How to Store Sex Toys Safely and Discreetly

You have chosen your toys carefully, so it makes sense to look after them between uses. Good storage keeps toys clean, protects the materials, stops batteries from causing trouble and keeps everything private. It takes very little effort once you have a routine. Here is how to do it well.

Start with clean and dry

Never put a toy away straight after use. Clean it first, following the maker's instructions for that material, and pay attention to textured areas, ridges and seams where residue collects. A dedicated toy cleaner makes this easy, and you will find options in our douches and toy care collection.

Then let the toy dry completely. Pat it with a clean, lint-free towel and leave it to air dry before storing. A toy that goes into a pouch or box while still damp is far more likely to pick up odours or marks. If a toy has a charging port or battery compartment, make sure that area is dry too.

Keep materials apart

This is the storage rule people most often miss. Some materials react with each other when they touch for long periods.

• Silicone can react with other silicone toys and with softer materials, leaving marks, a tacky feel or changes to the surface.
• TPE and jelly toys are softer and more porous. They can react with silicone and with other soft materials, and they can pick up colour from toys they are stored against.
• Glass, metal and hard plastic are more stable, but they can scratch or chip each other, so give them their own space as well.

The simplest answer is to store every toy on its own. If you want to understand why different materials behave differently, our article on silicone vs TPE explains it in more detail.

Pouches, boxes and drawers

You do not need anything fancy, just something that keeps each toy separate and clean.

• Fabric pouches are ideal for most toys. Many toys come with one. If yours did not, a clean cotton or satin bag works well, and it can go through the wash.
• The original box is often a perfect fit, especially for larger toys and anything with an odd shape.
• A lockable box or case keeps a collection together and private. Look for one with dividers, or use pouches inside it.
• A dedicated drawer works if you keep toys in individual pouches so they never touch.

Avoid storing toys loose in a bag with keys, coins or other hard objects, which can scratch or damage the surface.

Away from sunlight and heat

Direct sunlight, radiators, heated floors and hot cars can all affect toy materials over time. Heat and light can cause fading, warping or changes in texture, particularly in softer materials. Choose a cool, dry, dark place such as a drawer, a cupboard or a box under the bed. Bathrooms are convenient but often warm and humid, so they are not ideal for long-term storage.

Take the batteries out

If a toy uses replaceable batteries, remove them before you put it away for any length of time. Batteries left inside can leak and damage the toy's contacts. It also stops the toy from switching itself on in a drawer or a bag.

For rechargeable toys, check whether the toy has a travel lock and use it. Store rechargeable toys with some charge rather than completely flat, and top them up now and then if they are not used for a while. Keep charging cables with the toy so you are not hunting for the right one later. Browse our rechargeable vibrators if you want to move away from batteries altogether.

Discretion ideas

Privacy matters, especially if you share a home, have visitors to stay or simply like to keep things to yourself.

• A plain box with a lock, or a lockable case, is the most secure option.
• Keep toys inside pouches within an ordinary looking storage box, the kind that could hold anything.
• Choose a drawer or cupboard that other people have no reason to open.
• Keep lube and toy cleaner together with your toys, so everything is in one place and nothing is left out on a shelf.
• When travelling, carry toys in a pouch inside a wash bag, with the batteries out or the travel lock on.

And when you are buying, remember that every MAW Toys order ships from UK stock in discreet plain packaging, so nothing on the outside gives the contents away.

A quick routine to follow

1. Clean the toy after every use.
2. Let it dry completely.
3. Remove batteries or turn on the travel lock.
4. Put it in its own pouch or box.
5. Store it somewhere cool, dry and dark.

Follow those five steps and your toys will stay in good condition for longer. For more detail on cleaning and looking after different materials, read our full toy care guide, and check the materials guide if you are unsure what a toy is made from.