoid them entirely.
-
Do not scourer them with a brillo pad either!
-
Don't polish any stainless steel toys!
Also don't soak them in water over night and unless the manual says to boil it in a pot of water - don't. :)
You'll thank us later.
How To Clean Toys of Different Materials
Not all sex toys are made alike. While Pika Vibes, such as the Rose toy, is made with body-safe medical grade silicone and can be cleaned with conventional silicone-safe toy cleaners or a mild soap - not all toys are made alike.
If you need to clean a range of toys, here is a quick guide to ensuring you get the most out of your toys, no matter the material!
Always read your toy's manual; this will save you plenty of time and effort, not to mention avoiding breaking your toys! Make sure your toys are dishwasher safe before using them as your quick-fix toy cleaner.
A note before we dive in...
One thing remains certain - any nonporous toys need to be washed in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Think of your toys like additional limbs - you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds so wash your toys for that long too!
Afterall if you have used your hand in a play session you will know exactly how much you need to clean your toys!
Say it with us - a silicone toy is like an extra hand you don't show your family - but make sure to keep it just as clean!
Borosilicate glass toys - WARM soapy water soak them in there for a while, clean them off, give it a good rinse and leave it out to dry!
Hard plastic - A wipe down with a good sex toy cleaner - do not put these in the dishwasher unless instructed to do so.
Stainless steel - you should be able to submerge these in boiling water and depending on whether they are full stainless steel or not you might be able to use these in the top rack of a dishwasher after you have wiped it down and cleaned any bodily fluids off of it! Try not to place any anal toys in your dishwasher (unless you have a designated toy dish washer? but that could be a little strange and hard to explain)
Toys with a motor inside - if you are not sure what the material is, but your toy has a motor inside - avoid submerging it entirely - instead wipe it down with a warm wet cloth, use a soft bristled tooth brush to clean in any crevices and wipe it down again when you're done.
Concluding How You Should Clean Your Rose Toys
To conclude - it is important to CLEAN your rose toy after every use. Wipes will do in a pinch however as soon as you can deep clean them with warm soapy water, a washcloth and a soft toothbrush - get in all the nooks and crannies - removing the suction cap!
Make sure your toys are DRY as the Sahara before packing them away. Try not to share if your favorites unless you follow proper aftercare!
Most importantly proper cleaning can lead to prolonging your Pika friends lifespan and will help you get the most out of every single orgasm!
