The right way to store sex toys is simple: make sure they are completely dry, keep each one in its own breathable pouch, keep them away from porous toys, and put them somewhere dust and curious visitors cannot reach. Do that and a toy you cleaned last week is still clean when you reach for it.
Most people get the cleaning right and the storage wrong. If you have washed a toy properly (our guide to cleaning every toy material covers how), the next step is where it goes.
Why the nightstand drawer is a problem
The default is the back of a nightstand drawer. That drawer is full of lint, dust, loose change, and, if you have a cat or dog, hair. Silicone has a soft, slightly grippy finish that picks all of that up. Put a clean silicone toy in there loose and it comes out needing another wash.
Loose toys also knock into each other, roll around, and switch on by accident. A drawer is fine as a location. It just should not be the only layer.
How to store sex toys apart from each other
You may have heard that two silicone toys will melt into each other if they touch. That is mostly a myth. Good quality, fully cured silicone is stable and does not react with other silicone in a drawer. The trouble comes from lower quality "silicone blends" that contain other materials, and from porous toys.
Jelly and PVC toys in particular are softened with plasticizers. A survey of sex toys by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency found jelly toys that were more than two thirds plasticizer by weight, mostly phthalates. Those chemicals can migrate into whatever they touch, leaving marks, tackiness, or damage on your body-safe toys. Our post on porous vs. non-porous materials explains why we do not sell them.
So the practical rule is to give every toy its own pouch. It costs nothing, protects against any blend you are unsure about, and keeps dust off. If you are not sure what a toy is made of, our guide to silicone grades will help you judge.
Breathable bags vs. airtight containers
The biggest enemy in storage is trapped moisture. If a toy goes into a sealed plastic bag or a food container while it is still slightly damp, that moisture has nowhere to go. Give it time and you have a warm, humid little box where mold can grow.
Dry every toy fully first. Pat it with a lint-free cloth, then leave it on a clean towel for an hour or so, paying attention to seams, charging ports, and textured areas where water sits.
For everyday storage, breathable fabric beats plastic:
- Cotton or satin drawstring pouches keep dust and hair off while letting any leftover moisture escape. Many toys come with one in the box.
- The original box is also fine if it has a fitted insert, since it stops the toy rolling around or switching on.
Avoid zip-top bags and airtight containers unless you know the toy is bone dry.
Lockboxes and travel cases
If you share a home with roommates, children, or frequent guests, a pouch in a drawer may not feel private enough. A lockable storage box with a key or combination solves that. Choose one with a fabric lining, and still keep each toy in its own pouch inside it so nothing rattles around or touches.
For travel, a small hard-shell case keeps a toy from getting crushed in a bag and stops the button from being pressed in transit. If your toy has a travel lock, turn it on before packing. If it takes batteries, take them out.
A simple storage routine
- Wash the toy with warm water and mild unscented soap or a toy cleaner.
- Dry it with a lint-free cloth and let it air dry fully.
- Put it in its own breathable pouch.
- Store the pouch in a clean drawer, box, or lockbox, away from heat and direct sunlight.
Keep a bottle of toy cleaner from our lube and care collection in the same drawer. A quick rinse before use takes care of anything that settled in storage, and the whole routine takes less time than finding a toy buried under old phone chargers.