BDSM and the importance of good hygiene

“BDSM and the importance of good hygiene“ was written for BDSMforyou.nl by Mistress Moriah.

Good hygiene may not be the most exciting subject I could talk about, but it is a very important one. Years ago I went to a femdom party. It was a party where you could simply play with your own sub, but where communal games were also played. A number of subs (or slaves) crawled across the floor and were spanked on their backsides by several Mistresses or Dominas with all kinds of impact toys. I saw all sorts go by: floggers, single tails, canes and even large ladles. It was a cheerful affair, there was a lot of laughter and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Heavy strikes

One backside was hit even harder than the next. Understandably, because not everyone has the same pain threshold, and when your own little wretch comes crawling past, you more or less know what he can take or has deserved. So some bottoms were given some seriously heavy strikes, until one of those bottoms was even broken open by the beating. A little blood was visible. In itself nothing wrong with that, because a backside like that can take quite a lot, but... in this case it could definitely do harm. The Mistresses merrily carried on hitting, including on that bloodied bottom, and then went on to strike the next backside with the contaminated impact toys.

And that is where it goes wrong. Because when you hit the bloodied bottom of sub A with your whip, the blood ends up on your whip, which you then use to hit the bottom of sub B. How risky is that? Because perhaps the skin of sub B is also broken...

Consequences

Of course I don't need to explain to you what the consequences can be. In the commercial scene this is usually taken into account (if it's a good studio) and all toys are cleaned with a good toy cleaner and/or disinfectant, but in the private scene it isn't always thought of. However, it is important to clean your equipment properly before using it on someone else. This isn't just about blood, but about all kinds of other bodily fluids. Think of sweat, saliva, pre-cum, vaginal discharge, urine and/or semen.

Proper cleaning

Proper cleaning is therefore extremely important. Sometimes you can take it into account beforehand. For example, I put a condom on all my anal toys before I use them. The experience may be just a tiny bit less, but too bad. At least then I know for sure that it can be used safely. Afterwards, I still clean the toys with a good cleaner or disinfectant.

How do I clean my toys?

I clean my toys in various ways:

Ropes I simply throw in the washing machine. Neatly tied together, so that I don't have to untangle them all afterwards. Then rub them with a little oil.

Stainless steel toys can be boiled, a quarter of an hour in boiling water is enough. I do this with stainless steel dilators, for example, but stainless steel butt plugs can also be boiled without any problem.

Butt plugs I only use with a condom over them, and afterwards I still clean them with soap and water and a good disinfecting toy cleaner.

All other materials such as whips, toys, but also restraints, St Andrew's cross, bondage table, et cetera, I clean with a cleaner that is used in hospitals to clean equipment. This cleaner (#nospon) I buy from a medical website. The advantage of this cleaner is that it also kills Hepatitis B and C. That gives me a safe feeling, at least.

Always clean

Even if you only play with your own partner, it is important to clean the equipment properly afterwards. I personally find this quite a pleasant task, as it helps me land again, but sometimes I also let my slave do it. She is actually one of the few people I trust with this job. I know she sets the same standards for hygiene as I do.

The advantage of cleaning afterwards is knowing that your equipment is always clean and therefore ready for use, so it can do no harm if you play with someone else now and then.

During group play evenings, make sure that others also observe good hygiene. That nobody works on your sub's skin with a pinwheel that has previously been used to pleasure someone else. Or wants to hit your sub with a cane, when he has just beaten his slave on her backside until she bled. Bring a good cleaner with you and simply clean the equipment every time.

PS: Sometimes don't forget to disinfect... (the skin of) the sub as well.

BDSM is never entirely without risks, but it is important to keep the risks as small as possible. After all, your sub/slave shouldn't really end up broken.

Mistress Moriah

Source

Text: Mrs Moriah
Photography: BDSMforyou