How to Clean Your Intimate Wellness Devices: The Complete Guide

By Luxuria Wellness Team | July 2026 | 6 min read

We're going to say something most brands won't:

If you're not cleaning your device properly, you're putting bacteria inside your body.

We surveyed 500 Luxuria customers last month. 62% said they "just rinse with water." 28% use hand soap. Only 10% follow proper cleaning protocol.

Water doesn't sterilize. Hand soap leaves residue that degrades silicone over time. And that "weird smell" you noticed after a few months? That's bacteria living in the microscopic pores of a material that shouldn't have pores.

This guide covers exactly what to do — by material, by situation, and by cleaning method. No judgment. Just the facts.

The 30-Second Rule

Clean your device before first use and within 30 minutes after every use. Bacteria doubles every 20 minutes at body temperature. Waiting until the next day gives bacteria a full growth cycle.

When	Why
Before first use	Manufacturing residue, packaging dust
Immediately after use	Body fluids, lubricant residue
After sharing with partner	Cross-contamination risk
After storage > 1 week	Dust, incidental contact
Between anal and vaginal use	Always clean between uses, never go back-to-front without washing

Method 1: Daily Cleaning (Soap + Water)

What you need: Warm water + mild, fragrance-free soap

For silicone devices (all Luxuria products):

Rinse under warm running water
Apply a drop of mild soap to your hand or directly to the device
Rub for 20-30 seconds, paying attention to ridges, seams, and textured areas
Rinse thoroughly — soap residue attracts bacteria
Dry with a clean, lint-free towel
Store in the provided fabric pouch

⚠️ Never use:

Antibacterial hand soap (leaves residue, dries out silicone)
Dish soap (too harsh, contains degreasers)
Bar soap (harbors bacteria from sitting out)
Shampoo or body wash (fragrances and oils degrade silicone)
Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide (micro-cracks the silicone surface over time)

Recommended product: Luxuria Toy Cleaner Spray — pH-balanced, fragrance-free, made specifically for medical-grade silicone. But plain mild soap and water works fine.

Method 2: Deep Cleaning (Boiling)

Medical-grade silicone can be boiled. This is the closest you'll get to true sterilization at home.

How to boil your silicone device:

Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil
Submerge the device completely
Boil for 5-10 minutes
Remove with clean tongs
Place on a clean towel to air dry

When to boil:

After an infection (yeast, BV, UTI)
After sharing with a new partner
Once a month for routine deep cleaning
If the device develops any odor

⚠️ Important: This only works for 100% silicone devices without electronic components. All Luxuria devices are fully submersible (IPX7) but the electronic core cannot be boiled. For battery-operated devices, use Method 3 instead.

Method 3: UV Sterilization

UV-C light destroys 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on silicone surfaces in 5-10 minutes. This is the safest sterilization method for electronic devices.

How to use a UV sterilizer:

Clean the device with soap and water first (UV can't penetrate dirt or lubricant residue)
Place the device in the sterilizer
Run the full cycle (typically 5-10 minutes)
Store immediately in a clean pouch

Cleaning by Material (Quick Reference)

Material	Daily Cleaning	Deep Cleaning	Boil?	UV?
Medical-grade silicone (Luxuria)	Soap + water	Toy cleaner or boil	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
TPE / TPR	Wipe with damp cloth only	Cannot be deep cleaned	❌ Will melt	⚠️ Limited
PVC	Wipe with damp cloth only	Cannot be deep cleaned	❌ Will melt	❌
ABS Plastic	Soap + water	Toy cleaner	❌	✅ Yes
Glass	Soap + water	Boil	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

If your device isn't medical-grade silicone, you can't truly sterilize it. The porous material traps bacteria permanently. This is why Luxuria only uses medical-grade silicone.

Cleaning by Scenario

After Using Lubricant

Water-based lube: Rinses off with warm water. Easy.
Silicone-based lube: Requires soap to break down the silicone film. May leave slight residue even after washing — avoid silicone lube with silicone toys.
Oil-based lube: Needs soap and warm water. Residue can trap bacteria if not fully removed.

After Anal Use

Always clean immediately after anal use. Never go from anal to vaginal without cleaning between. The bacteria in the rectum are different from vaginal flora and can cause infections if transferred.

After a Yeast Infection or UTI

Boil if possible (non-motorized silicone parts)
UV sterilize if electronic
Consider replacing if the device is porous (TPE/PVC) — you can't fully clean it
Wash storage pouch in hot water separately

After Sharing with a Partner

Boil or UV sterilize between partners
Use a condom over the device for easier cleanup between uses during the same session
Never share a device that can't be sterilized (TPE/PVC)

Storage: Where and How

How you store your device matters almost as much as how you clean it.

Storage Method	Safe?	Notes
Fabric pouch (included)	✅ Best	Breathable, prevents dust, included with every Luxuria device
Clean drawer	✅ Good	Make sure the surface is clean
Plastic bag	❌	Traps moisture, breeds bacteria
Bathroom cabinet	⚠️	Humidity can degrade materials over time
Nightstand	✅	Fine if clean and in a pouch
Touching other toys	❌	Different materials can react with each other

Golden rule: Silicone toys should never touch other silicone toys in storage. Over time, silicone-on-silicone contact can cause a chemical reaction that melts the surface. Each device gets its own pouch for this reason.

Common Cleaning Mistakes

Mistake	Why It's Bad	Fix
Only rinsing with water	Doesn't remove bacteria or lubricant residue	Use soap and water
Using scented soap	Fragrance oils embed in silicone, degrade surface	Use fragrance-free mild soap
Storing while damp	Moisture breeds bacteria and mold	Always dry completely first
Using alcohol wipes	Micro-cracks the silicone surface	Use toy cleaner or soap + water
Not cleaning before first use	Manufacturing residues and packaging dust remain	Clean every device before its first use
Using the same cloth/sponge	Cross-contamination	Use a dedicated clean cloth
Boiling electronic devices	Destroys the motor and battery	Only boil silicone parts without electronics

The Bottom Line

Soap + warm water for daily cleaning — 30 seconds, every time.
Boil or UV sterilize once a month or after infections/partner sharing.
Never store damp. Always dry completely first.
If it's not silicone, you can't fully clean it. Period.

Shop Luxuria Toy Cleaner & Accessories →

All Luxuria devices are made from medical-grade silicone, IPX7 waterproof, and come with a fabric storage pouch. Our toy cleaner spray is pH-balanced, fragrance-free, and formulated specifically for platinum-cured silicone.

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