I talked a while ago about things to have in your BDSM toy bag. I also mentioned cleaning your toys when you get home. So, if you’ve put a bag together, congrats! Now, I’m willing to bet that you’ve probably got something (or a few things) made of leather.
Leather is, without a doubt, one of the most recognisable materials in BDSM. Real leather isn’t cheap, whether it’s chaps, harnesses, or other sexy accessories. Especially if you intend to have any custom pieces in your toy bag.
The last thing you want to find in your closet is a cracked, dried-out, misshapen lump of animal skin that was once something lovely. So I’ve decided that I’m going to let you know how to clean leather sex toys, and ways to care for them, so they can last you for years.
Okay, I think I’ve done a good job setting the stage. Let’s get started.
Contents
- Sweat
- Lubricant
- Mould And Mildew
- Wax
- Urine
- Blood
- Faecal Matter
- Vaginal Secretions, Semen, Or Squirting Fluids
- Sterilising Leather
- Pay Close Attention To Detail When Cleaning Leather
- Leather Storage
- Playing With Others
- Additional Leather Cleaning Tips
Real vs Fake Leather, and Allergies
One thing I want you to keep in mind: The information in this article DOES NOT APPLY WITH ARTIFICIAL LEATHER. Fabric and plastic combos have their own set of cleaning rules. There’s also a distinction to be made between treated leather and the animal’s thinner dermis — such as suede — which also has different cleaning requirements.
And though it is uncommon, some people are allergic to leather. But they’re usually allergic to any dyes or chemicals used to treat it. So if you’re worried or planning to spend a significant amount of money, speak with the seller or manufacturer.
Understanding Leather
Keep in mind that leather is a living material. You can’t handle it the same way you would treat the plastic or silicone toys in your toy bag. Consider your own skin for a moment. It needs oxygen, moisturiser, and keeping from over-excessive exposure to the sun. If it’s neglected, it can dry out, crack, and look pretty horrible after several years. The same thing applies to leather.
And I don’t know if you knew this, but leather is porous, as well. This means that once you’ve completed your play session, sterilisation would be even more difficult. If not properly handled, bodily fluids, mould, mildew, and other nasty things may develop in the leather.
1. How To Clean And Care For Leather
The following methods are the same for cleaning leather clothing or toys, including floggers, whips, blindfolds, etc.
Washing
For daily cleaning, warm water and mild soap will do. The trick is to stay away from things with scents or harsh chemicals. Also, something that leaves a residue should be avoided. If this happens, clean it away with a damp cloth and stop using the soap. Baby shampoo has been recommended by some consumers because it is gentle and leaves no residue. NOTE: DO NOT USE laundry detergent.
Drying
Leather is a big fan of oxygen. It will also provide another layer of support in the disinfecting phase, in addition to the drying process. DO NOT, however, expose it to the light, use a hair dryer, or put it in the dryer. This type of heat will dry out the fabric, making it to crack or become misshapen. All you have to do is hang it up to dry completely.
Conditioning
The sexy lustre we all love when looking at leather can be achieved by proper conditioning. There are a number of things that work well for this.
Saddle soap is the first. Since it’s made to clean, nourish, and secure your leather, it’s one of the best options. All you have to do is wipe the item down with a clean, damp cloth, then apply the saddle soap with a second clean cloth in small, circular motions (it will clean as well as help to remove impurities).
For the saddle soap I use, click here.
Mink oil comes in second. Palmitoleic acid, contained in mink oil, is similar to that found in human sebum. Sebum is a sticky, waxy substance formed by your body’s sebaceous glands that covers, moisturises, and protects your skin, if you didn’t know.
Palmitoleic acid will help to condition the leather while also increasing its water resistance. NOTE: Some people say that conditioning leather only needs to be done once or twice a year. That’s more for street clothes, as they have a protective lining. Since BDSM gear should be washed after each use, it needs more conditioning.
For the mink oil I use, click here.
2. Cleaning Vs Deep Cleaning
The extent to which you clean your leather is determined by how hard or long you played. Light usage (such as putting it on to take photos) may only necessitate a wipe-down and some saddle soap. Anything heavier would almost certainly require a soap and water wash, as well as possible conditioning. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution (and care).
