Tips For Cleaning Lubricant Off Skin and Fabric
Here at TooTimid we always recommend lubricants to our customers! We have such a wide variety of lubes because we understand how a good lube can create an incredible sexual experience. Whether you are using toys, a strap on, your man, or just your own fingers, the importance of a smooth stroke and glide cannot be overlooked!
But what happens when you’ve got the lubricant on (or in you), and you’re orgasmically blissful and ready to go to work... Or, what if you just had a great midnight masturbation session and there’s lubricant on the bed, where you want to go to sleep? Just like there are plenty of lubricants for all tastes - including flavored lubes - there are also a number of ways to clean them from your bodies, clothing, and bedspread. Here are some TooTimid’s Tips For Cleaning Lubricant Off Skin and Fabric!KNOW YOUR LUBRICANT
The first step in learning how to clean lubricant is by knowing what kind of lubricant you are using! Since all lubricants are created with different formulas and ingredients, you should read the bottle/website to double check before attempting to clean! There are two main kinds of lube:
Water-Based: Water-based lubes are the most common (and commonly recommended) lubricant because they are compatible with every toy material! If you’ve got a drawer full of various playthings, water-based lubricants will not degrade the materials. They are more gentle for sensitive skin and most are compatible with latex condoms! Water-based lubricant does absorb into the skin - so soft! - which may call for a couple of applications during sex.
Silicone: Silicone-based lubricants are made with various silicone blends. Silicone does not absorb into the skin and tends to wick away moisture, making it a great choice for those who love taking their partners (or toys) into the shower with them! They are also great for those with sensitive skin and are latex safe, but should not be used with silicone toys, as they may break down the toy over time. Silicone lubricants tend to last longer than water-based by creating a thicker “cushion” that makes them ideal for anal play. All of these factors can cause them to require a little more effort when cleaning!
SKIN, SOAP, AND WATER-BASED
Now that you know what kind of lubricant you’ll be working with - or maybe even both - you can gather up some proper soaps! For water-based lubricants, your standard, gentle shower soap will work just fine on your skin. These lubes will easily absorb into your skin (that includes vaginal and anal tissue), so you should not need to douche to get clean. Douching can actually cause more irritation than cleansing! If you’ve used a little too much lubricant, rest assured that your body will soak it up (we are made of mostly water, afterall) or flush it out when you use the restroom throughout the day.
SKIN, SOAP, AND SILICONE
Remember how I said that silicone is great for water play? Silicone can easily wick off water and doesn’t absorb on the skin or in vaginal/anal tissue. This makes it a little trickier to wash off! We recommend you start to scrub with a liquid shower gel or body wash (not bar soap) WITHOUT water. Stay away from body wash with micro-beads, they may get stuck in excess lubricant (and they’re just plain bad for the environment). Once you’re coated with suds, the shower gel will begin to break down the silicone formula and wash right off with water! If you’ve used a bit more silicone and you’re concerned about it remaining inside your vaginal or anal cavities, don’t be! Silicone is safe, and the vagina is a self-cleaning wonder that will flush out the lubricant over time. If you would be more comfortable, and depending on how much you’ve used and where, you may choose to wear a pantyliner or cotton undies to catch any excess.FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES
There are tons of fabrics out there, from your standard cotton/polyester blend, to luxurious silks and satins, to warm winter flannels! Lubricants will affect them all differently, but you shouldn’t have to toss anything into the trash after a particularly exciting evening! You just need the right soaps and techniques!Water-based lubricants may make your sheets or clothes look wet, but they should not stain. Since water-based lubricants are so skin and fabric-friendly, they should blot out with a towel, or wash out with regular laundry detergent. The only exception to such a simple clean-up would be some of the more sugary or colored, edible lubricants, though they should remove easily if treated quickly!
Silicone-based lubricants, on the other hand, may appear to stain fabrics, or remain on surfaces like floors or bedside tables. This is fixable! Silicone lubricants aren’t grease! It’s just the waterproofing, thicker nature of silicone doing exactly what it’s supposed to do on your body (just not on your skin). If any "staining" occurs on fabric, you can rub a laundry detergent directly into the fabric and let it sit. If we’re getting serious, you could use an old toothbrush to scrub it in a bit. Detergent - much like body wash - will bond with the leftover lubricant and break up the silicone in the wash. If you’ve got other slick surfaces, a grease-fighting dish detergent like Dawn will do the trick. If you’ve got an older slick spot - like where a drippy bottle has been sitting for a year - you can incorporate rubbing alcohol and dish detergent for a serious clean!
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