Anal Play and Hygiene
Anal hygiene and cleanliness are one of the most common concerns that people have about anal play. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to manage.
Having said that, our bodies are unpredictable. The most you can do is to minimize the chances of things getting messy. There might still be times when it happens, so here are some anal hygiene tips to make that less likely, as well as how to deal with it when it does.
In a hurry? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here’s our version on anal hygiene and how to prep for anal:
- Prep your body – Go to the bathroom 30-60 minutes before anal play.
- Use a towel.
- Gloves are a great tool for foreplay and to ensure good anal hygiene.
- NEVER go from anal play to vaginal play before cleaning up.
- If anal play gets messy, keep calm and clean up.
And that’s all there is to it. Good anal hygiene is easy and comes down to common sense. For an in-depth understanding, read our pointers below:
Anal Hygiene Tip 1 – Prepare your body
Some people find that anal play is more relaxing if they’ve rinsed out first. This isn’t a full colonic, in which you get water all the way up into the colon. To prep for anal play, you only need to use a couple of cups of water because you’re just rinsing out the last 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) of the rectum. It doesn’t take a lot of water. In fact, if you use too much water, you can stimulate your digestive system and make things messier.
For the very best experience, make sure to do any type of enema 1-2 hours before anal play.
You’ll want to use warm water, so check it against your wrist. Too cold and you’ll cramp. Too hot and you’ll irritate the tissues. Be sure to use water you’d drink. If you filter your tap water, use filtered water for an enema.
There are three main ways people do this. First, you can attach a specially designed hose to the bathtub faucet. This is an easy way to do it, but you can accidentally use too much water. And if someone turning on the kitchen sink on changes the water temperature or pressure in the bathroom, don’t go with one of these. You need consistent control over the water.
Or you can also use an enema bag. You fill the bag with water, attach the hose, and hang the bag on the door knob or shower curtain rod. Open the valve and you’re good to go. But again, it’s easy to use too much water since it’s hard to regulate.
Enema bulbs are often the easiest way to do this. You can try a reusable one, or you can use a disposable enema (available at any drug store). If you use a disposable one, pour out the laxative solution, rinse the bottle out, and fill with warm water.
Whichever method you prefer, get it set up and lubricate the nozzle. You can do this on your elbows and knees or while lying on your side. Insert the nozzle, open the valve or squeeze the bulb. Hold the water for 10-15 seconds and release it into the toilet. You can repeat this a few times if you like. If you’re using a bulb enema, you can also hold the water in while refilling the bulb. Repeat and then release all the water at once.
Rinsing out can take some practice, so the first few times you do it, give yourself plenty of time. It’s also a good idea to do it a couple of hours in advance if you can. Water can get trapped in the folds of the rectum and take a little time to come out. Stay near a bathroom until it does.
Having said all that, plenty of people don’t bother rinsing out prior to anal play. It depends on your comfort level and how well you know your body, especially your digestive system.
Anal Hygiene Tip 2 – Put down a towel
An easy way to help keep things clean is to put a towel down on the bed before you get started. If anal play gets messy, the towel is there for you. When you’re done, just fold it up and put it in the laundry. Besides, it’s a great way to keep anal lube from getting on your sheets, too.
Anal Hygiene Tip 3 – Use gloves
Although some people think they interrupt the flow of a date night, using gloves is a great way to keep anal play clean and easy. You can get a box of them at the drugstore, though they don’t always look super sexy. Tattoo artists use gloves that are thinner than medical gloves and they come in black, which is a lot sexier. You can find them on the internet.
Latex gloves fit best and are often less expensive, but some people are sensitive to latex, especially for anal play. Plus, latex is not compatible with oils. Nitrile gloves work great and you can use oil-based lubricants with them.
There can be some variation in glove sizes, even within one box. If you put on a glove and it’s loose enough to have wrinkles, discard it and try a new one. Folds in the glove will irritate the anus.
Lastly, a lot of people discover that after a couple of awesome anal play sessions, watching a lover put on a glove becomes foreplay. Make it sexy by telling your partner how much fun you’re about to have with them. Tell them that you can’t wait to get your hands on them. It’ll make a big difference.
Anal Hygiene Tip 4 – Don’t go from anal play to vaginal play without cleaning up
Never, ever go from anal play to vaginal play without cleaning up first. This is perhaps one of the most important tips when it comes to anal hygiene, as doing so will be a great way to give yourself or your partner a really unpleasant vaginal infection. One of the great things about gloves is that you can get your partner all warmed up with your hands and take the gloves off before doing something else. That saves you the trouble of running to the bathroom to wash your hands.
If you’re going to have vaginal intercourse after anal play, make sure that lubricant or oil doesn’t get transferred from the anus to around the vagina or onto the penis. It’s really easy to do that accidentally and cause a vaginal infection.
Anal Hygiene Tip 5 – If anal play gets messy, keep calm and clean up
While these anal hygiene tips will reduce the chances of accidents, they can still happen, so it’s best to be realistic about that. Fortunately, if you put a towel down and wear gloves, it won’t be too difficult to manage.
For some people, it means ending their sexual session. For others, it means cleaning up, taking a quick shower, and then doing something different once they get back into bed. You and your partner get to decide what feels best for you.
The important thing is to not get too freaked out about it. Yes, it can be a hassle. But it doesn’t have to turn into a disaster. Keep calm, clean things up, and move forward. If you make it a big deal, it becomes a big deal. If you keep calm, then it doesn’t become a disaster. Keeping a positive mindset will go a long way.
