How to Clean Fleshlight

Knowing how to clean fleshlight sleeves, fleshlights and pocket pussies is extremely important. 

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to do it effectively to ensure your favorite sex toy is going to last and will keep providing you with sexual pleasure on tap for as long as possible. After all, isn’t that why you got it in the first place?

Why cleaning your fleshlight sleeve and other sex toys is so important 

Playing with your sex toys is obviously fun and pleasurable, but fleshlight care is an often overlooked aspect of owning fleshlight toys. 

It is pretty obvious to see why this is – playing is fun, but the cleaning process afterwards never is. As a result, most people would rather forget all about having to clean their fleshlights and other sex toys. In fact, a 2017 survey conducted by sex toy brand Adam &; Eve has revealed that only 57% of men clean their sex toys.

But before you fall into this trap of pure laziness, hear us out on any you should always clean your fleshlight properly as well as dry it fully when you are done with it. Keeping your fleshlight clean – particularly the sleeve inside – is vitally important for these three main reasons:

Health

One is that, despite having being manufactured to resist mold, mildew and bacteria, sex toys aren’t impervious to growing these nasty things inside them if they aren’t given a proper clean after each use. 

Needless to say, sticking your penis in a toy that has mold growth on the inside can lead to all sorts of unpleasantness, such as a skin or yeast infection. If you have ever had a yeast infection before, you already know why this is something to avoid at all costs. 

Hygiene

This reason goes hand in hand with the two others, but it has to be said: There’s nothing more disgusting than a smelly, moldy sex toy, particularly if we are talking about a rank fleshlight sleeve.

Longevity

The third reason why you need to keep your fleshlight sleeves and other sex toys clean is that a toy that has become infected with mold cannot be saved – it will have to go straight in the bin, which sucks, particularly if you have invested a good amount of money in a quality product.

These things cause fleshlight damage and mold growth

Before we even get to the cleaning process itself, let us take a quick look at what causes fleshlight damage and mold growth in the first place.

Semen

It’s simple really. When you cum into a fleshlight, you essentially eject biological material in the form of semen into the different textures of the fleshlight’s chambers. While the different textures are what creates the pleasurable sensations, they also make thoroughly cleaning your fleshlight a pain in the backside.

If you don’t give your fleshlight sleeve a good clean after using it, semen will be left to fester in the nooks and crannies of the material. This can lead to both mold and a gradual breakdown of the SuperSkin material that makes up your fleshlight sleeve.

Using isopropyl alcohol and other detrimental cleaning products

The part of the fleshlight that you cum into, the inner sleeve, is mostly made of mineral oil, a somewhat moody material that doesn’t agree with most regular cleaning products and is also sensitive to most soaps. 

This is why you should only use water based lube and very specific cleaning products that aren’t going to damage your toy by causing the SuperSkin material to fray and disintegrate.

One of the main cleaning products to avoid is isopropyl alcohol and any other cleaning product containing it, as this can really wear down and damage your toy.

Using the wrong lube

As already mentioned, the mineral oil that your fleshlight’s inner sleeve mainly consists of is a sensitive material that doesn’t respond well to a great variety of cleaning products and lubes. One of them is oil-based lube, as this can cause the inner tube to slowly break down and can also be more difficult to clean.

Using a water-based lube is always best.

Putting away your fleshlight wet

You should never put away your fleshlight wet. Even if you have cleaned your sex toy properly, failing to wait for it to be completely dry before putting it away can still lead to optimal conditions for mold growth.

The cleaning process

All right, let us walk you through the actual fleshlight cleaning process. If you follow these steps, your toy is going to last you much longer – and you won’t get a yeast infection from using it. While cleaning a fleshlight takes a bit of effort, it is decidedly worth it.

Rinse with warm water

The fist step in the fleshlight cleaning process is to rinse it throughy with warm water. Simply take your fleshlight to the bathroom or kitchen sink, turn on the warm tap and hold your fleshlight straight under it run warm water through the inner tube.

It may be tempting to use a bit of soap to clean a fleshlight, but it is going to do more damage than good in the long run, as the mineral oil that the inner tube is made from can be broken down by soap and even just by soapy water. If you have run out of other, more suitable cleaning products, using a bit of soap sparingly now and then is fine and decidedly better than only rinsing.

