The best sex toy cleaner

I'm often asked what is the best way to clean your sex toys.

The answer isn't as simple as you might think. It really depends on what kind of toy you are talking about and what the surface is made of.

For the point of this post, I will be covering how to clean insertibles (butt plugs, dildos, vibrators, etc)

The best sanitizing method for pyrex or silicone toys that DO NOT have a motor or any electronic parts in them is to boil them. Make dildo soup once a month by throwing your toys in a pot of water, bringing it to a boil and letting them boil for about 5-10 minutes. Some sources will tell you to clean these toys in the dishwasher. I'd advise against it - the harsh soaps that you use to clean your dishes will leave residue on your toys that could cause you to have a bad reaction. I suppose you could run the dishwasher with nothing but your toys in it and refrain from using soap, but that would be a shameful waste of water!

Remember that only pyrex and silicone toys can be boiled. Latex/jelly and acrylic toys are not built to withstand those temperatures!

So, what to do with your cheaper toys and toys with motors? The thorough way of cleaning them is to use a warm, wet washcloth and unscented, anti-bacterial hand soap. Take the batteries out first and be very careful not to get water in the battery compartment. Most battery-operated toys are waterproof when used correctly, but that's no reason to be careless or submerge your toy under water.

What I usually recommend to everybody is to get some hand sanitizer and keep it with your toys for a quick cleanup after each use. Hand sanitizer is almost pure alcohol, it will kill 99.9% of the germs and bacteria on your toys (at least that's what the label says...); it dries quickly and is very handy for when you just want to roll over and go to sleep.

The only problem with hand sanitizer is that it's becoming increasingly difficult to find the straight-up alcohol kind. Make sure you use one that is not coloured, scented or containing vitamin E or aloe.

You may need to clean your toys, but you don't need to moisturize them.

Tragedy for Local Sex Shoppe Owner

Around 3am on February 6th the strip mall next to the Brittania Pub, on Richmond road was set ablaze. The strip mall was gutted by fire. Included in the wreckage was locally owned and operated, Wicked Wanda's Adult Emporium.

Two local residents have been charged with 5 counts of arson in relation to the Richmond Road fire that destroyed 4 other business as well as WW.

Wanda, the proprietor of Wicked Wanda's, was in London, Ontario at the time of the fire performing with the London edition of Sexapalooza. Wicked Wanda's Adult Emporium was a labour of love. Wanda thrived on educating the public on sexuality and offers workshops on various types of BDSM play and body discovery.

An Unofficial statement from a WW employee say "We will regroup and rebuild".

A fund has been started to help Wanda get back on her feet while the insurance dicks take their time figuring out how little they can pay out. If you are interested in donating please email me and I will put you in contact with the person in charge of raising money.

I wish Wanda nothing but the best and hope that she and her employees/friends (sometimes that line blurs) are all back on their feet really soon.

I know what it's like to have your world turned upside-down by a fire. On December 23rd '08 the apartment above mine was destroyed by a fire. The structure of my apartment was destroyed by flood and smoke. Luckily the contents were unharmed. I was displaced for 5 weeks, with no insurance and no proper compensation from the company I rent from. Not to mention the busses were not running! Renovations were finally fully completed last week and we're still unpacking and reorganizing.

My situation sucked more than I can express in words... I can only imagine how all the business owners who lost their stores in the Feb 6th fire feel.

My heart goes out to them.

(photo from Ottawa Citizen)