How to Store and Care for Your LELO Vibrator: The Complete Guide

By Jake Turner  ·  Senior Editor  ·  April 2025

LELO makes some of the most recognizable premium vibrators on the market — and at price points ranging from $80 to over $200, they represent a real investment. Getting care right from the first use protects that investment and ensures the toy remains hygienic and fully functional for years. This guide draws directly from LELO’s official product documentation and user manuals across their product line.

LELO Materials: What You’re Working With

The vast majority of LELO products are constructed with a silicone exterior over an ABS plastic body. LELO uses body-safe, non-porous silicone that is free from phthalates, BPA, and latex — this is confirmed across their product line in their official documentation. The silicone used is smooth, non-porous, and hypoallergenic. Because it is non-porous, it does not harbor bacteria within the material surface, making it one of the most hygienic sex toy materials available. The firmness of the silicone varies across LELO’s product line: some toys (like the Sona series) have a softer, more flexible silicone exterior, while internal G-spot vibrators (like the Gigi series) have a firmer silicone over a structured core.

The charging connector and any seams between silicone and ABS components are the points most requiring care during cleaning — water can enter these junctions on less water-resistant models. Check your specific product’s IPX rating, noted in its user manual. Most current LELO products carry an IPX7 rating, meaning they are waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes — adequate for submersion cleaning and shower use. A few older models in the LELO lineup carry lower IPX ratings; when in doubt, clean by wiping rather than submersion.

Cleaning Protocol: Before and After Every Use

LELO’s official care guidance specifies the following cleaning protocol, consistent across their documented product line: rinse with warm water, apply LELO Toy Cleaner (or a mild, fragrance-free soap), lather gently across all surfaces, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. LELO recommends cleaning both before and after each use. The pre-use cleaning step is worth noting — LELO explicitly recommends it, not just post-use cleaning, which is best practice for any toy retrieved from storage.

LELO’s documentation explicitly prohibits the following cleaning agents: products containing alcohol, petrol (petroleum-based chemicals), or acetone. These chemicals degrade the silicone surface over time, causing it to become sticky, discolored, or structurally compromised. Fragrance-free mild soap is the appropriate substitute if LELO Toy Cleaner is not available. Do not use antibacterial soaps with triclosan, which can leave a residue that causes irritation. For IPX7-rated models, submersion in warm water for cleaning is safe. Ensure the charging port is completely dry before connecting the charging cable after any cleaning involving water.

According to LELO’s user manuals, although the devices are waterproof, the charging port must be dry before plugging in the cable to ensure proper connection and prevent corrosion of the charging contacts.

Charging: The Right Cable and Habits That Extend Battery Life

LELO’s official documentation is explicit on one charging point that many owners overlook: only use original LELO chargers with LELO devices. This is not just a warranty protection statement — it reflects a real engineering consideration. LELO’s proprietary USB charging cables are calibrated to deliver the correct current profile for LELO’s internal lithium-ion battery systems. Third-party USB cables that deliver incorrect voltage or current can cause overcharging, battery degradation, or in rare cases, battery damage. LELO recommends charging for 2 hours before first use to ensure a full initial charge cycle.

For long-term battery health, LELO’s documentation does not specify an ideal storage charge percentage, but the general lithium-ion guidance applies: avoid storing at 0% or 100% charge for extended periods. If a LELO toy will be unused for more than a few weeks, charge it to approximately 50% before storage. LELO also recommends periodic use and recharging during extended storage periods to maintain battery cell health — roughly every 3 months is appropriate for most lithium-ion devices.

Lubricant Compatibility

LELO’s documentation contains a specific and important warning about lubricant compatibility: using hand creams or silicone-based lubricants may make the silicone permanently tacky. This is a confirmed chemical interaction — silicone lubricant and silicone toy surfaces can bond and degrade at the contact point. LELO recommends water-based lubricants for use with all silicone products. LELO produces their own water-based personal moisturizer product, but any quality water-based lubricant is compatible. Avoid oil-based lubricants as well — they don’t interact with silicone in the same way, but they are not compatible with latex accessories and can be difficult to clean thoroughly from silicone surfaces.

Storage: What LELO’s Documentation Actually Says

LELO’s official documentation on storage is brief but clear: store in a dust-free place away from other materials, avoid direct sunlight, and avoid extreme heat. The “away from other materials” guidance reflects the same concern as general silicone toy storage advice: silicone-to-silicone contact with incompatible materials can cause surface degradation over time. LELO includes a satin storage pouch with most of their products — this individual pouch is the appropriate primary storage vessel for each LELO toy. The pouch provides dust protection and isolates the toy from material-incompatible surfaces.

For users with multiple LELO toys, individual satin pouches plus a shared lockable storage box provides the most organized and secure setup. The Home in Bold storage box (18.5 × 9.53 × 7.2 inches) accommodates multiple LELO toys in their individual pouches with room for accessories. The code lock and neutral exterior protect a collection that may represent several hundred dollars in purchase value. See our complete guide to lockable storage boxes for the full picture.

Store Your LELO Collection in the Home in Bold Box

Frequently Asked Questions