How to Clean a Fleshlight

This article is a complete guide on how to clean a Fleshlight and it explains the benefits of doing so regularly.

As the most popular male masturbator on the market, there are clearly many advantages to owning a Fleshlight. This includes its realistic feel, durability, and the huge range of accessories on offer that can enhance your experience when using it. In contrast, the main disadvantage of owning one, according to most users, is having to clean it after using it.

However, taking a little time to clean your Fleshlight extends its lifespan considerably. Doing so also increases the pleasure you receive from using it and, most importantly, protects your health by preventing bacterial infection.

How Difficult it is to Clean a Fleshlight?

Cleaning a Fleshlight can appear to be difficult at first. Or rather, a lot of effort. It seems that there are so many steps and “dos and don’ts” right? In truth, once you’ve done it a couple of times and understand the process, you’ll find it’s actually pretty simple. In fact, it’s just a few steps, which we’ll look at now:

How to Clean a Fleshlight in 4 Steps

First, I’m going to define the different parts of the Fleshlight so it’s easier to follow the rest of this guide.

A Fleshlight is made up of 4 parts: the soft insert (the part you use to masturbate), the plastic outer case, a large front cap, and a smaller rear cap (used to control suction).

With that in mind, there are 4 steps to cleaning your Fleshlight:

Let’s take a look at each step in detail:

Step 1: Clean your Fleshlight with Warm Water

The first step is to remove the soft insert from the outer case and properly rinse it through with warm water. It’s important that the water is warm as cold water will make it harder to remove your bodily fluids and lube, and hot water will damage your Fleshlight.  

Initially, you should hold the insert under the tap, allowing water to run through it. Then, to be more thorough, hold your hands over each end of the insert and gently shake it to slosh water back and forth through its internal canal. Think of how you’d clean a flask or sports drink bottle. This is especially important if your insert has a very textured interior. It’s also a good idea to occasionally stick your finger inside the insert to check how clean it is.

Lastly, it’s highly likely that some fluids or lube spilled had out the rear end while you used it. For that reason, you should give the inside of the outer case and the rear suction cap a quick rinse too.

Step 2: Clean your Fleshlight with Isopropyl Alcohol

After rinsing, take a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol, ideally 70% strength, and apply a small amount into and around the opening of the insert. Now, the manufacturers of the Fleshlight would have you believe that you should only use the official cleaner, Fleshwash. However, isopropyl alcohol is an acceptable and widely used alternative. It’s strong enough to kill bacteria yet mild enough to not damage the Fleshlight’s material. What’s more, it will help to dry your Fleshlight out faster. Speaking of which…

Step 3: Dry your Fleshlight

Next, it’s time to dry your Fleshlight. This stage is as important as cleaning it, as removing all the moisture is key to preventing the development of mold and mildew. Start by placing the Fleshlight on a small towel and gently patting it down with a second towel. Be gentle so you don’t damage its material. You need to allow the internal canal sufficient time to dry but this can be sped up in a number of ways.

Take a look out our detailed guide to drying your Fleshlight for more instructions.

Step 4: Dust your Fleshlight with Cornstarch (Renewal Powder)

When a Fleshlight is brand new, it’s covered in a fine substance known as Renewal Powder. This keeps the Super Skin, the material from which the Fleshlight is made, supple, realistic, and stimulating. With repeated use, this powder erodes away, making your Fleshlight stickier and less fun to use. The good news is, this is easily fixed: simply apply more Renewal Powder to the inside and outside of your Fleshlight.

Now, you’ll notice that this step is labelled ‘Dust it with Cornstarch’, not Renewal Powder. This is because Renewal Powder is just expensive cornstarch! Buy regular cornstarch from your local store and use the money you’ll save to treat yourself to another Fleshlight insert.

How You Shouldn’t Wash Your Fleshlight

For a start, don’t wash your Fleshlight with anything that’s not warm water, isopropyl alcohol, or Fleshwash. This means avoiding the use of soap, hand wash, body wash, hand sanitizer, or anything else that’s lying around your bedroom or bathroom.

I get it, they’re right there and convenient to use. But over time they’ll damage your Fleshlight and you’ll have to replace it. Which is not so convenient!

These products contain a variety of chemicals and oils which although great for your skin aren’t so great for your Fleshlight’s Super Skin. Furthermore, using soap and similar products can leave a thin layer surrounding the soft insert. This will trap bacteria within the material which is released by the friction (heat) produced when you use your Fleshlight. If these bacteria enter your penis, this could result in a variety of harmful infections.

You should also avoid turning your Fleshlight inside out in an effort to better clean the internal canal. Super Skin is flexible, sure, but stretching it too far is likely to result in damage. To clean the internal canal thoroughly, stick to inserting your fingers to remove any build up or properly clean its textured ribs and ridges.