3. Specific Cleaning Issues
You’re going to get all sorts of things from you and your partner on your leather gear. Here’s how you deal with each of them.
Sweat
This will be the most common thing you’ll come across . If you let it build up, it will also cause itchiness and irritation. A little soap and warm water will suffice.
Lubricant
Oil-based lubes are fantastic for sex, but they’re a pain to clean, particularly if you’re using leather. Spot cleaning with soap and water in a slow, steady motion can help. Although I did see one trick for using ground chalk, which was to grind it into a powder and leave it on the oil stain overnight before washing as normal.
Mould And Mildew
Use a 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water. Dip a cloth into the solution, wring out the excess water, and then wipe away the mould.
Wax
I’d stay away from playing with wax and wearing leather altogether, mostly because it’s difficult to clean and involves using heat, which leather is not a fan of. But if you want to ignore me, take a piece of blotting paper or brown paper and use an iron on low-medium heat, to gently remove the stuck-on wax. To get rid of any residual wax, repeat the procedure until the paper isn’t absorbing it anymore.
If you’re going to use something for wax play, I’d recommend using leather pieces that you don’t care about. Again, if you want to ignore me, don’t complain if something weird happens to your toys.
Urine
If you’re into water sports, make sure you clean the leather immediately after playing. The acid content in urine could permanently damage the material if left for a long time — even overnight.
Blood
The same thing goes for blood play or any accidental cuts. If the blood is left to dry, it will stiffen the leather and likely cause it to smell. It’s possible that it would stain the leather
Faecal Matter
Because this can be a mixture of who-knows-what, it’s important to clean your items thoroughly after playing to prevent stains and odours.
Vaginal Secretions, Semen, Or Squirting Fluids
Vaginal secretions and sperm should be wiped off, then washed normally. What comes out of a woman if she’s squirted, must be handled similar to urine. While it isn’t pee, it has similar properties to it.
4. Sterilising Leather
First, you REALLY need to understand that fully disinfecting leather is impossible. Leather, as I mentioned earlier, is porous and behaves like a sponge, soaking up anything it comes into contact with. NOTE: When dealing with bodily fluids, this is particularly important, since STIs can live for MONTHS inside the leather.
I’ve heard that a good idea is to wash leather toys in a rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide solution before starting your care routine. With this said, I haven’t tested this method, but if you do, remember that it will NOT completely disinfect the leather.
5. Pay Close Attention To Detail When Cleaning Leather
Be sure to get into every nook, seam, fold, and hard-to-reach area around metal fittings or adornments. These are the places where the most build-up on your leather can occur.
6. Leather Storage
Make sure your leather items are stored somewhere cool and dry. Keep in mind that leather isn’t a fan of heat and moisture. Leather needs to breathe, so don’t store it in plastic bags. To help keep its form and breathability, leather items should be hung on sturdy hangers.
7. Playing With Others
Although you can’t change leather’s porous nature, you CAN restrict your leather play to someone you trust. Alternatively, if you’re going to play with a lot of people (increasing the possible exposure to dangerous bodily fluids), I recommend that you don’t use your personal leather items on them. Use THEIRS instead.
8. Additional Leather Cleaning Tips
- You should never submerge your leather toys in water or put them through a washing machine. Instead, you should use a soft cloth (like nubuck) and warm water mixed with saddle soap to wipe them clean and then dry.
- Metal parts can rust. Keep an eye on them or cover them with a few coats of clear nail polish – you’ll need to reapply it when it wears off. Surface rust can be cleaned with a chrome cleaner.
- Make sure your partner isn’t allergic to nickel, as metal parts like rivets or buckles may contain nickel.
- Make sure your leather is dust-free.
- NEVER use harsh chemicals.
In Conclusion
In all this talk about how to clean leather sex toys, there’s one EXTREMELY important thing I forgot to mention: The way you care about your BDSM clothing and toys is a reflection of the type of person you are in this lifestyle to potential partners. No one wants to play with a piece of leather that is stiff, blood-encrusted, and smells like piss. If you’re the sort of person who notices the little things and takes excellent care of your toys, you’ll probably look after your partner the same way. Be sure to keep this in mind.
Anyway, what’s your favourite leather toy? Do you have any additional suggestions or tips on how to clean leather sex toys? Let me know on Twitter!
