So, you've got yourself a nice silicone friend and you want to learn how to keep it in the best possible shape? Here's an overview of the basics:

Keeping it Clean

Since your toy is made of 100% platinum-cure silicone, cleanup is a breeze, and it's possible to sanitize it as well!

 

✅ DO:

• Use plain dish soap and warm water for basic, everyday cleaning. Special toy cleaners (non-alcohol) made for platinum-cure silicone also work, but aren't necessary unless you don't have access to compatible soap and water.
• Wash your toy before the first use, and after every use! Also wash and sanitize before using an anal toy in another orifice, or before sharing with a partner.
• Sanitize by boiling in plain water for a few minutes, or by using a dishwasher (no soap!) on the sanitize setting.
• Use a 10% bleach, 90% water solution and soak your toys for a while, as an alternative to boiling. DO NOT BOIL BLEACH!

 

❌DON'T:

• Use random soaps on your toy, which may contain silicone derivatives and other chemicals that may degrade your silicone.
• Rub abrasive materials on your toy. A soft sponge should be fine, or something similar, but keep anything rough away from your toy!
• Apply isopropyl alcohol ("rubbing alcohol") or other chemicals to your toy, or submerge toy in chemicals. Some bloggers and shops may advise otherwise, but keep in mind that isopropyl alcohol is a common solvent for raw silicone and very effectively removes silicone oils. There's no reason to use this over safer methods that don't involve silicone solvents. If you need a portable cleaning method or can't access soap and water, buy an alcohol-free toy cleaner designed for silicone toys.

 

Usage and Handling

✅ DO:

• Use only water or oil-based lube (whichever is appropriate for your anatomy) with your silicone toy.
• Be gentle with your toy AND yourself. Respect your body's limits and remember that there is rarely such a thing as "too much lube".

 

❌DON'T:

• Purposefully stretch, twist, pick at, crush, or cut your toy. Silicone is susceptible to tearing damage —especially softer firmnesses— and should be kept away from sharp objects (fingernails, teeth, etc.)
• Use silicone or "hybrid" lubricants on your toy. Damage may not be apparent at first, but it can degrade the material over time and render silicone impossible to sanitize or clean properly.
• Force anything anywhere it doesn't want to go. This applies to both you and your toy. If you're uncomfortable or in pain, stop toying.

Silicone is highly resilient, but it isn't invincible, and once it has sustained damage, that damage can expand with improper handling. Don't do extreme squish/stretch "tests" on silicone to demonstrate its properties; while it might not break, you're not doing your toy any favors by subjecting it to conditions it would not encounter while being used "as intended". If you wouldn't do it to someone's genitals, don't do it to your toy either!

Storage

✅ DO:

• Keep silicone toys stored with their own brand, or with other brands which you know are 100% platinum-cure silicone.
• Consider putting toys in individual fabric bags. While not necessary, they're less likely to obtain dents that they might get from cramped storage, or being pressed against plastic bags for too long.
• Make sure toys are clean and dry before storing.

❌DON'T:

• Allow your toy to touch any other toys made of inferior or unknown materials. This can completely destroy your toy, as silicone can "melt" or otherwise degrade when toxic materials touch it.
• Leave your toy sitting on wooden surfaces, walls, etc. Silicone toys can leave behind oil stains. This is normal and harmless to you, but the stain can be hard to remove from certain surfaces. Isopropyl alcohol or acetone can remove stains from some surfaces, but as these are solvents, they can also destroy paint and other coatings.
• Cram your toy into a tight space, place it on a rough surface, or set it on glass with unknown coatings (this may have a silicone topcoat made of an inferior grade of silicone which can damage your toy). Toys that are compressed may retain dents or marks from remaining bent for a long time.
• Leave toys stored out in the open if you live anywhere that has palmetto bugs/roaches or ants. Yes, these awful creatures will chew crumbly little holes in your silicone, because they are jerks.

 

Disclaimer

The contents of this page are not to be taken as medical advice, and Phoenixflame Creations, LLC is not responsible for product damage or personal injury which may occur from the use of this information (or from disregarding said information).

I present only information that I am confident enough to use in my own care routines, but I am not a medical professional, and should not be considered as such. If you have a sensitivity to certain cleaning materials or have other needs which require a strict, specific cleaning regimen, please consult your own medical professional for techniques that are appropriate for your health.