Soft, squishy and realistic: that's the appeal of toys made from TPE, TPR, PVC ("jelly"), rubber and latex. These materials are porous, which means they have tiny gaps that soap and water can't fully reach. With a few simple habits, you can keep a porous toy clean and enjoy it for longer.

Clean it after every use

• Wash with warm water and a mild, unscented soap or a toy cleaner.
• Rinse well, then let it air dry completely before you put it away.
• Don't boil it or put it in the dishwasher. Heat can warp or melt porous materials. Boiling is only for silicone, glass and steel.
• If it has a motor or battery compartment, keep water away from the openings unless the product says it's waterproof.

Use a condom with it

A condom over a porous toy makes cleanup easy and keeps things hygienic. It's a must if you share the toy, and if you move between anal and vaginal play, switch to a fresh condom each time.

Pick the right lube

Water-based lube works with every toy material. Skip oil-based products (including massage oils and lotions) with porous toys: oils can break down rubber and latex and make TPE swell or turn sticky.

Store it on its own

• Keep porous toys apart from each other and from other toys, in their own pouch or bag. Some soft plastics react when they touch and can melt or stain each other.
• Store them somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight.
• Soft sleeves and strokers can feel tacky over time; a light dusting of cornstarch (or the maker's renewing powder) once dry brings back the feel.

When to replace it

Porous toys don't last forever. Replace one if it turns sticky in a way that won't wash off, changes color, keeps an odor after cleaning, turns cloudy, or tears or cracks.

Want something easier to keep clean?

Non-porous materials like silicone, glass and stainless steel can be fully cleaned (and most can be boiled). Read what "body-safe" really means, or shop all body-safe toys.