Knowing how to store sex toys safely is important, whether you have a few discreet vibrators or a larger collection. Not only will this extend the lifespan of your toys, but it's important for your own intimate health, too.
Dust, fluff and bacteria build up can create a range of issues in the gynaecological department, but fumbling around underneath the bed or trying to find your favourite toy when the moment strikes can also kill the buzz somewhat.
How to store sex toys
1. Make sure they’re clean and dry
If you do nothing else, make sure you know how to clean sex toys before you put them away. “It’s essential to clean toys with a suitable sex toy cleaner and leave them to air dry before storing them,” explains Ky Hoyle, founder of Sh! Women's Store, the first women-focused sex toy store in Europe.
“Porous and semi-porous sex toy materials trap lube and bodily juices in their micro-pores during use,” she says. “Failing to properly wash these toys before storing them guarantees bacterial growth. Giving this bacteria access to your delicate bits by using the toy unwashed is likely to result in a yeast infection.”
2. Silk or satin storage is best
Now that you’ve gone through the process of cleaning your vibrator and drying it off, you can put it away. Here, it’s important to consider the material your toy is made of.
“Dampness can cause mould and leather needs to breathe, so a silk or satin storage bag is best,” Hoyle suggests. “Never use air-tight containers or plastic bags to store your sex toys.” For storing even the best bullet vibrators, a silk or satin drawstring bag is often enough.
3. Store sex toys of different materials separately
Most sex toys, especially the best luxury sex toys, are made from premium silicone, and these can be safely stored away together. However, if you’ve got toys made of other materials, like glass, metal, plastic, or jelly, then these need to be kept separately. If you've recently bought one of the many sex toy kits available at the moment, this is something to really watch out for.
"Storing some sex toy materials together can cause 'melting' and potentially damage their surfaces," says Hoyle. "Always store sex toys together by materials, like in a bag with other toys only made from silicone and then another bag for toys made from TPE or TPR."
This is definitely the case for any toys made of jelly, as it’s the cheapest and most unsafe material, she adds. "Cheap jelly material often seeps phthalates, so keep these away from other materials - or even better, throw them away," she adds.
You'll also want to bear in mind the different shapes of your toys and ensure your storage accommodates all different shapes and sizes - for example, the best rabbit vibrators can sometimes take up a bit more space owing to their shape.
4. Remove batteries before storing
If you use battery-powered toys and vibrators regularly or have a big range of remote vibrators and you don’t want to be splashing out on batteries every five minutes, then take them out before storing.
"This prolongs the life of both the toy and the batteries. Vibrators can soak up battery life during storage, and your favourite vibe may be out of power when you need it the most. Storing batteries inside the toy can also cause them to leak.” If this happens, always dispose of batteries and toys safely," she says.
5. Keep charging cables together with your toy
This is more of an organisational point than a safety one, but still very important. The only thing worse than having a vibrator that runs out of battery halfway through using it is one that you can’t find the charger for afterwards.
“This ensures chargers never get mixed up,” Hoyle says. “Leave the cord loose in the bag, though. Wrapping it tightly around the wall plug or vibrator will cause damage. And make sure you charge a toy every six months, even if you haven’t used it, so you can keep the motor in good condition.”
6. Pay particular attention to anal toys
If you have a collection of toys you use for anal play, pay attention to how you clean and store these, the expert suggests.
"Cleaning your toys before and after use is important," she says. "Lubes and bodily juices will be coating them after play, so regular washing with a gentle sex toy cleaner or anti-bacterial hand wash & hot water is a must. This removes bacteria and you can store your anal toys according to materials."
How to store sex toys discreetly
Sex toy bags
These push velvety-feel microfibre bags are great for keeping individual toys, chargers and accessories safe from dust, dirt and lint. With an overall Amazon rating of 4.7 across over 2,000 reviews, your favourite toys are in safe hands with these drawstring bags. If you plan to buy some of the best vibrators on Amazon, we'd recommend adding this to your cart at the same time.
This inconspicuous black bag serves a dual purpose as the pouch not only stores, but also sterilises your toy after use. Simply pop your toy in the pouch, press the button and in three minutes it will be sanitised. This is a great choice if you have one favourite toy, or want a tool that cleans your toys. However, if you have a larger collection, you'll need to invest in larger storage.
To the untrained eye, this padded leopard print bag from adult brand Sinful looks like a makeup bag. However, it's actually carefully designed to store your favourite sex toys. It opens out to several customisable compartments, suitable for a range of different types of toys, and it comes with a small padlock for security.
Sex toy boxes
If you're travelling with your toys (especially ones without a travel lock), you'll definitely want to invest in a reliable, but discreet box. Measuring 14 x 7.5 x 2.75 inches, this black storage box from Lovehoney also has an antimicrobial lining and a secret padlock to keep prying eyes away.
This plastic black and yellow toolbox from STANLEY isn't exactly aesthetically pleasing, but that's sort of the point. Especially if it's hidden out of view, the design won't attract any intrigue, and at 16 inches, it's super spacious for storing a variety of sex toys, vibrators, accessories and lube. It also comes with a detachable shelf for easy access and small compartments at the top for cables.
With a super-quiet slider and lock, this black storage box from Joyboxx has no branding on the outside, so it is super discreet. It's a little smaller in size than some of the other options, so it's best for storing smaller sex toys like bullet vibrators and smaller accessories - though at least one wand should fit in comfortably, too.
Unique sex toy storage ideas
This caddy from Amazon hangs from the side of your bed, meaning your toys are always within easy reach. However, you might also want to also invest in some drawstring bags to keep them fully out of sight and safe from the elements. The caddy is available in a range of colourways and sizes, so you can also match it to your decor.
While this lockable book-shaped safe is designed to store keys, it's also big enough to fit a few vibrators or small toys. Just cross your fingers that no one asks you about the book.
These boxes with lids aren't exactly unobtrusive (in fact, they're likely to draw compliments), but no one would guess the contents of them. Made of a premium cardboard, these beautiful boxes would fit several vibrators each. Plus, they're easy to slide into your wardrobe, under your bed or in your wardrobe.
Why it's important to store sex toys safely
If you don’t know how to store your sex toys safely, then there’s a very big chance that dirt, dust, pet fur, etc, will find its way into your collection. “Your vibrator or sex toy will be teeming with bacteria,” says Hoyle. “This harmful bacteria can cause an imbalance and an itchy infection if it transfers to your vulva and vagina during the next session, for example.”
It’s why it’s so important to know how to store sex toys - and keep them away from the floor under your bed. “Storing toys directly on the floor, under the bed, is a popular option. It’s quick and easy after a hot session, but it’s not safe or hygienic,” she says.
How much storage do sex toys need?
Wondering how much room you need to store your sex toys? In short, that’s entirely dependent on your collection. Someone who owns a range of rabbit vibrators of varying sizes will need a lot more room than someone who just has a couple of the best bullet vibrators. It’s always better to go bigger in this case though, as it’s more than likely your collection could grow in the months or years to come.
Take stock of what you have, including all the toys, lubes, chargers, and other accessories you want to store away, then physically measure your space to see what you’re working with.
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