Why You Need to Clean Your Fleshlight After Each Use

You need to clean your Fleshlight after each use for two reasons: To preserve the material from which it’s made and to avoid the growth of mold and mildew.

Durability

One of the reasons the Fleshlight is so popular is that it’s made from Super Skin. This material was designed to be flexible, realistic, and durable. For it to remain all of those things, you should clean it regularly. Developing the habit of cleaning it every time you’ve used it will keep it supple and fresh, in both appearance and smell. This is especially true if you apply cornstarch every few times you use it to keep the material soft, as suggested above.

Safety

The second, and most important, reason is to avoid the growth of mold. To really impress upon you the importance of cleaning your Fleshlight, let’s call mold by another name – what it truly is: bacteria.

Bacteria thrive in moist environments, which is exactly what you create after inserting bodily fluids and lube into your Fleshlight’s internal canal. These bacteria then have a chance to grow and spread, eventually developing into distinctive black, blue, or green spots. This can also happen if you fail to dry your Fleshlight properly after washing it.

For these reasons, it’s crucial that you properly clean and dry your Fleshlight after each use.

How to Clean a Moldy Fleshlight

Although often difficult, it is possible to remove mold or mildew from your Fleshlight; particularly if it’s on the material’s surface. Such mold can usually be removed by going through the same steps used to clean your Fleshlight after use: Warm water, isopropyl alcohol, dry, and apply cornstarch.

Should you do this and the mold is still there, you’re going to have to take things to the next level. Take a look at our detailed guide on removing Fleshlight mold for more information.

The Fleshlight Cleaning and Care F.A.Q.

Should I Clean My Fleshlight Before the First Use?

It’s a good idea to clean your Fleshlight just after purchasing it and before using it for the first time. Because it doesn’t have any fluids in it, you don’t have to clean it too rigorously. Simply running warm water through it is enough.

However, you will be washing off its initial layer of corn starch, so you’ll need to let it dry and then apply another coating.

When Should I Clean My Fleshlight?

You should get into the habit of cleaning your Fleshlight every, single time you use it. This will ensure it’s still highly pleasurable to use, will last for a long time and massively reduce your risk of a bacterial infection.

I Forgot to Clean My Fleshlight Overnight. What Should I Do?

Firstly, don’t despair. Forgetting to clean your Fleshlight once, twice, or even a handful of times and leaving it overnight will not ruin it. If you get into the habit of leaving it overnight, that’s when the problems start.

Simply clean it as soon as possible, including using isopropyl alcohol, and allow it to dry before putting it back in its case. I would strongly advise you develop the habit of cleaning it after every use unless you’re prepared to buy a new one. And then another new one after that…..

What’s the Best Way to Clean a Fleshlight?

The best way to clean a Fleshlight is with warm water followed by a dose of isopropyl alcohol. With the warm water, allow it to pass through the internal canal and then cover each end with your hands and shake it from side to side. Then, apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to its interior and exterior.

What’s the Fastest Way to Clean a Fleshlight?

The quickest way to clean a Fleshlight is just to use warm water. Hold the fleshy insert under warm, running water for 15 – 30 seconds and then allow it to dry.

How Can I Clean a Fleshlight Without Water?

I don’t think it’s possible to properly clean a Fleshlight without water. Using isopropyl alcohol may kill present bacteria, but it won’t effectively remove all the moisture that provides a breeding ground for more to develop.

You then might consider using something like a piece of tissue or a wet wipe, but neither of those is a good solution. Tissues are likely to leave little fragments which could then cause bacteria to develop around them. There’s also the issue of using your Fleshlight with these fragments still lodged in the internal canal. This could lead to damage from friction, or even the possibility, however small, of them entering your urethra. Wet wipes, on the other hand, contain chemicals that aren’t necessarily Fleshlight friendly and will damage its material over time.

You might get away with these methods a handful of time, but if you want your Fleshlight to last, there’s nothing better than warm water.

Can I Turn my Fleshlight Inside Out to Clean it?

Although you’ll see some Fleshlight users suggesting this, it’s not a good idea to turn your it inside out. As flexible as it is, the material is still somewhat fragile and could tear if you turn it inside out to clean it.

The best way to rigorously clean the inside of your Fleshlight is with your finger. This will shift any built up fluids and make them easier to rinse out.  This will ensure they don’t linger for mold to develop.

What Happens if You Don’t Clean Your Fleshlight?

