Fleshlight Mold: All You Need to Know About Fleshlight Mold and Mildew

One of the main reasons users have to dispose of their Fleshlight is the development of mold and mildew. In this post, you’ll learn all you need to know to avoid Fleshlight mold.

A nice benefit of buying a Fleshlight over other male masturbators is its longevity. If properly cared for and maintained, a Fleshlight will last you for years, with some users having reported using their Fleshlight for over 10 years (see How Long do Fleshlights lasts for the details).

However, mold will give your Fleshlight an unpleasant smell, will result in unsightly marks and make using it a health risk. This post will look at the reasons why a Fleshlight can develop mold or mildew, how you can prevent it, and what to do if it happens.

How Can a Fleshlight Get Mold?

Mold is caused by a lack of maintenance after using your Fleshlight. In most cases, it’s found in the Fleshlight’s internal canal. This is where the combination of body fluids and lube creates a warm, moist environment for bacteria to grow and spread. Over time, if you don’t properly rinse out and dry your Fleshlight, it will result in the growth of mold and mildew.

How to Prevent Mold from Growing on Your Fleshlight

1. Properly rinse out your Fleshlight
2. Sanitize the Fleshlight with isopropyl alcohol (optional)
3. Air dry your Fleshlight
4. Use renewal powder to keep it fresh (optional)

The best way to avoid mold is to develop an effective cleaning and drying routine that should be done directly after using your Fleshlight. It may be inconvenient (and many users say it’s the main ‘con’ of having a Fleshlight), but it will prevent mold, prolong the lifespan of your Fleshlight, and, most importantly, protect your health.

Properly Rinse Out Your Fleshlight

The first thing you need to do is properly rinse out your Fleshlight. Take it out of its case, and hold it under a warm tap to allow your bodily fluids and lube to run through it. While you’re rinsing it out,  occasionally stick your finger in it to check the texture of the internal canal and check for a buildup of fluid and lube.

Sanitize your Fleshlight with Isopropyl Alcohol

Then, take a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol (at least 70% strength) or Fleshwash and squeeze a small amount into the opening of the Fleshlight. Isopropyl alcohol is very useful as it both helps kill bacteria and will help to dry your Fleshlight out faster.

Note that you shouldn’t do this step every time you’re cleaning your Fleshlight. You can use isopropyl alcohol one out of three uses. The other times, you can simply rinse your Fleshlight and let it dry.

Air Dry Your Fleshlight

Next, dry your Fleshlight out by placing it on a small towel and gently patting it down with another, similar towel. Be careful not to rub it too hard or you could damage its material.

At this stage, you could simply leave it in a ventilated place to allow air to pass through its internal canal, or you can dry the inside yourself.

To dry it yourself, take a micro towel, like the one used to clean the lens of glasses or a camera, and gently push it inside the Fleshlight with your finger. A faster alternative for drying the inside is with a hair dryer (on the lowest or cold setting) or a minivan. Some users, having to consider discretion, have even created DIY racks to store inside their wardrobes. You can check our How to Dry a Fleshlight guide for more info on the drying process.

It’s important to put the Fleshlight back into its case only when it’s completely dry. Some users report properly cleaning their Fleshlight after use only for it to grow mold because they didn’t allow it to dry properly.

Use Renewal Powder to Keep it Fresh

Lastly, after washing and drying out, gently dust the inside with some official Fleshlight renewal powder. You can also use cornstarch (most users say it’s exactly the same but the cornstarch is much cheaper). This will keep the inside dry and help to keep the material at its most flexible and realistic.

Note that you shouldn’t do this step everytime you’re cleaning your Fleshlight. You can use renewal powder one out of three uses. The other times, you can simply rinse your Fleshlight and let it dry.

One thing to Keep in mind to avoid Fleshlight Mold

An important thing to keep in mind is that some Fleshlight have more textured internal canals than others. If you have a highly textured Fleshlight, you may need to clean and dry it for longer to make sure no moisture remains on the bumps and ridges inside.

