9 best sex toy cleaners for 2025, approved by GLAMOUR's sexual wellness writer
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For some, sex toy cleaner falls into the same category as toothpaste, tampons and toilet paper — everyday essentials you don't really want to spend your money on, but you do. Because if you're looking to avoid irritation and infection after your regular masturbation sessions, it's a must.
However, new research by Ohdoki, the creator of The Handy, suggests that 20% of adults don’t clean their sex toys after every use — despite 73% believing they should. Slightly more concerning, though, is that almost one in 10 (8%) have no idea how often they should be cleaned. We're not shaming. The sorry state of sex education in this country means we don't discuss sexual pleasure — let alone basic maintenance when using (the best) vibrators, sex furniture and the like.
So let's have a quick refresh: “When toys aren't cleaned properly between uses, they can spread vaginal infections and even STIs,” says gynecologist and women’s intimate health specialist, Monica Grover. “They should be cleaned before and after each use." Noted. “Toys can attract dust and dirt while being stored in drawers, which can have a drastic effect on your vaginal pH,” adds sex and relationship coach, Mike Anderson.
But what should you use, especially when there are literally hundreds of sprays, mists, gels and wipes) all claiming to sanitise and deodorise your tech? Thankfully, our sexual wellness writer has trialled and tested a host to bring you a definitive guide to the best sex toy cleaner, as well as answers to all your FAQs.
SKIP TO: How we choose the best sex toy cleaners | Why do you need to clean your sex toys? | How do you clean toys after testing positive for an STI? | What is the best cleaner to clean sex toys with?
After more (empowering) sexual wellness content? Shop the best sex toys, the best lubricants, luxury sex toys, the best sex toys on Amazon, the best magic wand vibrators, the best remote-control vibrators, the best sex gifts and the best sex games.
Meet the experts:
- Mike Anderson, sex and relationship coach.
- Monica Grover, gynecologist and women’s intimate health specialist.
- Sham Singh, psychiatrist and medical expert.
How we choose the best sex toy cleaner:
The GLAMOUR commerce team, made up of women and people with vaginas of all preferences and ages, has been testing the sexual wellness buys for the past five years — and after half a decade's worth of thorough reviewing, we know what it takes to make a great clit vibrator, water-based lube and sex toy cleaner.
The antibacterial sprays, wipes and foams in our edit were all paired with a range of sex tech — clit suckers, remote-control sex toys and thrusting vibrators — as well as during partnered sex to ensure they live up to their designers' claims. We scored each on a range of criteria, including consistency, smell, drying time, bottle size and ease of application. Spoiler: Only our top scorers made it into the edit below.
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The best sex toy cleaners for 2025, approved by GLAMOUR's sexual wellness writer:
Pros:
- That pump is easy to use one-handed and doesn't over-dispense.
- The plastic bottle is fully recyclable.
- 100% vegan.
Cons:
- Perhaps a little big and bulky to take on your travels.
Arguably, a new sex toy cleaner isn't quite as exciting as a new pleasure-inducing clit vibrator, with examples like The French Lover and The Firefighter being what Smile Makers is best known for. But the brand has recently launched its foaming Vibe Wash, enriched with Japanese persimmon extract, praised for its natural antibacterial and deodorizing properties. Safe to use with rubber, latex and silicone sex toys, the only other thing to comment on is the fresh (but gentle) English pear scent.
Type: Foaming wash.
Size: 100ml.
Courtesy of brand2/9Best luxury sex toy cleaner
LELO Premium Toy Cleaning Spray
Pros:
- Alcohol and paraben-free.
- That stay-put cap makes this one travel-friendly.
- Finished with a fresh, but not at all fake, scent.
Cons:
- A little pricey — but consider it an investment in your sexual well-being.
