About Toy Materials

The short answer is no. The longer answer is it's up to you! There is nothing magical about a sex toy cleaner, regardless of what manufacturers might suggest. There's nothing that a toy cleaner can do that warm, soapy water can't. If you want to use a toy cleaner, by all means do and follow the instructions on the packaging. If they don't suggest rinsing afterwards, we would suggest otherwise - many cleaners have perfumes or other additives that can be irritating to sensitive tissues.

We suggest using an unscented soap that you already know is non-irritating, plus rinsing well with water. Air drying is ideal after any kind of cleaning and storing in a soft, lint-free environment. Read more below for how to clean specific toy materials.

Silicone is one of our favourite toy materials! It warms quickly and maintains its heat, comes in a variety of densities and a wild variety of shapes/styles. Silicone is a synthetic rubber that is less porous than other soft toy materials, making it easy to clean and maintain. Silicone densities vary from soft "liquid" silicone to very firm. Avoid overstretching soft silicone rings and strokers as they may rip. Clean silicone products with unscented soap, or toy cleaner, rinse well and let air dry. Solid silicone toys can be boiled for up to 5 minutes; toys with a Silexpan core can be boiled for up to 2 minutes. Do not use silicone toys with silicone lubes and avoid anything sharp as it can snag and tear.

ABS plastic is firm, smooth, and non-porous. Plastic is a good option for a toy that's inexpensive and transmits vibration well, though they are sometimes louder than softer toys (check the VE noise rating on any toy you're interested in). Like those made of other hard materials, plastic toys are fun for times when a lot of pressure is nice or necessary, and can also be a good option for providing focused vibration. Plastic toys may have seams that can cause irritation or trap bacteria; check toys every so often to make sure seams are smooth to the touch. Clean with unscented soap or toy cleaner, rinse well and let air dry. Plastic toys can be sanitized with isopropyl alcohol but don't boil or bleach. Use with water or silicone-based lubes.

TPR and TPE are soft synthetic rubbers that are phthalate- and latex-free and non-toxic. Because they're so soft, these materials are an excellent choice for stretchy rings and strokers. We only carry external TPR/TPE toys because they are very porous and can't be completely sanitized. Wash with a gentle soap and warm water or a toy cleaner, rinse well and let air dry. Never boil or bleach. Store away from heat/light, and not touching other toys. Use with water-based lubricant only.

Remove the sleeve from the case and wash with a gentle soap and warm water or a toy cleaner and rinse well. Let air dry completely and do not store in an airtight container to avoid bacterial/fungal growth. Store away from heat/light, and not touching other toys. Never boil or bleach. Once air dried, dust with a little cornstarch to keep it feeling silky (talc or baby powder won't work the same - don't substitute!). Use with water-based lubricant only.

Stainless steel is a hard, non-porous material that can be easily cleaned. Some are quite heavy making them a fun choice for playing with weight and resistance. Steel is one of the hardest toy materials available, so it can provide a lot of pressure, which can be especially nice for g-spot or prostate play. On the other hand, sometimes they can feel too hard, and the larger toys may be uncomfortable for many. Great for use with any kind of lube you like! To clean, wash with hot, soapy water or use isopropyl alcohol. Dry with a soft cloth and store in their original box or a soft bag when not in use. If your stainless steel toy gets scuffed, it can easily be brought back to its original condition by buffing with a metal polishing cream. Be sure to wash with hot soapy water after polishing.

Borosilicate glass is a hard, non-porous material that can be easily sterilized. Borosilicate glass differs from regular glass as it's highly resistant to cracks and other defects. This type of glass is so hard that it's used to make medical and industrial components! This doesn't mean it can't break, only that it would take a lot of force against a hard object (stone floors for instance) to do so. Toys made of these materials can provide a lot of pressure, which can be especially nice for g-spot or prostate play. On the other hand, sometimes they can feel too hard, and the larger toys may be uncomfortable. Glass toys are often very beautiful and are appealing to those who like their toys to be as pretty as they are practical. Any type of lube works with borosilicate glass toys and, since they have very high thermal resistance (think dishwasher, freezer, and oven safe cookware), can be used for temperature play - both warm and cold. Clean in the dishwasher, with hot soapy water, or with isopropyl alcohol.

Leather is a long lasting, natural material that can get better with age. We have harnesses that are twenty years old that haven't cracked yet! Something to note is that leather is a porous material that can't be sanitized completely. Leather can be cleaned using mild soap on a soft, damp cloth, followed by wiping with a clean damp cloth. Make sure to dry thoroughly around any hardware, allow to air dry, and store in a well ventilated space. Condition new leather with Dubbin or any solvent-free conditioner, reapply when leather looks dull or dry. Remember, if you choose to use a strong cleaner on your leather, follow up with a deep conditioning.

• Waterproof toys can be safely submerged in water. Wash under running water, and dry completely before storing.
• Splashproof and water-resistant toys should not be fully submerged. Wash under running water, taking care to keep water away from sensitive areas like the charging port or battery compartment. Dry completely before storing.
• Some products (like wands) should not be cleaned under running water at all - clean with a damp cloth or toy wipes instead.

We don't carry jelly toys, such as jelly rubber and jelly vinyl, and here's why:

• Jellies aren't as long-lasting as the other materials we carry and can't be thoroughly cleaned because they are porous.
• They have an odour when removed from the package that may linger regardless of washing.
• Jellies often contain phthalates. Phthalates act as endocrine disrupters and are likely carcinogenic. The sex toy industry is largely unregulated in Canada, so just because a toy says that it's phthalate-free doesn't necessarily mean that it is.