Inspecting your Fleshlight for Mold

If your Fleshlight grows mold or mildew, it will probably be inside the Fleshlight as that’s where the most moisture collects. To inspect it for mold, open the orifice and look inside the internal canal. Avoid turning the Fleshlight inside out at the orifice or you risk tearing the material and ruining it.

The biggest sign you have mold is the appearance of black, white, grey or green spots inside the internal canal. The bigger these spots are, the more the mold has developed and the harder it will be to remove.

The other sign your Fleshlight has mold is if it is giving off a strong musty or damp smell.  Sometimes, even if the mold hasn’t grown much, there will still be a light smell. If you can’t detect a smell when you first pick it up, hold it to your nose see if you can smell anything. The smaller the dots and the lighter the smell, the more chance you have of successfully cleaning your Fleshlight.

Is it Possible to Remove the Mold from Your Fleshlight?

It is possible to remove mold or mildew from your Fleshlight if it’s only on the surface and it hasn’t grown too far into the material.

Mold that has grown on the surface can usually be removed with the roughly the same series of techniques used to clean your Fleshlight after use.

Start with rinsing it with warm water and then dry it thoroughly. Next, wash it thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol to kill the remnants of bacteria. Check inside the Fleshlight to see if the mold has gone, allow it to dry properly and put it back inside its case.

Using Bleach to Remove the Mold from Your Fleshlight

Now, in if the mold is more developed and has entered the surface of the Fleshlight it still may be possible to remove the mold – but it’s less likely to work. It also has the potential to damage your Fleshlight, but if the mold is allowed to remain, you’ll have to throw it out anyway. So if you’re willing to make the effort, you have nothing to lose!

To start, clean your Fleshlight in the same way as you would with surface level mold:  rinse with warm water, dry, and wash with isopropyl alcohol. After that, fill your sink halfway with lukewarm water and add a cap of bleach. If using a sink is difficult due to discretion, fill a jug with 6-8 cups instead.

Now because you’re using bleach it’s very important that you also use some rubber cleaning gloves when using the bleach water to wash your Fleshlight, otherwise, you run the risk of irritating and burning your skin.

After putting on your gloves, immerse the Fleshlight in the sink and quickly scrub the moldy areas with your finger or even an old toothbrush; then leave it in the sink for another 30 seconds. Drain the bleach water from the sink and begin to rinse the Fleshlight under warm water again. Dry it thoroughly again and quickly wash it with a little isopropyl alcohol before drying it again and leaving it to dry again.

How Do I Know The Mold Has Been Removed From My Fleshlight?

Whether you’ve used attempted to remove mold with just isopropyl alcohol or using the bleach method as well, it’s best to let it completely dry for a few hours before inspecting it again. You can then see if removing it has been successful by both looking at the affected area and seeing if it still has a musty smell.

Also, while many users have reported the mold being gone at this point, others have also advised taking the extra step of putting it in an airtight ziplock bag for up to a week. If the mold is still present at this point, it has developed too much and can’t be removed.

On the other hand, there is a chance the mold may be gone and is replaced by light pink spots. This is where the mold has been removed by the bleach, but the Fleshlight’s material has also been slightly damaged. The good news is that it can still be used, so apply some renewal powder or cornstarch and place it back its case.

Is it Dangerous to Use a Fleshlight with Mold?

If mold is still present after cleaning it using the bleach method outlined above, throw it away and replace it.

Mold is a kind of bacteria and the skin on your penis is some of the most sensitive and absorbent on your body, so using a moldy Fleshlight is very dangerous. You’re highly likely to develop something like a yeast infection, urinary tract infection (UTI), or any number of other infections that could affect your penis, testicles, kidneys, bladder, and more.

What’s more, using a moldy Fleshlight if you have a sexual partner, is very dangerous and irresponsible as you are likely to pass an infection to them.

Although replacing it may be an unwanted additional expense the cost of replacing is incredibly small compared to the cost to your health of using an old one. If your Fleshlight develops mold replace it and be sure to take care of your next one carefully. You can profit from one of Fleshlight’s combo pack that includes a new sleeve and all the products you need to take care of it.