Reference
Cleaning method finder
Material decides method. This page sets out each one in the same four steps, so the right routine can be found in seconds.
Every entry below follows the same order: wash, heat, dry, avoid. The wash step is almost always the same and the other three are where materials differ.
Solid silicone, no electronics
- Wash: warm water, mild unscented soap, soft brush for seams.
- Heat: several minutes at a rolling boil, or a dishwasher top rack.
- Dry: lint free cloth, then open air.
- Avoid: abrasives, alcohol, and contact with silicone lubricant.
Silicone with a motor
- Wash: warm water and mild soap, contacts pointing down.
- Heat: none at all.
- Dry: contacts first, then the body, then leave upright.
- Avoid: submersion unless the object is rated for it, and any heat treatment.
Rigid plastic
- Wash: warm water and mild soap, soft brush along the seam.
- Heat: none, since ABS softens well below boiling.
- Dry: cloth, then air, paying attention to the seam.
- Avoid: alcohol on any coated surface, and hot water generally.
Glass and stainless steel
- Wash: soap and water, or a dishwasher.
- Heat: boiling is fine for both.
- Dry: cloth, and inspect for chips while drying.
- Avoid: sudden temperature changes on glass, and storage loose against metal.
TPE and blends
- Wash: warm water and mild soap immediately after use.
- Heat: none.
- Dry: thoroughly, since moisture is what the material holds.
- Avoid: storing against other objects, and any expectation of full cleaning.
Air pulse heads and cavities
- Wash: remove the head where possible, fill and empty the chamber several times.
- Heat: only if the head is solid silicone and separated from the body.
- Dry: separated, with the opening downward, for longer than seems necessary.
- Avoid: reassembling while damp, which is how a chamber develops a smell.
Anything not listed here follows the nearest material above. The full explanation of why each rule exists is on the cleaning page, and the properties behind it are in the material table.
What to keep beside the drawer
A small kit removes most of the friction from the routine: an unscented soap, a lint free cloth kept for the purpose, a soft toothbrush for seams, and a cloth bag per object. Nothing on that list is specialist, and the total outlay is trivial compared with replacing an object that was put away damp.
For travel, add a no rinse spray and a spare bag. For anything with a removable head, add the habit of taking it off every single time rather than only when it seems necessary, since that cavity is where problems begin.
One habit covers everything on this page: wash before storing and rinse before using. The first removes what was left behind, the second removes what arrived in the drawer, and between them they make the rest of the routine much less critical.