A dedicated toy cleaner does what mild soap cannot: it removes bacteria without degrading your toy's surface material or leaving fragrance residue that irritates sensitive skin. The wrong product — dish soap, hand sanitiser or anything with harsh sulphates — can break down silicone bonding agents over time, or force bacteria deeper into the microscopic pores of TPE and jelly-rubber. The right cleaner is matched to your toy's material first, format second, and price last.
At Sexy Devil, toy cleaners range from $8.95 to $27.95. Formats include antibacterial sprays, foaming liquids, misting sprays and alcohol-free formulas. Free delivery applies to orders over $100 Australia-wide.
Which Format Suits Your Cleaning Habit?
| Format | Best For | Main Advantage | Main Trade-off | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial Spray | Everyday cleaning, single non-porous toys | Fast application, 99.9% kill-rate claim | Requires full rinse; not for direct skin contact | $11.95–$19.95 |
| Foaming Cleaner | Textured toys, ridges, suction cups | Foam penetrates grooves that spray misses | Higher price point, more rinse time needed | $27.95 |
| Misting Spray | Quick pre/post-use wipe-down, pump toys | Fine even coverage, reaches internal geometry | Smallest bottle (100ml), highest cost per ml | $19.95 |
| Alcohol-Free Formula | Sensitive skin users, TPE toys | No material degradation risk from alcohol | Slightly longer contact time for full efficacy | $15.95–$16.95 |
| Universal Liquid | Multiple toy types, budget-conscious buyers | Lowest price per ml at $0.048/ml (185ml bottle) | No specific antibacterial agent claim | From $8.95 |
Why Toy Material Decides Which Cleaner You Actually Need
The single most important variable in choosing a toy cleaner is whether your toy is made from a porous or non-porous material. Non-porous surfaces — medical-grade silicone, borosilicate glass, stainless steel and hard ABS plastic — have no microscopic openings for bacteria to hide inside. Motorless non-porous toys can be boiled in gently simmering water for 3–5 minutes (place a clean towel in the pot so the toy does not contact the bottom), or run through a dishwasher on the top rack with no detergent on the sanitise cycle. Note: prolonged dishwasher heat can dull glossy finishes on some silicone toys and may warp dual-density models.
Porous materials — TPE, jelly rubber, Cyberskin and similar soft blends — are a different problem. Their surface contains microscopic channels that trap bacteria, lube residue and bodily fluids below the reach of any spray cleaner. This is not a marketing distinction; it is why sexual health organisations recommend using a condom over porous toys for shared play, regardless of how recently the toy was cleaned.
| Material | Porous? | Recommended Cleaner | Can Boil / Dishwasher? | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical-grade silicone | No | Any formula — antibacterial or foam | Yes (motorless only) | Boil 3–5 min for deep sterilisation |
| Borosilicate glass | No | Antibacterial spray, full rinse | Yes | Never clean cracked or chipped glass |
| Stainless steel | No | Antibacterial spray or mild liquid | Yes | Dry fully to prevent water spots |
| ABS hard plastic | No | Antibacterial spray — wipe only | No (electronics) | Do not submerge; remove batteries first |
| TPE / TPR | Yes | Alcohol-free cleaner only | No | Use condom for shared use; replace if odour persists |
| Jelly rubber / PVC | Yes | Clean surface, always use with condom | No | Cannot be fully decontaminated — consider upgrading material |
One note specific to alcohol-based cleaners and TPE: repeated alcohol contact dries out and micro-cracks the surface of TPE over time, which — contrary to what you might expect — increases bacterial trapping rather than reducing it. If your toy collection is primarily TPE, the Eros Fresh Power Alcohol-Free formula is the technically correct choice, not a premium optional upgrade.
The 4-Step Protocol Most People Get Wrong
The method matters as much as the product. The most common mistake is rinsing immediately after spraying, before the active sanitising agents have had time to work. Most antibacterial toy cleaners require 30–60 seconds of contact time to reach their stated kill rate. Exception: Wet Stuff Clean is a two-step sanitiser — wash the toy in mild detergent first, rinse, then spray Wet Stuff and allow 3 minutes contact time before rinsing off. Applying it as a standalone spray without the prior detergent wash reduces its sanitising efficacy.
- Apply: Spray or pump directly onto the toy surface. For foaming formulas, 2–3 pumps generates enough lather to cover textured surfaces. For misting sprays, cover the full surface including the base and any charging port covers.
- Wait: 30–60 seconds for most sprays and foams. 3 full minutes for Wet Stuff Clean. Set a timer — this is the step most users skip entirely.
- Rinse with warm water: Not hot — sustained high heat degrades silicone bonding agents. Rinse until the surface is no longer slippery, clearing product from any grooves or charging ports.
- Dry fully before storage: Air dry on a clean surface or use a lint-free cloth. Storing a toy while still damp inside an enclosed bag creates ideal bacterial growth conditions. This step directly affects how long the toy lasts and how safe it remains between sessions.
Clean before and after every use — not just after. Toys stored between sessions accumulate ambient bacteria and dust. A 30-second pre-play spray removes that risk with no meaningful delay.
