Waterproof sex toys: what does IPX7 mean — and can you use them in the shower?

IPX7 is the enclosure rating you should look for if you want to be able to rinse, shower, or bathe with your vibrator. The rating means the product can tolerate temporary submersion in water. In the test according to IEC 60529, it is submerged to a depth of one meter for 30 minutes without water entering in a harmful amount.

That makes an IPX7-labeled vibrator suitable for use in the shower and, generally, in the bathtub. It does not make it indestructible: heat, the charging port, aging seals, and accessories like remote controls set limits that are not stated in the code itself. That’s why you should always read the manufacturer’s manual — it takes precedence over both the code and the store’s product text.

Toys without electronics — glass, metal, and full silicone — have nothing to protect and tolerate water fully. For them, water is only about lubricant and cleaning.

IP stands for “ingress protection,” meaning protection against intrusion. The code has two digits. The first indicates protection against solid objects and dust, the second indicates protection against water. An X instead of the first digit means the product is not tested for dust — that’s normal for sex toys, and it’s the second digit that’s important.

IPX4: protection against splashes from all directions. The toy can get wet, but it should be wiped off, not rinsed under the faucet, and not used in the shower.

IPX5: protection against water jets. IPX6: protection against powerful water jets. Both tolerate more than splashes, but neither is tested to be left under water.

IPX7: protection against temporary submersion, tested at a depth of one meter for 30 minutes. It’s the most common rating on vibrators marketed as waterproof.

IPX8: protection against continuous submersion under conditions that the manufacturer specifies and that must be more stringent than for IPX7. This rating is uncommon on sex toys, and because the conditions are set by the manufacturer, the number means a little without the manufacturer’s own description.

If the product lacks an enclosure rating class, you should assume it doesn’t tolerate water at all, even if the store writes “water-resistant.” Wipe it off with a damp cloth.

The word waterproof is used very differently. LELO writes “100% waterproof” on the product page for Sona 2, and in the manual and the EC declaration of conformity it says IPX7—where the words overlap. But there are also opposite examples. ORION describes Cuties Mini Vibrator as waterproof on its product page, while the customer information for the same item urges you not to submerge it in water.

And even when the manufacturer states IPX7, there can be conditions. Fun Factory says that battery-powered toys like Mr. Boss are waterproof as long as the battery compartment is properly closed. Svakom further clarifies for Echo 2 that IPX7 refers to submersion to one meter, and excludes in the warranty terms damage from submerging products that are not waterproof.

The enclosure rating is also a test result for a new product. Seals age, and We-Vibe explicitly counts gaskets as wear parts that aren’t covered by the warranty. A toy that’s been dropped, has a crack, or has a damaged charging port should no longer be treated as waterproof.

Yes, if it has IPX7 and the manufacturer doesn’t say anything else. The shower is the easiest water environment for a waterproof vibrator: the product gets wet but isn’t under water, and it can be rinsed off right after.

Think about three things. First, the lubricant: a water-based lubricant is washed away by the shower water, so you need to top up more often or switch to a silicone-based one (more on that below). Second, the grip: a wet silicone surface with lubricant is slippery, and many vibrators are heavy enough to break if dropped against a tiled floor. Third, the floor: silicone lubricant makes the shower floor slippery too, so rinse it off afterward.

For sex toys with a suction cup, the shower is a classic place, because tile and glass provide a smooth surface to attach to. Both Silexd Model 1andKing Cock Elitehas a suction cup and lacks electronics. A suction cup sticks best to a clean, smooth, and dry surface, so wipe the area before you attach it.

A bathtub is tougher than a shower. The toy sits under water, sometimes for a long time, and the water is warm. IPX7 covers submersion, but the testing applies for a limited time and says nothing about the temperature.

Temperature is the limit most often forgotten. We-Vibe states a temperature limit of 45 degrees for Tango X, and Arcwave states the same limit for the masturbator Ion 2. Check the manual for your toy and don’t let the bath water be warmer than the manufacturer’s limit.

Do not leave the toy in water when you’re not using it, and remember that accessories often have a different rating than the toy itself. We-Vibe writes in the manual for the Sync O couple’s vibrator that the remote control must not be submerged in water. Keep remote controls and phones in a dry place.

Glass dildos can handle water completely, but have their own temperature limits. Satisfyer states for Dazzling Crystal 2 a maximum of 60 °C when heated and forbids boiling water. Let the glass change temperature gradually, not directly from cold to warm.

The part of a waterproof vibrator that’s hardest to seal is the charging. Manufacturers solve it in different ways, and that affects how you should handle the toy after the water.

Magnetic charging pins sit on the surface and have no opening into the body. Womanizer Next, We-Vibe Sync O, and We-Vibe Nova 2 are charged in this way, according to the manufacturers. The pins must be completely dry before the cable is attached.

A charging outlet in the base, as on LELO’s Sona 2 and Tiani 3, must be sealed. LELO describes the charging port on the Tiani 3 as vacuum-sealed and the product as submersible to a depth of one meter. Here, it’s especially important that the outlet dries completely before charging.

Battery compartment with a lid, as on Mr. Boss, is only sealed when the lid is closed and the gasket is intact. Check the gasket when you change the battery, and never open the compartment with wet hands.

No matter the design: never charge a toy that’s wet, and wipe the charging contact with a clean, dry towel before connecting the cable.

Water and lubricant are a separate issue. Water-based lubricant is diluted and rinsed away by the water, so in the shower or bath it disappears quickly. Silicone-based lubricant isn’t rinsed away by water and therefore lasts longer — but it has two downsides.

The first is that silicone lube can damage sex toys made of silicone. Several manufacturers, including Svakom and LELO, explicitly advise against it. Use silicone lube only with toys made of glass, metal, or hard plastic, or with silicone toys where the manufacturer allows it. The second is that silicone lube makes floors in the shower and bathtub slippery and needs soap to be washed off.

With condoms, the same rules apply as usual: oil-based lubricant weakens latex condoms. More about the types can be found in which lubricant should you choose and in lubricant best in test.

1. Rinse away lubricant and bath water with lukewarm water and mild, unperfumed soap. Bath water with foam or bath oil should not be left on the surface.

2. Wipe the toy with a clean, lint-free towel and let it air-dry completely, especially around buttons, seams, and charging contacts.

3. Charge only when everything is completely dry.

4. Check the surface. Cracks, bubbles under the surface, stickiness, or a loose button means the toy should no longer be treated as waterproof.

The cleaning, material by material, is described in "so you clean sex toys"so you clean sex toys.

Relying on the store’s word “waterproof” without checking the manufacturer’s rating. The examples above show that stores sometimes state both a higher and a lower rating than the manufacturer.

Bringing the remote control into the bath. The toy may be IPX7, while the remote control is not.

Using silicone lube on a silicone vibrator because it holds up better in water.

Boiling or dishwashing a waterproof vibrator. Waterproof does not mean heat-resistant: Arcwave forbids both boiling and a dishwasher for Ion 2.

Charging right after showering. Moisture in the charging port is the most common way for water to get into the electronics.