How to Clean a Pocket Pussy

A good pocket pussy is an investment in your sexual health and is also many men’s first step into the wilder, more pleasurable branches of assisted and hands-free masturbation. Stamina training sleeves, strokers, masturbation sleeves, Fleshlights — whatever you call them, they’re here to make your orgasm awesome.

If you are unsure of exactly what a pocket pussy is or how to use one? Check out our article on everything you need to know. If you just want to know how to clean a pocket pussy then keep on reading.

Once you’ve done the research and can guarantee that you’re purchasing a high-quality pocket pussy made of body-safe materials, the next step is to make sure that it’s with you for the long haul. This means knowing how to properly clean a pocket pussy, how to dry one, and knowing exactly what products to purchase and how to use them in order to extend its longevity.

After all, if it’s an investment? You want to take care of it. Even if it is a sex toy.

Why should I clean my pocket pussy?

Bold of you to ask. Why do you wash your underwear? Why do you rinse your toothbrush after using it? Like anything that comes into contact with sensitive parts of your body, safety and hygiene with sex toys is vital.

• Don’t be gross: We know what the end result of masturbation is. Clean that stuff off your sex toys quickly, or it’s just going to dry out and get more difficult to get out of there.
  
  
• Health and safety: Bacteria, viruses, fungus — all pathogenic organisms that thrive in the warmth and wet of a used sex toy. Not to mention STI’s, if you happen to be sharing the masturbation sleeve with anyone else. (Hey, we don’t judge!) A quick, warm wash simply isn’t going to kill all the germs that may be lingering in there. And the last thing you want is an infection or allergic reaction on your more private parts.
  
  
• Longevity: As we mentioned above, properly cleaning and caring for your sex toys after every use ensures a longer lifespan. The materials and shape of the toy will last longer with simple but consistent maintenance.

How often should I clean my pocket pussy?

Though cleaning a pocket pussy may feel like a bit of a drag, it is necessary to clean it before and after every use. Yep. Sorry. No exceptions.

The good news is that cleaning your fake vagina beforehand is much simpler and faster than afterward. Before you play, you can just give it a quick wipe-down with some warm water, a damp cloth, and soap, or an anti bacterial sex toy cleaner.

How to properly clean and dry a pocket pussy

First off, all sex toys are a bit different, so don’t take our word as gospel. Always read the included cleaning instructions for each of your sex toy, and save or take a picture of their specific maintenance recommendations

That said, there are generally five quick but essential steps to cleaning a pocket pussy. Before you start:

Check the material. If your pocket pussy is made of medical-grade silicone, then the non-porous nature of that material makes cleaning a bit simpler. But most pocket pussies are made of softer, more lifelike materials like TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) or TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber) sometimes called Ultra Realistic 3.0 (UR 3.0), Refined Touch, or Cyberskin. You will also want to make sure your toy is waterproof before damaging it.

A rose by any other name still needs appropriate cleaning. These silicone-derived materials are more porous than their harder cousin, and like most sex toys, need to be used with water-based lubricants.

So what are the steps to properly clean a pocket pussy?

After you’ve had a smashing time using your pocket pussy, grab the cleaner:

• Search for damage. We’ll let you know more about what to look for further down, but if a toy is damaged, it’s done. Toss it. It’s had a good run.
• Rinse the toy: Without inverting your pocket pussy, flush cold or lukewarm water through it as soon as possible. If your pocket pussy doesn’t have a through hole, simply spread the opening and run water into it, gently using your fingers to get it clean.
• Wash the sex toy: Once most of the lube and cum are flushed out, use soap and water (if silicone) or an anti-bacterial toy cleaner (if TPE). With more porous materials, bacteria and other germs like to linger, and a specific cleaning fluid is highly recommended. Use your fingers or the soft side of a sponge to wipe in all the nooks and crannies.
• Whatever you do, do NOT use harsh household cleaning agents like 409 or Clorox. They contain corrosive and downright dangerous chemicals that you definitely don’t want on your junk.  These chemicals should never come in contact with any of your sex toys.
• Re-rinse the toy thoroughly: Ensure you’ve gotten all fluids and remaining cleaning agents off of the surface.
• Dry the toy: Bacteria love to grow in a humid environment, so you need to ensure that the toy is as dry as possible. After you rinse, squeeze or shake it to remove all excess water. You may wish to carefully dab it with a clean, lint-free cloth. Then leave out to air dry.
• After at least 4-12 hours of air drying do the finger test. Stick your finger into the vagina and check to make sure there is no dampness left.
  
