How to store sex toys properly

The clearest summary comes from a manufacturer. ORION, behind brands such as Black Velvets and Cuties, writes in its material guide four rules: products should not be stored unprotected together because the materials can react with each other; they should be stored clean, cool, dry, and protected from sunlight; they should be put in a storage pouch or case only once they are completely clean and dry; and batteries should be removed if the product is going to be stored for a long time.

If you follow the four rules, you’ve done the most important part. The rest of this guide is about why they apply, what sets different materials apart, how you handle rechargeable toys, and how you store them discreetly or while traveling.

Storing sex toys separately is not just a matter of hygiene. Different plastics and elastomers can affect each other when they are in direct contact for a long time. ORION writes in the customer information for both Vibrating Plug Small and Cuties Mini Vibrator that the product should be stored separately from products made of other materials, to avoid chemical reactions.

Soft materials are the ones that most often cause trouble. ORION describes how plasticizers—mineral oil—over time seep out of TPE and TPR so that the surface becomes oily in spots. If such a toy lies against another, the oil can end up on the other toy, and the surface of both can become sticky. The advice about separate storage therefore applies to all materials, including silicone—ORION gives it for silicone toys such as Vibrating Plug Small.

Hard materials are less sensitive. Glass and metal do not react chemically with other toys, but they can scratch and break each other—and glass can crack if it hits something hard.

The solution is simple: one bag per toy. A fabric bag or satin pouch matters less than keeping the toys from lying against each other. Many manufacturers include a bag, and it’s enough.

Dust sticks easily to silicone and soft materials, and a toy that has been left out needs to be cleaned before it is used. A closed pouch or box keeps the dust away.

Light and heat break down certain materials. ORION writes that both PVC and latex need to be protected from prolonged exposure to light and sunlight. Satisfyer states in the quick guides for, among others, "Love Beads a storage temperature between −5 and +60 °C. So a windowsill, a radiator, or a car in summer sunlight are bad places.

Glass should be protected from rapid temperature changes. ORION warns about thermal shock, and Satisfyer forbids freezing the glass dildo.Dazzling Crystal 2. Store glass at room temperature and in a pouch or in its own compartment where it cannot roll.

Moisture is the enemy of everything. A box in a damp bathroom is worse than a dresser drawer in the bedroom. ORION writes that moisture can damage both the battery and the motor.

A lithium-ion battery doesn’t do well if it’s left completely discharged for a long time, and neither if it always sits on the charger. We-Vibe recommends in the manual for Tango XThat the product is charged regularly. ORION states that the product should be unplugged as soon as it is fully charged, and supplies its lithium batteries charged to 40–50 percent for transport reasons.

A reasonable habit is therefore to charge the toy after use, unplug it when it’s fully charged, and give it a charge from time to time if you leave it unused for a long time. LELO specifies a standby time of up to 90 days for, among others, Sona 2 and Liv 3—a hint at how long a fully charged toy holds up in the box.

Toys with regular batteries should be emptied. ORION advises removing the battery from Vibrating Plug Small after each use and, in the material guide, removing batteries during long storage. An alkaline battery left in place can leak and damage the contacts.

A travel lock prevents the toy from starting by mistake. It’s intended for the bag, but it also protects the battery in a drawer where something could press the buttons. So it is activated on a few models according to the manufacturers:

We-Vibe Tango X: hold plus and minus for two seconds. The lock releases when the product is charging.

LELO Sona 2 and Liv 3: unlock with plus and minus for three seconds.

We-Vibe Nova 2: hold plus and minus for three seconds.

Svakom Echo 2: hold both buttons for eight seconds.

Satisfyer Traveler instead has a magnetic lock which, according to the manufacturer, closes tightly around the product.

Soft, porous material sleeves require the most when it comes to storage. Fleshlight writes in its care guide that mold can grow both inside and outside the sleeve if it isn’t dried properly, and that the sleeve should be completely dry before it’s put back into the housing. The manufacturer describes three drying methods – Hang Dry, Stand Dry, and Screw Dry – and states that a Quickshot dries in 20 minutes in their drying fan, versus 60 minutes for a full-size model.

After drying, powder is sprinkled on the sleeve. Fleshlight sells its own Renewing Powder, and ORION similarly recommends a care powder for TPE and TPR. According to the manufacturers, the powder should preserve the surface and keep the material feeling fresh longer.

Then store the sleeve in its housing, cool and dry, and never against other soft toys. Compare the models in Best-in-test masturbator.

While traveling, the same rules apply, with two additions: the toy must not be able to start and it must not be able to break. Activate the travel lock or remove the batteries, and put the toy in its own bag. Glass and hard plastic need a shockproof case, or they should be packed wrapped in soft clothes.

Rechargeable toys contain a lithium battery, and airlines have their own rules for how such batteries may be packed. Rules on what may be brought into a country also differ. Therefore, check the rules with the airline and in the country you’re traveling to before you pack. More about that in Traveling with sex toys.

Discreet storage and good storage go together. A drawer or lidded box in the bedroom keeps the toys free of dust, dark, and dry, and keeps them away from other people’s eyes. If you want to be sure that no one else opens it, there are boxes and bags with locks.

One compartment per sex toy is the ideal. If you have several toys in the same box, put each toy in its own bag and lay it at the bottom or in its own compartment. Charging cables can be in the same box, but not wrapped around the toys.

If you have children or pets at home, the box should be kept high up or locked. Small toys and batteries should not be reachable.

1. Clean the toy according to the manufacturer’s instructions and rinse off all soap residue. See how to clean sex toys.

2. Let it dry completely in the air—including joints, textures, channels, and charging contacts.

3. Dust sleeves made of TPE or similar material if the manufacturer recommends it.

4. Remove regular batteries. Charge rechargeable toys, unplug them when they’re full, and activate the travel lock.

5. Put each toy in its own bag or in its own compartment.

6. Store everything cool, dry, and dark—not in the bathroom and not in the sun.

7. Check the toy before the next use: cracks, stickiness, and discoloration mean it should be replaced. Read more in how long does a sex toy last.

Putting all the toys in the same box without bags. That’s how sticky spots and scratches occur.

Putting away a damp toy. Moisture in the bag or casing can cause mold and can damage the electronics.

Storing in the original packaging for a long time. Many packages are hang cards that are not made for long-term storage and do not protect against moisture.

Forgetting the battery. A toy that’s been left with AAA batteries in it for a year may have leaking batteries, and a rechargeable battery that has been left discharged for a long time may have lost capacity.

Storing glass loose. A glass dildo that rolls against another hard toy can get a chip, and then it should not be used.