LELO always do it well, the Swedish pleasure purveyor the masterminds behind my favourite clit sucker of all time (once again, shouting out my SILA). But the brand's spray sex toy cleaner comes fitted with a pretty precise nozzle and is pH-balanced to limit sway to your natural balance. However, it's also super fast-drying, meaning limited waiting time. To summarise, we'll leave it to one very satisfied shopper: “It leaves behind that new toy smell that brings up such exciting feelings.”
Type: Antibacterial spray.
Size: 60ml.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these Sephora discount codes.
Lovehoney Fresh Biodegradable Sex Toy Wipes
Pros:
- Works out at just 28p a wipe.
- Reseaable pack keeps them moist for a couple of months.
Cons:
- A fairly spenny option if you're regularly cleaning.
We'll admit, it's a faff — heading to the kitchen post-climax to grab a (clean) microfibre cloth before redirecting to the bathroom to give your vibrator a scrub. Enter: Lovehoney's single-use wipes, made with easy on-the-go cleansing in mind. Infused with soothing aloe extract so they're gentle on the skin and 100% biodegradable, it seems Lovehoney's thought of it all — except the fairly small pack size. Requesting a box of 100, please.
Type: Cleansing wipes.
Size: Pack of 25.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these Lovehoney discount codes.
So Divine Pristine Toy Cleaner
Pros:
- Water-based formula is safe to use on all sex toys — silicone, metal, glass...
- … and doesn't leave behind a greasy, tacky film.
Cons:
- This one will need to be rinsed off with warm water.
There's very little to complain about when it comes to So Divine's water-based, paraben-free formula — and for those looking for a last-minute basket addition coming in at under £10, it certainly does the job of refreshing your sex tech, whether that's a beginner-friendly finger vibe or a vibrating cock ring tailored to couples' play. The thing we really love, though, is that it's made in the UK, so you don't need to worry so much about your carbon footprint.
Type: Antibacterial spray.
Size: 100ml.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these LookFantastic discount codes
Coco de Mer Pleasure Renewed Toy Cleaner
Pros:
- We insist you leave that delicately decorated bottle on display.
- Even that chocolate packaging is luxe, making it the perfect gift.
- Eco-warriors, note that this one's made right here in the UK.
Cons:
- Our testers confirmed that glass bottle doesn't bounce, so keep it out of reach.
A luxury option when it comes to love-thing cleanser — evident by its glass bottle, designed to be super discreet even when left in plain sight at your bedside. This glycerin-based sex toy cleaner, finished with a fresh lemon scent, only needs to sit for five seconds before being wiped off with a dry cloth. Yep, no need for a running water supply with this one.
Type: Spray mist.
Size: 118ml.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Lovehoney Super Fresh UV Sex Toy Cleaning Pouch
Pros:
- Completes a sanitising cycle in as little as 3 minutes.
- Doubles as a carry case, helping you avoid any awkward questioning at airport security.
Cons:
- You'll still need to give your tech a quick rinse to remove any surface buildup.
While cleaning sprays and gels are useful for refreshing the surface of your sex toys, you may still have concerns over sanitisation. Thankfully, this cleaning pouch uses UV light to disinfect your tech in as little as three minutes — and doubles as subtle storage. Because, and speaking from my personal experience, keeping them in an open-topped basket under your bed isn't the most practical or discreet option. We should mention that you'll still need to rinse and/or wipe away any lube or bodily fluids left behind first, so consider this to be step two in your double cleanse routine.
Type: UV cleaning pouch.
Size: 9.2 inches.The Oh Collective Squeaks Clean Natural Toy Cleaner
Pros:
- Suitable for sensitive skin, and it is free from alcohol and is 100% natural.
- We're fans of the subtle but still fresh scent.
Cons:
- That bottle's a little (read: a lot) slippery when wet.
