How to clean a stroker

Cleaning effort and drying time decide how practical a device is to use often. A sleeve that cannot dry properly wears out sooner, and that cost never appears in the purchase price.

Silicone tolerates warm water and a mild unscented soap, and many silicone parts can be boiled. The maker's instructions for a specific product come first.

Thermoplastic elastomer and similar soft sleeve materials are slightly porous and cannot be sterilised. Rinse them promptly after use.

Hard housings, motors and anything with an electrical contact get a damp cloth and nothing more, unless the device is rated for water. Water where a device is not rated for it is a common way a working device stops working.

A removable sleeve dries in hours. A fixed one can take a day and may never dry fully inside, which is one reason removability is worth checking before you buy.

Air drying on a clean surface is better than a towel, which leaves fibres. Keep soft materials away from heat, which warps them. A sleeve stored damp will not last.

Water-based lubricant suits the widest range of materials and is the safe default. It dries out and needs reapplying.

Silicone lubricant can degrade silicone toys over time, and most makers advise against using the two together. Where a maker says otherwise for a specific product, follow the maker.

Oil-based lubricant degrades latex and is hard to remove from porous materials. Avoid it unless a maker specifically recommends it.

Keep parts dry, separate and out of direct sunlight. Soft materials left touching each other can react and mark, so store sleeves in their own bags.

A breathable drawstring bag is better than a sealed box for anything that might still hold moisture.

A tear, a change in surface texture that does not clean off, a smell that remains after washing, or a sleeve that has turned tacky. Any one of the four means the part is finished, and continuing to use it is a hygiene question.

Whether a replacement can be bought is worth checking before the first purchase.