BDSM.tech the plain-English kink reference Caring for BDSM Gear: Cleaning, Storage & Hygiene
Good BDSM gear costs real money, and it goes exactly where hygiene counts, so the care earns its keep on two fronts at once. A short routine covers cleaning, storage and the parts people tend to forget.
Why gear care matters
Two things are at stake. Hygiene, because anything meeting skin or fluids needs cleaning properly. And longevity, because kept well a piece lasts years, while neglected it perishes or turns unsafe. One routine looks after both.
Cleaning by material
The material decides the method, so sort your kit by what it’s made of:
- Silicone, metal, glass (non-porous): soap and warm water, and many can be sterilised. These are the easiest to get genuinely clean.
- Leather: wipe it down, condition it now and then, and never soak it, since water ruins leather. See caring for leather items.
- Latex: hand-wash and shine it as latex care describes.
- Rope: clean it according to its fibre, then dry it right through.
- Porous materials: hard to sanitise fully, so treat them as single-partner or use a barrier.
Drying and storing
Everything goes away completely dry, because damp is what wrecks leather and rope alike. Store pieces separately, as some materials stain or react against each other, and keep them clear of dust, heat and sunlight. Hang floggers so the falls hang straight, and coil rope loosely rather than tight.
Hygiene between partners
One rule matters most: nothing porous or penetrative should pass between partners without a thorough clean or a barrier, because bodily fluids carry infection. Non-porous toys clean or sterilise between uses. Porous ones never quite do.
A simple routine
Clean after every use, dry fully, store separately in a dedicated box or bag. Do that much consistently and your gear stays hygienic, safe and good for years. It keeps things discreet, too.
FAQ
How do you clean BDSM toys?
It depends on the material. Non-porous items (silicone, metal, glass) can be washed with soap and water or sterilised; leather is wiped and occasionally conditioned but never soaked; rope is cleaned per its fibre. Clean anything that touches bodily fluids after every use, and never share porous gear between partners without proper cleaning or a barrier.
How should you store BDSM gear?
Clean and fully dry, stored separately so materials don't react or stain each other, away from dust, direct heat and sunlight. Hang floggers so the falls don't crease, keep leather somewhere dry, and store rope loosely coiled. A dedicated box or bag keeps everything clean and discreet.