Allow us to introduce The Oh Collective, a playful brand that’s tackling sexual taboo whilst advocating intimacy for all. Plus, all its products are community-approved. Squeaks Clean is its entirely natural cleansers and the one to opt for if you want to stay as close to organic as possible. It's also free from alcohol and has a light, fresh scent. While we don't love the pretty basic bottle and not-so-sturdy spray pump, it does the job of freshening up your G-spot vibrator after your self-care session. In fact, Senior Commerce Writer Sophie rated this one an 8.5/10.
Type: Spray cleaner.
Size: 100ml.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these Selfridges discount codes.
Adam & Eve Pure and Clean Misting Toy Cleaner
Pros:
- Made to sanitize, deodorize and disinfect, thanks to the addition of antimicrobial tea tree oil.
- We love its relaxing lavender scent.
Cons:
- Shipping is a tad expensive (£12+).
This product, recommended by sex therapist Tatyana Dyachenko, is antibacterial, deodorising, disinfecting, *and* sanitising — hence the ‘four in one’ status. It's easy to dispense via a spray nozzle and works on any kind of sex toy. Plus, she's non-greasy — although that's aided by the fact this one does require you to rinse with warm water before you repeat.
Type: Spray mist.
Size: 118ml.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these Amazon discount codes.
Pros:
- Made from 97.5% natural ingredients.
- Yet another one that doesn't require running water — just a dry cloth to wipe down after a few seconds.
Cons:
- A couple of testers suggested the scent's a little intense at first but wears off quickly.
Packed into a spray-on bottle for easy application, this My Viv spritz is well-reviewed by buyers, leaving, as one customer described, a ‘pleasant’ scent. Even better news: Ann Summers is donating 10% of profits from the product to the charity Breast Cancer Now as part of a campaign aiming to start the conversation about sex, intimacy & breast cancer.
Type: Cleansing spray.
Size: 100ml.Save when you shop the best sex toy cleaners with these Ann Summers discount codes.
Why do you need to clean your sex toys?
That's a bit like asking, “Why do we need to wash our undies?” But your beloved clit sucker can become a breeding ground for bacteria, increasing your chances of irritation or infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, with continued use. Essentially, you should be thoroughly rinsing them after every use.
“Not cleaning your sex toys after every use is a serious health risk due to bacteria, fungi and viruses thriving in warm and moist environments," details Dr Sham Singh, psychiatrist and medical expert. "Silicone and porous materials such as jelly rubber or TPR (thermoplastic rubber) can trap bacteria in microscopic crevices, so thorough cleaning is essential to prevent infections and irritation.”
“When toys are not properly sanitised, they can harbor pathogens like Candida albicans, which causes yeast infections, or Gardnerella vaginalis, which is a common cause of bacterial vaginosis,” he continues. “If shared between partners without proper disinfection, toys can also transmit sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea or human papillomavirus (HPV).”
Your sex life isn't over. Seriously.
How do you clean toys after testing positive for an STI?
We're not trying to scare you, but it is possible to pick up an STI from a sex toy if it hasn't been properly cleaned after being used by someone with an infection. Despite the limit research in this area, it's understood that this is how transmission via a vibrator may work: if there’s blood, semen, pre-cum or vaginal discharge from person A, currently testing positive for a fluid-borne STI, and the sex toy comes into contact with the mucus membranes of person B, they may contract the virus.
While cleaning your toys — this applies to all materials, including silicone, glass, steel, ABS plastic and latex — with warm, soapy water should do the job. However, you may also want to employ the help of an antibacterial gel, foam or spray.
With the average Brit having 18 different sexual partners in their lifetime, we should be talking openly.
What is the best cleaner to clean sex toys with?
A bit like a clit vibrator or a long-distance sex toy, what is considered the best is down to personal preference. While you might prefer the texture of a gel cleaner, others might enjoy the ease of a spray or wipe. We do recommend, however, that you look for a sex toy cleaner free from harsh chemicals, as well as one that's compatible with your top-rated toy's material. For example, avoid using an oil-based cleaner on your silicone sex toys, as this may impact their integrity.