Once you have rinsed your fleshlight with warm water, shake off any excess water. Note that you cannot use too much water, as long say you shake the excess out after rinsing.

Add some fit-for-purpose cleaning product

Once you have thoroughly rinsed and shaken excess water off your fleshlight, it’s a good idea to add a little cleaning product, remembering to avoid any of the bad options already mentioned.

Most sex toy manufacturers also sell toy cleaner products that are specially formulated to be gentle and effective for sex you cleaning. A few of the best, chemically neutral options out there are the toy cleaners by Fleshlight, Arcwave and Love Honey.

In a pinch, you could use a 70% isopropyl alcohol, although excessive use could damage your toy over time. Use just a few sprays and you should be fine.

Let it air dry

The final step in the fleshlight cleaning process is letting your fleshlight dry properly. Despite how both simple and important this step is, many tend to get impatient and skip it.

Drying your fleshlight or flashlight sleeve can be completely straight forward – the important thing is simply that you leave it to dry for as long as needed. It should be 100% dry before you put it away, or mold might find something to work with.

If you want to speed up the process a little, start by using a microfibre cloth or paper towels to dry off your fleshlight. This way, air drying will not take quite as long.

Once you have gotten rid of the majority of the moisture, you’ll have to leave your fleshlight out to dry for as long as it takes for it to air dry completely. Always put it in a dry place (where children aren’t likely to find it). 

Some prefer to put their fleshlight sleeve on a drying rack, while others place theirs to dry on a microfibre cloth or paper towel. There’s no right or wrong here, only personal preferences and whoever you find to be the most convenient.

Use Fleshlight renewing powder

In addition to cleaning your fleshlight, there’s another aspect to consider, too. Over time, your fleshlight and particularly your fleshlight sleeve is going to lose some of its realistic, silky feel. To keep it feeling fresh and supple, you can use Fleshlight’s own-brand Renewing Powder to revive your toy.

The best time to use Renewing Powder on your fleshlight or fleshlight sleeve is after you have used it and it has dried. Always wait for your fleshlight sleeve to be completely dry, then apply fleshlight renewing powder liberally all over both the inside and the outside of your toy. You want to make sure your toy is completely covered in the powder. 

Use corn starch

If you don’t want to shell out and purchase Fleshlight’s official renewing powder, you can get your hands on its main and only ingredient, corn starch, for much less. 

Corn starch is a common household product and is available from just about any store that sells food products. Needless to say, the official product comes in a much more convenient container that makes it easy and quick to use, but it is good to know that you have the corn starch alternative. If you decide to go for this option, we recommend transferring the corn starch from the bag it comes in into a Tupperware box or a similar container for easy storage.

Whether you decide to go with Fleshlight’s own brand renewing powder or simple corn starch, the process of using it on your toy is still the same. Simply apply a generous amount of the powder over both the inside and outside of your fleshlight sleeve, then pat it down gently into the SuperSkin material and pour plenty into the interior to ensure that the entire toy has been coated in powder.

Storing your fleshlight sleeve

Many don’t think it is important how or where you store your fleshlight sleeve, but let us reassure you that it is. 

Always store your flashlight in a dry place where damp and moisture are unable to get to it. Storing your fleshlight in the original box it came in is not a bad idea, or if you have a larger selection of sex toys in your home, keeping them all in a specific box away from prying eyes as well as moisture and dust can be a good idea. There’s also something nice and practical about keeping all of your sex toys in the same place.

Using the right lube

Another pro tip for keeping your fleshlight sleeve clean and healthy is remembering to use the right lube. While silicone and oil-based lubes are delicious and wonderful to use in the moment, they can have a detrimental effect on your fleshlight over time. This is particularly the case with any oil-based lubes.

Water-based lube is always the way to go and can still help you achieve the perfect glide you desire.

Final thoughts on fleshlight cleaning

While fleshlight cleaning is definitely a chore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to keep your sex toys and especially your fleshlight sleeves in good condition and safe to use for as long as possible.

We hope that this article has inspired you to take good care of your fleshlight sleeve, and that you’ve found the cleaning tips laid out here both helpful and simple to follow.