How to Clean and Store SANDRA: A Simple Routine
It's 11 p.m., you're tired, and the last thing you want is a 20-minute cleanup. So you rinse it and put it in the drawer wet.
That's the mistake worth fixing. Cleaning SANDRA takes about 90 seconds if you know the order. Here's the routine, plus the storage habit that keeps a dual-stimulation toy working.
The Short Answer
Wash with warm water and mild soap for 30 to 60 seconds, rinse fully, dry completely, and store it somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight. That's it. The two steps people skip are drying and storing, and those are the two that actually shorten the life of the toy. Don't use alcohol, don't boil it, and don't leave it in a bathroom cabinet where the humidity never leaves.
What You Actually Need
Three things. Warm water, a mild fragrance-free soap, and a soft lint-free cloth or towel.
That's the whole list. Specialized toy cleaners exist and they're fine, but ordinary mild soap does the job. Skip anything with alcohol, and skip antibacterial kitchen soap, which is harsher than you need.
Keep a dedicated towel. Using the same hand towel you dry your face with is a small thing that starts to feel unhygienic fast. If you can't see the surface clearly without glasses on, keep the soap and the towel on one shelf so you never have to leave the room mid-routine. Friction at 11 p.m. comes from having to walk somewhere for something you forgot.
The 90-Second Wash
Turn SANDRA off first. If it has a charging port cover, make sure it's seated before any water goes near it.
Apply a drop of soap to the silicone surfaces. Use your hand, not a brush. Work it around for 30 to 60 seconds. Rinse under lukewarm water until the surface stops feeling slippery.
Lukewarm matters. Hot water is hard on silicone over time, and it also makes the surface tacky while you're handling it.
Drying Is the Step People Skip
Pat it dry with the cloth, then let it air for 2 to 3 minutes somewhere with airflow.
Water left in a seam or under a button is the main cause of a sticky surface and a musty smell a few weeks later. If you can feel any dampness, it isn't dry yet.
Don't use a hair dryer. Heat warps the housing and can loosen the seals.
Storage That Doesn't Ruin It
Silicone picks up dust and lint, and it can degrade if it rests against certain soft plastics for months. A breathable pouch or a small box with a soft lining solves both.
Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from a hot car. UV and heat are the two things that quietly age the material.
Don't store it touching other toys unless each one is in its own pouch. Different materials can react, and you'll notice the surface going dull before you notice anything else.
If you want the long version of this, the storage rules are the same for almost every toy you own.
Charging and Battery Habits
Charge before a full drain when you can. Most rechargeable toys last longer when they aren't run to zero every cycle.
A typical top-up takes about 60 minutes and covers several sessions. Don't leave it plugged in for days after it's full, and don't charge it in a humid bathroom.
If you haven't used it in 2 or 3 months, give it a short charge before storing it again rather than leaving it flat.
A practical habit: plug it in when you get home after work, not overnight. That way the charge is finished well before you need it, and it isn't sitting on a cable for 8 hours. The wash still has to happen too, and it still takes 60 seconds. That's the whole cost of owning this thing.
Where This Routine Loses Ground
The honest catch is that the routine asks for consistency, not effort. A 90-second habit is easy. The hard part is doing it at 11 p.m. when you'd rather not.
It's also not a sterilization process. Soap and water clean the surface. If you're sharing a device between partners, use a fresh condom each time rather than relying on a wash, and that's worth knowing before you decide the routine covers everything.
And it isn't ideal if your toy has deep textured crevices. Those need a soft brush, and a hand wash alone won't reach them.
When to Skip the Brush
Skip the brush and the deeper clean if your unit is smooth silicone with no texture, because you'll just be scrubbing nothing. Skip soap entirely if you have a sensitivity to fragrances, and use plain warm water instead. And hold off on any cleaning if the device is still under a warranty you're about to claim, because some sellers ask that you not submerge it. Not for everyone.
Get the Basics Right First
Pick the right tool and the routine gets easier.
- SANDRA — two stimulation areas you can run together or separately, so you don't need a second device; a smooth silicone body that wipes clean in under 2 minutes, and a good fit if you want range from one handle.
- Browse the Customer Favorites collection for other easy-care picks.
- Related reading: how to store a toy so it lasts and a simple first routine.
- Next in this series: 5 questions to ask before buying SANDRA.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — general guidance on cleaning personal items.
- American Academy of Dermatology — background on mild cleansers and fragrance sensitivity.
- Emily Nagoski — writing on comfort, context, and pacing.
Written by the GETAUVE Editorial Team. This article is general education and not medical advice.
