Cleaning and Storing IRIS So It Lasts

By GETAUVE Editorial Team · Published October 17, 2026

Cleaning and Storing IRIS So It Lasts

Slower is better with a heated wand. That includes cleaning it.

IRIS has one advantage over most toys: a broad, smooth head with no crevices. That makes cleaning simple, as long as you let it cool first.

The Short Answer

Let it cool for 10 minutes, wipe the head, wash with warm water and a drop of mild soap, rinse until the water runs clear, and air dry for 10 minutes before storage. Don't dunk the handle. IRIS is a wand, not a submersible, and the seam near the control panel is the weak point. The head is the part that touches skin, so the head is the part that needs the most attention. A 60-second wash after each use is enough.

Cool Before You Clean

Heat and cold water don't mix well on a warm surface. Let the head return to room temperature first. Ten minutes is usually enough, and it's a good reason to put the wand down instead of wiping it immediately. On a Sunday morning, with nowhere to be, the cooling time is easy to respect. On a weeknight it isn't, which is why the wash can wait until morning if you only wipe the head. Test with the back of your hand. If it's still warm, wait. A sudden temperature change is hard on the silicone and on the heating element, and neither failure is covered by being in a hurry.

The 60-Second Wash

Warm water, one drop of mild unscented soap, fingertips only. Work around the head in circles, then rinse until the water runs clear and feels slick-free. Skip the washcloth. It traps residue and leaves lint.

Pay attention to the seam where the head meets the handle. That's where lubricant collects, and it's the first place a smell develops. A soft toothbrush is useful here if you keep one for cleaning, but your fingertip is usually enough.

The Head Is the Whole Job

The handle doesn't touch skin, so it doesn't need soap. A wipe with a damp cloth is enough, and it keeps water away from the controls. If the handle feels sticky, you're probably using too much lubricant on your hands rather than on the head. A wipe with a damp cloth takes 5 seconds and keeps the controls dry.

Dry the head with a clean towel, then let it air for 10 minutes. Standing it upright to dry sounds sensible and isn't: water runs down into the seam. Lay it flat on a towel instead.

Storage That Protects the Silicone

Store IRIS flat, in a drawer, away from direct sun. Standing it on its head for months can flatten the surface, and sunlight degrades silicone faster than most people expect.

Keep it away from other silicone items. Two soft surfaces pressed together for weeks can develop a tacky patch, and a separate pouch or the original box prevents that. Don't store it in a bathroom cabinet if you can avoid it; the humidity cycle from showers is hard on the electronics over 6 to 12 months.

If It Starts to Smell

A faint smell after washing usually means residue in the seam, not a ruined device. Wash again with a little more soap, use a soft brush on the seam, and dry it flat for a full hour.

If the smell survives 2 washes, stop using it. Odor that persists is a sign the surface has degraded, and a degraded surface is harder to clean with each use. Replacing a head or a device is cheaper than ignoring it.

Charging and Long-Term Care

Charge it on a Sunday. A 90-minute charge covers roughly 60 minutes of use, so one charge a week is enough for short sessions. For long storage, leave it at about half charge and top it up every 3 months.

Check the port for lint every few weeks. A dry toothbrush clears it in 10 seconds, and a blocked port is the most common reason a working wand seems dead. Keep the cable in the same drawer and the check becomes part of charging rather than a separate task. That's the whole maintenance habit. One less thing to remember on a Sunday, and one more reason the wand stays in rotation.

When to Replace It

Replace it if the surface tears, if a sticky patch survives 2 washes, or if the heat takes more than 2 minutes to reach temperature. The honest trade-off is that a wand takes more space than a bullet and more care than a sealed external toy. If you want something you can rinse and toss in a drawer, this isn't that. If you want a tool that lasts several years, the 10 minutes of drying is the price.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — general hygiene guidance for personal items.
• Cleveland Clinic — patient education on caring for body-safe silicone.
• International Organization for Standardization — materials and safety standards for personal care devices.
• GETAUVE product documentation — published care instructions for IRIS.

This article is general education about product care and is not medical advice. If you notice irritation or a skin reaction, stop using the device and speak with a clinician.