Cleaning, storing and caring for your packer, STP, or other prosthetics is important in maintaining it’s look, feel and longevity. Depending on the material used to make your prosthetics, different precautions need to be taken.
No matter what the material used, you should always clean the product before and after each use. This is especially important for STP devices as those may hold trace-amounts of urine after you pee. If you are in a public place and cannot clean the STP, try to give it a small rinse when you can. If you leave the STP on all day and night, bacteria can accumulate and you are at a higher risk of UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections).
If your prosthetic is made of….
100% Silicone
This material makes it very easy to clean, sterilize, and sanitize the product. The easiest way to clean a silicone product is with hot soapy water or by sticking it in the top row of the dishwasher. What’s great about 100% silicone products is that they are not porous. This means there is nowhere for bacteria to latch on and keep growing. This is why simply washing it with soap and water is usually enough.
I do recommend sterilizing your prosthetic at least once a week by putting it in a boiling pot of water for 3-5 minutes. This will sterilize your prosthetic and get rid of any dust and/or dirt that might have been on it. It’ll come out of that pot hot but also feeling brand new.
Keep in mind that just because it’s not porous, doesn’t mean that bateria can’t go on the prosthetic. It just means the bacteria will not live and grow on/in the packer. As long as you clean your prosthetics thoroughly, you’ll be fine.
If you find that the prosthetic is tacky and/or sticky after cleaning it, I always recommend using cornstarch (or other rejuvenating powders) to maintain a smooth and silky texture.
*Please do not use talcum powder (most commonly found in baby powder), it has been associated with different types of cancers, mostly ovarian cancer. I have a full article on the dangers of talcum power here.
Soft Plastic-Rubber Material
Mostly found with inexpensive prosthetics. These are sometimes called: CyberSkin, SoftSkin, Rubber, TPR (thermoplastic rubber), TPE (Thermoplastic elastomer), ect..
The easiest way to clean this packer is with hot soapy water. I usually recommend sterilizing your packer at least once a week in a pot of boiling water, and/or sticking it in the dishwasher, however, because this packer is not 100% silicone, soapy water is the only option. If you stick one of these prosthetics in a boiling pot of water, it will melt. Even though these are usually less expensive, no one wants to boil away money. No recommended.
If you find that the packer is tacky/sticky after cleaning it, I always recommend using cornstarch (or other rejuvenating powders) to maintain a smooth and silky texture.
*Please do not use talcum powder (most commonly found in baby powder), it has been associated with different types of cancers, mostly ovarian cancer. I have a full article on the dangers of talcum power here.
Unsure
If you are unsure of the material used (even after having looked it up online), I recommend using the instructions for prosthetics made with a plastic-rubber material. If you throw your unknown-material-prosthetic in a pot of water, it might melt. It’s best to stay on the safe side and thoroughly clean it with hot soapy water.
What if my packer is a mix of silicone and other materials?
Use the same precautions as if the prosthetic had no silicone in it. If you try to sterilize this type of packer in a boiling pot of water, you might end up with a melted dick with some silicone chunks left over. Again, I like to stay on the safe side of things and stick to soapy hot water.
Storing
I recommend using the original packaging the prosthetic came with or using a natural canvas bag. Place the product in a cool, dry and dark place, like a dresser drawer. Do not store it with other similar-material products as those eventually can start to melt and morph into each other. Sometimes, these products secrete an oily texture and a canvas bag will help absorb this moisture.
If you do not store your packer properly, overtime it can secrets oils and eventually lose its shape and size (it will become smaller).
Small Tip: Add a little bit of cornstarch to this product before storing it in a bag. This will help it’s life and longevity.
Care
If you want to make sure your packer, STP, or prosthetic stays happy and lives a long life, tuck it into a small canvas bag and put it in a dark room-temperature area (like a drawer). Tuck it in, kiss it on the forehead and sing it a little song. There’s no proof this works, but hey, why not?
My favourite song to sing to my packer is: Detachable Penis by King Missile