If you don’t clean your Fleshlight, it will eventually grow mold and you will have to be throw it away. Not only is this mold unsightly and smelly, but it will also cause a bacterial infection if it comes into contact with your penis. You wouldn’t eat a piece of moldy bread, would you? You definitely wouldn’t want that mold making its way into your penis either!

In short, if you don’t clean your Fleshlight, you’re going to have to eventually throw it in the trash.

How to Clean a Smelly Fleshlight?

If you Fleshlight smells, this could be from failing to wash out your fluids and lube, or from developing mold. If it distinctly smells of bodily fluids, then you can clean it as detailed above: with warm water and isopropyl alcohol.

Now, if your Fleshlight has a musty, damp smell – if it smells wet, then it has developed mold. To remove it, take a look at our guide.

How to Wash Your Fleshlight: Which Products Can I Use to Clean a Fleshlight?

The only products you should use to clean your Fleshlight are Fleshwash, its official cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol. Anything else will damage the material over time.

Can I Clean my Fleshlight with Just Water?

Yes, you can; warm water is best.  Cold water causes body fluids and lube to clump together and makes them harder to remove. As well as rinsing the fleshy insert all the way through, sealing each end with your hands and giving it a good shake is highly effective. Also, every third time you use it, it’s a good idea to give it a deeper clean with isopropyl alcohol.

Can I Clean my Fleshlight with Mild Soap?

It’s not a good idea to clean your Fleshlight insert with any kind of soap. Even mild soap contains chemicals and oils which will damage your Fleshlight over time. Also, Super Skin is porous which means its surface is covered with lots of tiny holes. Soap leaves a thin ‘film’, or layer, which blocks these holes and traps bacteria. Use Fleshwash or isopropyl alcohol instead.

Can I Clean My Fleshlight with Body Wash?

Body wash, like soap, is full of chemicals and oils which will damage the surface of your Fleshlight over time.

Again, do it once or twice and you’ll get away with it. They’ll likely be hardly any trapped bacteria and no damage to your Fleshlight. But if you get into the habit of using body wash instead of isopropyl, your Fleshlight, and possibly your health will suffer as a result.

Can I Clean My Fleshlight with Vinegar?

Vinegar is a mild acid, so it will damage your Fleshlight if you use it regularly. That being said, some users report using vinegar to remove mold from their Fleshlight. Considering that conventional advice, including mine, is to use bleach in an attempt to remove well-developed mold – there’s nothing wrong with giving vinegar a try. At the point where you use to need to use vinegar or bleach, the alternative is throwing your Fleshlight out. So what have you got to lose?

Can I Clean My Fleshlight with Hydrogen Peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective antiseptic which effectively kills bacteria. It’s not surprising then that some Fleshlight users have reported using it to try to remove mold. However, hydrogen peroxide, like vinegar, is an acid that will damage your Fleshlight’s material over time.

Also, as well as destroying bacteria, it can also damage skin cells. Namely, the skin cells around your penis. What’s more, if there are any micro cuts on or around your penis, hydrogen peroxide could slow their healing and cause scarring. Ouch!

Like vinegar or bleach, you could use it as a last resort if your Fleshlight has developed mold and the only alternative is throwing it away. If you choose this option, and it removes the mold, make sure you give it a thorough rinse and allow it to dry for hours before attempting to use it.

Can I Clean My Fleshlight with Baking Soda?

Using baking soda to clean tough stains is a popular hack that’s useful in many situations. However, this is usually when its combined with vinegar or water to create a chemical reaction. This reaction, especially in the case of vinegar, is pretty strong and is likely to damage the fleshy inserts material.

You might want to try this approach if your Fleshlight has developed deeply set mold. In that case, feel free to give it a try, as the alternative is throwing it away. But be advised that this will probably damage your Fleshlight.

Can You Clean a Fleshlight in a Washing Machine?

Putting your Fleshlight in the washing machine is very likely to damage your Fleshlight. This is because it rotates very quickly and the holes in its drum (where the water enters and exits) is also likely to clip the soft insert and could tear chunks out of it

Also, you need to focus on the cleaning the Fleshlight’s internal canal after use, and a washing machine is unlikely to do this very well. You’re far better off holding it under warm, running water; it’s far quicker and more effective!

Can You Clean a Fleshlight in a Dishwasher?

A dishwasher gets too hot to be safe for a Fleshlight. Over time, it will damage the material and render it unusable. Also, as with a washing machine, it’s not going to clean the internal canal well enough. Especially if you have a variety with a textured inside.

Conclusion

Sure, it can be a bit of a pain to clean, but the advantages of using a Fleshlight far outweigh the inconvenience of washing it out after each use. Developing a simple cleaning routine for your Fleshlight will prevent the growth of mold, protects its material, and guarantee you’ll be able to enjoy using it for many years to come.