  

Note: If you have a vibrating pocket pussy, make sure that the water stays out of all electrical and vibrating parts. Instead of running water through the pocket pussy, you may instead choose to use a damp cloth with the cleaning spray. This goes for toys that are not waterproof as well.

How to properly maintain and store a pocket pussy

For pocket pussies and sex toys made out of TPE or Cyberskin-like materials, there’s some quick maintenance that needs to be done in order to keep the elastomer feeling new. After a couple of washes, you may notice the material of your pocket pussy might start to feel a bit tacky or sticky. In order to combat this, use renewing powder.

To use renewing powder, simply sprinkle the powder onto your toy, and work it into the crevices. You’ll notice the surface materials return to their life-like smoothness. With renewing powder, the TPE will maintain its soft, sexy texture much longer.

When storing your toys, check that the toy is completely dry. Then put it into the box or bag it came in, and store it in a cool, dry place. A quick tip: Some men will store their toys with a few of those little silica packets to ensure no moisture remains.

Also make sure, if you own multiple toys, that none of them are touching one another, as this can lead to the materials degrading. Don’t ask us why—it’s a science thing.

What not to do when cleaning a pocket pussy

It has to be said: there are some pretty innovative people out there. So below are a few warnings about how not to “hack” this process. This is important, please read.

• Don’t turn your pocket pussy inside out. Stressing the materials and opening by fully inverting your toy can lead to tearing, and severely shorten its lifespan.

• Don’t use pre-lubricated condoms: Condoms can be a great way to limit mess, but make sure they’re not pre-lubricated. Many condoms come pre-lubed with silicone-based lube, and that can cause your sex toys to deteriorate over time. Remember: only use water-based.

• Don’t use bleach. I know, using the most stringent cleaning fluids may seem like you’re being safer, and technically if you have a silicone (non-porous) pocket pussy you can use diluted bleach. But in this case, “bleach” is a stand-in for any particularly strong soap or detergent not specifically intended for sex toys. Stripping your TPE or Cyberskin with harsh cleaning fluids over and over again is going to cause them to wear out much faster.

• Don’t use hot water. Again, this may seem like a safer option. But really hot water can damage or even deform your pocket pussy.

• Don’t use a blow dryer. Some sites claim that you can use a hair dryer on low heat to speed up the drying process… but be very careful. Again, excessive heat is not good for your pocket pussy.

How do I tell if my pocket pussy is damaged or wearing out?

Even if you’re diligent about washing and maintaining your masturbation sleeve, it will wear out over time. Keep an eye on any of the following changes, as they can indicate improper maintenance or just old age.

• Smell: If your pocket pussy smells funky, it means that it has not been washed properly, and bacteria have started to grow. Toss that baby. This might be hard to stomach but need to for safety reasons.

• Cracks or tears: Cracks or tears are almost impossible to clean in sex toys, and are perfect crevices for bacteria to grow. Not to mention, if a crack begins to form, it will likely grow larger over time.

• Texture changes: Aside from stickiness that can be combated with renewing powder (or cornstarch in a pinch), changes in texture are often inevitable as toys age. You may notice rough or raised areas, and if these are impacting your pleasure when using the toy, it’s probably time for a replacement.

• Discoloration: This can be the result of chemical reactions between the material and your lube or cleaning fluid. If you are unsure why discoloration is occurring, it may indicate that the material is breaking down… and it’s probably time to get a new one.

Pocket pussies are great

Though there’s still some unfortunate lingering societal stigma around masturbation sleeves (what’s with that?), these sex toys are in no way a reflection on the men who choose to purchase them. The truth is, pocket pussies are not only a way to masturbate when you don’t have or don’t want sex with another person — but they allow sensations, speeds, and angles that a normal vulva just can’t handle.

Keep your masturbation sleeve hygienic, smooth, and usable for the long run by ensuring proper cleaning and maintenance every time you use it. Consider purchasing name-brand-quality sex toy cleaners and renewing powders to keep your pocket pussy fresh.

And if you’re thinking about buying a new one, check out our awesome selection here.