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Buying and exploring sex toys can be thrilling, but it comes with the less sexy, logistical issue of finding a place to store your collection. Perhaps, for the first few toys, you can get away with putting them under your bed or in the closet. However, as your collection grows, you may need to develop a storage system for cleanliness, discretion and to develop a strategy to find your toys in a pinch!
Why Store Your Toys?
Discretion
I distinctly remember when my cousin came over for dinner, and I had two vibrators stored half-hazzardly on my desk. Although he was kind enough not to comment, it made me realize that if I intended to continue to have people over, I needed to create a system where my toys could be stored somewhere private. Especially if you live with roommates, family members, or if you like to entertain, it can be beneficial to create a designated space to store your toys so that you can reliably know where they are!
If you live with roommates, family members, or if you like to entertain, it can be beneficial to create a designated space to store your toys so that you can reliably know where they are!
Hygiene
A storage system makes it much easier to keep your toys clean. When toys are kept out, they may become dirty from dust particles and bacteria landing on them. We are humans of ritual, so after having a sip of water or running to the bathroom after using your toys, you can practice cleaning them and putting them in the designated spot so they can remain clean and ready for subsequent usage. It may be harder to get into the routine of cleaning them, without having a proper place to store your toys.
A storage system makes it much easier to keep your toys clean. When toys are kept out, they may become dirty from dust particles and bacteria landing on them.
Maintain Quality
As tempted as you may be to fall asleep cuddling with your magic wand or pocket pussy - leaving toys out degrades their quality. Your toy can get damaged by someone sitting on them and physically damaging the material or can become discolored or warped just from being left out. Many toys are more delicate than you may think, and without being safely stored, they may become damaged over time without having an adequate system.
Many toys are more delicate than you may think, and without being safely stored, they may become damaged over time without having an adequate system.
Practical recommendations for storing your sex toys.
Wash your toys after and before every use
Cleaning your toys doesn’t take much effort, but it is needed to keep them in good condition and to create a clean and effective storage system. Trust me, having a bag full of lubed-up, cummy toys is gross! So, step one in creating a storage system is cleaning all your toys and putting them on the bed.
Cleaning tips:
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Wash each toy individually with gentle soap. You can use regular dishwashing soap, or if you don’t want to lug your toys to the bathroom when you are sinking into a post-coital slumber, you can use a toy cleaner that you spray on the toy and use a cloth or tissue to wipe it away.
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If your toys aren’t waterproof, make sure not to submerge them in water. Instead, you can wet a cloth with soapy water and rub your toy down. Then dry them off with a clean towel.
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Leather toys should not be kept wet for too long. Make sure to dry them off completely after washing them or rubbing them down with a damp cloth. Otherwise, the leather may become cracked.
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Take notes from the episode of Broad City, where Abby attempts to wash her crush’s strap-on dildo in the dishwasher and melts it. For those that didn’t see the episode, he was not pleased. Sex toys of any kind should not be washed in a dishwasher, as they use harsher soaps and can be thrown around in a way that can break them.
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How to choose the best storage solution for your sex toy collection
Step 1 - Assess how much storage you will need
Once your toys are collected in one space, pair the correct chargers with your toys. You can also consider if you would like to include other sex-related items like lube, condoms, or toy cleaners in the storage system.
Once you have everything you want to store in one place, you can either eyeball the amount of space you may need or, in some cases, measure the length and width of your toys to ensure you decide on a suitable storage option.
Step 2 - Decide on a budget
Are you looking to purchase a good-quality storage system, or will you use materials you have around the house? If you are looking around the house, perhaps you may have an old jewelry box or box or toiletry bag (for the ladies) or an old tackle box or toolbox that you could clean (with bleach!) and repurpose. However, if you have a lot of expensive toys, it may make more sense to store your toys with higher-end materials purchased specifically for this purpose.
Step 3 - Decide on toys you want to store together.
It may be tempting to keep all of your toys cuddled together, but depending on the material of the toys, this may be a bad move. Here is a breakdown of how to store your toys based on their materials.
| Silicone |
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| Glass |
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| Plastic |
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| Stainless Steel |
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On the packaging for your sex toy, there are often storage instructions and an explanation of the material your toy is made from. Be sure to read about your toy and follow the instructions!
Step 4 - Assess where in the house you want your toys
When choosing what storage option works best for you, you should also consider where in the house you envision storing your toys.
To decide this, consider where you have space, how often you anticipate using the toys, and how hidden they need to be. For example, if you have kids or judgmental friends, should you hide the toys in a faraway closet, or is there a way to have them close to your bed for easy access?
Step 5 - Assess Specifics
Think about how many toys you have, as well as the size and shape of them. If there are longer toys like whips, you may choose a different system than if they are smaller toys.
Also, consider how fast you envision your collection expanding, so you can leave space for growth in the system you are creating. You don’t want to buy one new mastubator and have it mess up the whole system! If you have a live-in partner, you can decide whether to keep your toy collection separate or collaborate on a storage system.
Toy Storage Options
Storage Bags
Sex storage bags are an excellent option for storing sex toys, especially if you don’t have a vast collection. Don’t use plastic bags or regular tupperware, as chemicals could seep into your supply. Instead, you can get a series of drawstring cloth bags. There are also bags designed specifically for sex toys, often with an inter-coating that protects the contents from bacteria. There are also many options for sizes of bags, so you can measure your collection and then get a series of bags that are the correct size.
Pros and Cons of Using Storage Bags
Storage Boxes
Sex toy boxes might work better if you have more toys, especially if you also want to store chargers and condoms, and other sex-related items. Depending on the size of your collection and how you want to organize your system, you can either have one larger box or a series of smaller boxes. If you put several toys in one box, you should keep them in their original packaging or put each toy in plastic to separate them.
If you choose to purchase a series of smaller containers, you may choose to divide your toys by category so it is easier to find what you are looking for. For example, you can have a male mastubator box, a BDSM box, a vibrator box, and a miscellaneous sex paraphernalia box. You may also choose to have a series of smaller boxes because it makes it easier to add to the collection. No matter the size of the box, you may be able to put small dividers within the box to separate each toy and make it easier to find what you are looking for.
Pros and Cons of Using Storage Boxes
Storage Display
If you have an impressive sex toy collection, you may decide to create a toy display. Some people choose to design rooms or areas of their house that are dedicated to creating a sensual environment.
You may create a shelf or other display to show off your toys in this area. Some custom furniture also contains toy storage, or you may choose to display your toys in a decorative fashion around the space.
If you have an impressive sex toy collection, you may decide to create a toy display. Some people choose to design rooms or areas of their house that are dedicated to creating a sensual environment.
Creating a display or a dedicated play space may be helpful for people who engage in partnered sex that includes toys so that partners can explore the collection and decide on a suitable toy for the mood. A dedicated area can also be helpful for those who have bulkier items like sex pillows, absorbent blankets, or larger BDSM toys.
Pros and Cons of Using a Storage Display
Your sex storage needs may change depending on your relationship status, the size of your apartment, and the number of toys you have. Don’t feel the system you start with will necessarily be the system you use throughout your life.
However, putting the time into creating a storage system will make it easier to keep your toys clean, find what you are looking for, and decide what toys your collection may be missing. Happy Exploring :)