do you sterilize all new toys?

The New Intimacy

do you sterilize all new toys?

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Contributor: the_mohawk the_mohawk
curious if people sterilize all their new toys before use? or do you just give it a wipe with hot tap water and soap?

more so aimed at people who dont use condoms over their toys...
06/04/2010
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Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
I generally don't fully sterilize a toy before use, maybe it's bad practice but I usually just wash it off quickly and then play. My partner and I don't use condoms over our toys (unless we're planning on sharing between us on the same night, or if we're using something particularly porous) but usually do thoroughly clean things after playing.
06/04/2010
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
Some that I have aren't sterilizable/sanitizab le, but I do wash them before and after each use with antibacterial soap and water.
06/04/2010
Contributor: Miss Cinnamon Miss Cinnamon
Not all toys are sterilizable, and even then, it's hard to fully sterilize a toy (we had a looong discussion about this a little while ago, haha). I do typically wash new toys as well as I can. I treat new clothes the same way
06/05/2010
Contributor: Kynky Kytty Kynky Kytty
I usually wash it twice with antibacterial soap and water. Once to remove anything on it, and then to really wash the toy.

But I had never really thought about sterilizing, rather sanitizing, my toy. I do not really worry that I'm going to catch anything if someone else manually touched my toy.
06/05/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
I wash and use. Sterilizing is an issue if you're worried that there might be viable pathogenic biological organisms on the toy, and unless you got a used toy that is unlikely. What is likely is that there are residues of manufacturing or packaging chemicals on the toy, and a quick wash with soap should remove them.
06/05/2010
Contributor: Miss B Haven Miss B Haven
I always sanitize new toys with antibacterial toy clearner. Then I make it a habit to wash toys before use with antibacterial soap and water and use my toy cleaner again after use. I usually only sterilize my toys if I share them (and if they can be of course).

I know new toys are generally sterile and secure from the factory but ever since I received a product once that had its plastic box partially open and was Covered in dust I have made this ritual to follow just to be safe.
06/05/2010
Contributor: SweetestAngelGoneBad SweetestAngelGoneBad
i always wash mine with antibacterial soap.. cleanliness is next to godliness...
06/12/2010
Contributor: Liz2 Liz2
I just wash mine with anti-bacterial soap and use a toy cleaner.
06/12/2010
Contributor: Envy Envy
I wash mine when I get them. I only sterilize if I resell them. (It's the silicone toys I resell, like from Exotic Erotics and Bad Dragon and such, they have a pretty good resale value because they're such niche companies and are in demand.)
06/12/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Quote:
Originally posted by Liz2
I just wash mine with anti-bacterial soap and use a toy cleaner.
Remember that you need to follow certain procedures (contact time, etc) for antibacterial soap or else it is no more effective than regular soap.

New toys are not generally sterile in the true sense of the word (the way medical devices are sterile), but generally other than trace materials (manufacturing residues, dust, etc) they're pretty clean. I don't worry about antibacterial but I do wash with soap and water. Keep in mind that your immune system is there for a reason and unless the toy is used or you're immune-compromised the stuff left after a soap and water wash is highly unlikely to do any harm. Remember, toilet paper isn't sterile either, nor are fingers or tongues or 95+% of rubber gloves or [...] - they're just reasonably clean.

If you do have a compromised immune system you should probably discuss toy care and use with your doctor.
06/12/2010
Contributor: Kyra Saunders Kyra Saunders
I always give new toys a rather standard bath in either soap & water or toy cleaner. I'm not worried so much about bacteria as about residue of the manufacturing processes like mold release or polish compound.

- Kyra
06/12/2010
Contributor: ~LaUr3n~ ~LaUr3n~
Quick rinse unless it has a horrible smell. Then I really wash it.
06/28/2010
Contributor: Erato Erato
I just wash it before I play.
06/30/2010
Contributor: Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
I wash with soap and warm water if it's a non santizable material, use a 10% bleach solution if it is sanitizable.
06/30/2010
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I'll wash them with anti-bacterial soap first, then give the silicone toys a quick boil and wipe the steel toys with 70% Isopropyl alcohol.
06/30/2010
Contributor: trios trios
Id hope that if someone returned an item it would be 'sterilized' by the company before sending it out again.

Can you use rubbing alcohol on silicone and non-steel? (Or will it somehow degrade the material?)

And BTW as for me, I've washed with antibacterial soap several times before first use.
07/01/2010
Contributor: ScottA ScottA
Quote:
Originally posted by trios
Id hope that if someone returned an item it would be 'sterilized' by the company before sending it out again.

Can you use rubbing alcohol on silicone and non-steel? (Or will it somehow degrade the material?)

And BTW as for me, ... more
Companies don't resell returned items. Every one I've seen will only resell returns if the toy came back sealed in its original packaging. Many won't accept returns of opened toys unless there's a functional issue (in which case the toy is destroyed), or if they accept general returns of used items the toy is NOT RESOLD. Not sure what they do with it - probably throw it out.

Alcohol would be safe on silicone, but if I felt the need to wipe a silicone toy down with alcohol I'd want to use something that does a better job of disinfecting than alcohol.
07/01/2010