How should anal sex toys be cleaned and sanitized to prevent infection?
Executive summary
Anal sex toys must be treated differently from other bedroom gear because the rectum harbors bacteria and fecal particles that can transfer to other body sites; cleaning after every use, choosing non‑porous materials when possible, and using deeper sanitizing methods for anal play substantially reduce the risk of infection [1] [2].
1. Materials matter: pick non‑porous when safety is a priority
The easiest way to make cleaning effective is to start with toys made from non‑porous, body‑safe materials such as medical‑grade silicone, glass, or stainless steel, which can be disinfected and even boiled; porous materials (soft rubber, jelly, some plastics, certain porous metals) trap microbes and are much harder or impossible to fully disinfect, so experts advise caution or single‑user use for porous toys [3] [2] [4].
2. The baseline: clean thoroughly after every use with soap and water
For routine hygiene, scrubbing away visible residue with warm water and a mild, unscented soap or a purpose‑made sex‑toy cleaner is an effective first step—this “cleaning” removes bodily fluids and grime and should be performed after every session and whenever a toy moves from anal to vaginal use [5] [6] [2].
3. When to escalate: disinfecting and sanitizing methods that kill pathogens
When deeper sanitizing is needed—after anal play, when sharing toys, or after an infection—boiling non‑electronic, non‑porous toys for a few minutes is widely recommended as the most thorough method; alternately, running dishwasher sanitize cycles (top rack, no soap) is effective for dishwasher‑safe non‑porous toys, and UV sanitizers can supplement cleaning though they don’t remove physical grime and only work where light reaches [5] [7] [8].
4. Motorized, porous, and shared toys: special considerations and limits
Toys with motors, batteries, or porous surfaces cannot be boiled and often cannot be fully sterilized; for these, cleaning with soap and water or toy cleaner is the baseline, and using a fresh condom on the toy for every partner or every orifice is strongly advised to prevent cross‑contamination—if a porous toy has been exposed during an active STI or gastrointestinal infection, disposal is often the safest option according to multiple expert summaries [1] [5] [2].
5. Practical, step‑by‑step routine and storage to reduce reinfection risk
The practical routine that emerges from sex‑health guides is: rinse away gross matter, wash with warm water and unscented soap (or toy cleaner), rinse thoroughly, disinfect if indicated (boil or sanitize cycle where appropriate), air dry or pat dry with a lint‑free cloth, and store in a clean pouch or breathable bag away from other toys; use a dedicated soft toothbrush for grooves and replace cloths or paper towels regularly to avoid reintroducing microbes [9] [10] [4].
6. Risks, when to trash a toy, and what the evidence flags
Certain pathogens can persist on toy surfaces—studies have detected HPV on vibrator surfaces after cleaning in some cases—so experts caution discarding or deeply sanitizing toys after exposure during active infections; anal toys pose added risk because rectal bacteria (E. coli, Shigella) and even foodborne organisms can be transferred and lead to UTIs, vaginosis, or gastrointestinal illness if toys are reused without proper sanitization or moved to the vagina without cleaning [10] [1] [8] [11].
7. Limits of reporting and final guidance
The sources reviewed synthesize expert advice and small studies but are not a substitute for clinical guidance tailored to a specific exposure or infection—if there’s concern about STI exposure, persistent symptoms, or a complicated infection, consult a healthcare provider for testing and personalized advice; otherwise, choose non‑porous toys, clean after every use, disinfect after anal play or sharing, and use condoms on porous or shared toys to minimize risk [1] [5] [2].