What Makes Each Formula in This Range Different
Intimate Earth Green Tea Tree Foaming Cleaner (200ml, $27.95) uses tea tree oil as its primary active antibacterial agent. Published peer-reviewed research has established that tea tree oil has a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.12–0.5% against Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates, with an MIC90 of 0.5% across 105 tested isolates (International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents; PMC studies on Melaleuca alternifolia). This makes tea tree a substantive antimicrobial, not merely a fragrance ingredient. The foaming format is specifically suited to toys with ridged, bumped or suction-based surfaces where a flat spray misses recessed areas.
Doc Johnson Triclosan-Free Toy Cleaner (118ml, $11.95) — the triclosan-free label matters more than it might appear. Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent that was used widely in consumer personal care products until research linked it to endocrine disruption and antibiotic resistance. The US FDA banned triclosan from over-the-counter consumer antiseptic wash products in September 2016 (Federal Register document 2016-21337), extending the restriction to healthcare antiseptic products in 2017. In Australia, the TGA has progressively cancelled a number of triclosan-containing therapeutic products from the ARTG, though no equivalent blanket consumer-category ban has been issued. The triclosan-free label is a baseline quality marker, not a premium differentiator.
Sensuva Think Clean Thoughts Antibacterial (125ml, $19.95) carries a documented 99.9% kill-rate claim. Its active antimicrobial combination is alcohol, Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, and gluconolactone with sodium benzoate — ingredients confirmed on the Sensuva product label. Witch hazel is a well-established astringent with antimicrobial properties; gluconolactone and sodium benzoate together function as a preservative-antimicrobial system. This is one of two products in the range with an explicit percentage kill claim.
Eros Fresh Power without Alcohol (125ml, $16.95) is formulated specifically for users with sensitive skin or those with primarily TPE and jelly-rubber toy collections. Alcohol causes micro-cracking in TPE with repeated use — making it structurally unsuitable for porous material cleaning, not simply less preferable.
Wet Stuff Clean Toy Cleaner & Sanitiser (235ml, $26.95) is the standout in this range for three reasons: Australian-made (Gel Works Pty Ltd, Rouse Hill NSW), the highest stated kill rate at 99.5% of germs, and a claimed residual antimicrobial effect for up to 2 days after application. It is also the only product here with a documented broad-spectrum sanitiser claim covering both bacteria and fungi. Important practical note: Wet Stuff Clean is not formulated for direct skin contact — rinse the toy thoroughly after the 3-minute contact time before any skin contact. At $26.95 for 235ml (~$0.115/ml), it is the best-value option for multi-toy households when its full sanitiser protocol is followed.
Our 4-Scenario Analysis: Which Cleaner Wins Where
We mapped all 11 cleaners in this range against four real-world use scenarios to identify the best fit in each context. This breakdown is not available on any individual product page.
| Scenario | Best Pick | Runner-Up | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick clean, single silicone vibrator, solo use | Doc Johnson Triclosan Free — $11.95 | CalExotics Spray — $12.95 | Triclosan-free, 30-second contact time, rinse-and-go for smooth silicone |
| Textured toy with ridges, bumps or internal grooves | Intimate Earth Foaming — $27.95 | Wet Stuff Clean — $26.95 (with pre-wash step) | Foam physically penetrates recessed surfaces; flat spray misses ridges |
| TPE toy or alcohol-sensitive user | Eros Fresh Power Alcohol-Free — $16.95 | Dr Laura Berman Universal — $8.95 (cheapest per ml at $0.048) | Alcohol-free is structurally correct for porous TPE; not optional |
| Bathmate pump or cylinder-geometry toy | Bathmate Clean Misting — $19.95 | Sensuva Antibacterial — $19.95 | Misting spray reaches internal cylinder geometry; standard spray pools at entry only |
Key finding: there is no single best cleaner across all use cases. Material first, toy geometry second, price third. Selecting by price alone risks using an alcohol spray on porous TPE (degrading the surface) or a spray format on a textured toy that requires foam to clean its recesses properly.
When a Toy Cleaner Is Not Enough
- Shared use between partners: No spray cleaner achieves sterilisation — only sanitisation. For non-porous silicone, glass or steel toys, boil for 3–5 minutes or run through a dishwasher cycle (no detergent, top rack, sanitise cycle) before sharing. For porous toys, use a condom — no cleaner resolves the porosity problem.
- Persistent odour after storage: If a toy has developed a smell that does not clear after cleaning, the material has been colonised below the surface. For porous toys, replacement is the only reliable solution. For solid non-porous silicone, a 10-minute soak in diluted white vinegar (1:4 with water), followed by thorough rinsing and drying, is a widely recommended remediation step before considering replacement.
- Toys with cracked casings or damaged surfaces: Do not attempt to clean a toy with visible surface degradation, exposed wiring or a broken charging seal. Cleaning does not restore material integrity.
- Motorised toys without a waterproof rating: Always check the IPX rating before rinsing. IPX4 is splash-resistant only. IPX7 is submersible to 1m for 30 minutes. No IPX rating means wipe-clean with a damp cloth only — never run under water.
What Else to Shop
Toy cleaners pair directly with lubricant — using the wrong lube on a silicone toy causes surface degradation by the same mechanism as the wrong cleaner. See the full water-based lubricant range for silicone-safe options. For the toys themselves, browse female sex toys and male sex toys.