Waterproof Ratings Without the Jargon
"IPX7 means you can take it in the bath." Everyone repeats that line, and it's roughly half true.
Water-resistance codes are short, and the shortness is what makes them easy to misread. This guide translates IPX4 through IPX8 into what you can actually do, and covers the gaps the code doesn't mention.
The Short Answer
The X in IPX7 isn't a score, it's a blank: the product wasn't dust-tested. The 7 means it survived 30 minutes under 1 meter of still, fresh water in a lab. That covers a rinse under the tap and it covers a short soak. It doesn't cover jets, steam, hot water, or salt water. Treat the rating as permission to wash the device thoroughly, not as permission to take it swimming.
What the X Actually Means
Most people read IPX7 as "a seven out of something." It isn't.
A real ingress code has two digits. The first covers solid particles, from 1 to 6. The second covers liquid, from 1 to 9. When a maker hasn't tested for dust, they put an X in the first slot rather than claiming a number they don't have. So IPX7 means "not rated for solids, rated 7 for water." The X is honesty, not a low score.
You'll also see IP67, which is the same water rating with a genuine dust rating alongside it. Same bath behavior, better sealed against grit. If you keep your device in a bathroom drawer, that difference is worth something.
The Numbers, Translated
Here's the practical version, without the test-chamber language.
- IPX4: splash-proof. Fine for a careful rinse. Not fine for holding it under a running tap.
- IPX5 and IPX6: jet-resistant. A shower is realistic here.
- IPX7: 30 minutes at 1 meter, still water. Washing and brief soaking.
- IPX8: continuous submersion beyond 1 meter, under conditions the maker defines. Read the fine print, because those conditions vary.
Worth knowing: there's no IPX9 in this category in any meaningful sense, and any listing that throws around a high number without stating depth and duration is guessing.
What the Test Doesn't Include
The lab test uses still, clean, room-temperature fresh water. Your bathroom isn't that.
Hot water expands the air inside a sealed body and pushes against the seals from the inside. Soap lowers surface tension, which makes it easier for water to find a path in. Chlorine and salt are harder on seals than fresh water over time. Picture this: a 20-minute soak in a hot bath with bubble bath in it. That's three things the rating never accounted for, stacked at once.
Here's the honest trade-off. Using a device in the bath is genuinely pleasant and plenty of people do it. Doing it regularly shortens the life of the seals, and you're trading a few months of service for the convenience. If the device was a considered purchase, rinse it under the tap instead and accept the smaller pleasure.
The Charging Point Is the Weak Link
Even a well-sealed body has one vulnerable spot: the charging contacts.
Say you rinse it under the tap for 2 minutes and put it straight back on the charger. That's the mistake. Magnetic points handle moisture better than open ports, but they still need drying. After any water exposure, wipe the contacts, then wait 10 minutes before you plug it in. Charging a damp contact is the single most common way people kill a device that was otherwise fine.
One more thing nobody mentions: the rating applies to the device as sold. A tear near a seam, or a cap that isn't screwed down fully, drops it to zero immediately. Check the seals every 3 weeks if you're using it in water.
Who Can Ignore the Rating
Before bed, when you're wiping it down with a damp cloth and never taking it near water, that's the case where the code barely matters.
If that's you, IPX4 is plenty and you can stop reading. Skip the higher rating and put the attention into shape and motor placement instead. The rating only starts to matter when you want to rinse the whole thing under a tap, which is when most people notice how much easier cleaning gets.
It's also less critical if the device has an open charging port rather than magnetic contacts. In that case you're wiping it down regardless, and a high rating buys you very little.
Choosing With Water in Mind
If easy cleaning is what you're after, these are the two worth looking at first.
- Self-Love Ritual (3-Piece): HOPSTAR, GODLIKE, and Velvet Touch Lubricant together in one order, so you get a compact stimulator, a dual-motor internal design, and a water-based lubricant that suits silicone, all matched to each other rather than assembled piecemeal.
- GODLIKE: an IPX7 rating with magnetic charging, so the whole device rinses under a tap in about 5 minutes and there's no open port to keep dry, plus 10 intensity levels and a curved handle that stays grippy when wet.
- Browse the Customer Favorites collection to compare water ratings across shapes.
- Related reading: what IPX7 really means
- materials, without the jargon
- what run-time figures leave out
Sources
- International Electrotechnical Commission — the IP rating system, including what the X placeholder signifies.
- ASTM International — test methods for water resistance and seal durability in consumer products.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — consumer guidance on electrical products used near water.
This article is general education about product specifications and is not medical advice. If you have persistent irritation or symptoms that worry you, talk to a qualified healthcare professional.
