Toy Maintenance
Storage
Keep them safe
Keep your toys in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, with some ventilation to cut back on any odors.
Soft material toys (TPE and Silicone) should be stored separately, so they are not touching. TPE and silicone do not mix, and leaving these two materials stacked on each other will cause oils to leach from one to the other. Silicone will draw moisture out of TPE, leaving both toys degraded.
Glass toys should be kept in a safe, soft environment. Laying them on hard surfaces or even hard materials increases the chances of cracks or chips forming. ANY damage to a glass toy should be taken seriously.
Keep your toys separated by material, and if possible even away from each other!
Cleaning
Cleanliness is next to godliness
In most cases, washing with a mild soap in warm water after each use, leaving to dry in an open area, will be all that's required to clean your toys.
Deeper cleaning is required for closed orifice maturbators/onaholes compared to open orifice toys, as mold can grow on the inside of the toy. For these, it is recommended to take extra time to ensure a thorough, deep cleaning is completed. Leave the toys with the orifice facing down, to help drain water, or use a hair dryer on low heat, to help evaporate any internal water.
Silicone toys have more options for keeping them clean. Harsher soaps, dishwasher, even boiling!
Boiling is recommended for complete disinfection, over any other method for toys made of silicone, borosilicate glass, and stainless steel. TPE cannot be boiled!
Remember, take extra care with any toy that has mechanical parts, has batteries, or is not water proof! Remove these components (if possible) before cleaning. Read the instructions that come with your toy, for more information.
Renewing Your Toys
Powders and Oils
In order to keep your toys feeling soft and non-stick, they will need some occasional refreshing. And the best product to use for this, is cornstarch!
All TPE toys will develop a tackiness to them, especially after a good wash. This means dirt, hair, fuzz etc. will stick to your TPE toy, and can make it feel like cheap playdough. To avoid this, companies sell renew or refreshing powder, that removes the stick, your toy has developed. But be warned!
Many of these powders may not actually be body safe! They may contain other powders (in many cases, Talc) that have nebulous side effects on humans. Because the powder is going to be in contact with your genitals, a cornstarch based power is your best option for price, safety, and effectiveness!
This is of particular importance for ANY toy that is used for insertions/penetration!
Silicone toys most often will not need any powdering. They are much less tacky, and retain their own internal moisture more effectively. They also have far less moisture overall, so this contributes to their overall smooth and luxurious feeling.
Occasionally your TPE toy will need to have some oil applied. Over time they may crack, which can be a sign of the TPE drying out. To re-oil the toy, you can apply some vaseline or mineral oil over the item, and let it sit and absorb into the toy over the course of a couple of hours. In many cases this may never be necessary, as newer toys use better TPE formulations that require very little maintenance.