How to Use an Anal Douche

In this guide: What is it? | What types are there? | Is it safe? | How to use a bulb douche | How to use a shower douche | Alternatives for keeping clean | How to choose one

When you’ve got a cutie coming over, you want to feel fresh from head to toe. Anal douching isn’t essential, but it makes a lot of people feel more confident during sex. If you’re going to do it, the main thing is knowing what to expect and how to do it safely.

In this guide, you’ll find out how to use an anal douche, with tips from and encouragement from others who swear by it. You’ll also find out what types of douches you can use, what’s safe, and how to choose the right cleaning method for you.

Only got time for a quickie?

Impatient to start? Here’s everything you want to know about anal douching, short and sweet:

• An anal douche flushes out the lower rectum with water or a saline solution. Some people like douching to feel clean before anal masturbation or anal sex.

• The most common types are bulb douches, syringes, and shower attachments. You can also buy pre-filled bottles — just make sure they don’t contain laxatives.

• Douching can be done safely when you do it right. Squeeze the bulb slowly and gently, hold the water in for a few seconds, and release. Avoid douching more than once a day.

• Use warm water and plenty of lube. Lubricate the nozzle to protect yourself from chafing and tears. Avoid water that’s too hot or high pressure, as it can cause irritation and even damage.

• You don’t HAVE to douche. Getting enough fiber, pooping an hour or so before sex, and showering and washing between the cheeks is usually enough.

If you’ve got the time, we highly recommend reading in more depth below. Keep that booty cared for!

An anal douche is a small device used to clean out the butt with water or saline solution before anal play. You don’t need any soap and you don’t go deep. You’re just flushing out the lower part of your rectum, rather than giving the entire colon a deep clean.

A typical anal douche has a long nozzle and a flexible bulb. You fill the douche with lukewarm water, gently insert the douche nozzle into your butt, and release the liquid. You’ll find more details on how to do it safely as well as different styles of douche below.

• Bulb: Bulb-shaped douches, like the Lovehoney Flexible Tip Anal Douche, are popular with beginners. They’re easy to use and quite affordable, with a soft squeezable bulb for controlling the flow of water.

• Syringe: You might find a syringe easier to use slowly and precisely (it all depends on your dexterity). This style of douche can fit right into medical roleplay, too. The Colt Master Syringe looks similar to a medical syringe with a plunger and long, thin nozzle.

• Shower attachment: A shower attachment is slightly less manual effort, hooking up directly to your showerhead (check out the Hydro Series Shower Spray Anal Douche Set).You do want to watch out that the water pressure and temperature don’t get too high, though.

• Saline enemas: AKA Fleet enema kits or enema bulbs. These are prepackaged with saline, which safely washes away dirt without damaging your skin. Read the label and avoid enemas that contain laxatives, otherwise you’ll end up pooping instead of boning all night.

When it’s done carefully, anal douching can be safe, explains Javay Frye-Nekrasova, a certified sex educator. That said, it’s important to know the risks so you can protect your sensitive behind from infections and irritation.

You’ve got a bunch of bacteria in your gut, and some of them are necessary for your health. Douching too much can disrupt this balance and harm the gut’s protective barrier, which may increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV, gonorrhea, or syphilis.

To reduce the risk, Javay recommends douching no more than 2-3 times a week, and once a day max. If you have anal fissures or hemorrhoids, it’s best to skip both douching and anal sex until you’re fully healed.

There are also risks of cramping and injury if you use too much water, or water that’s too hot or too cold. Take your time and — if using a bulb or syringe douche — squeeze slowly and steadily. If using a shower attachment, check the pressure and temperature of the water on the back of your hand first.

Research shows that the majority of men who receive anal sex have practiced douching, even though you can have hygienic anal sex without it. There’s a lot of advice out there on how to have anal sex, but how do you safely use a douche?

This guide is for anyone who wants to try anal douching safely, no matter your gender or sexual identity.

Poop first

You want to get out as much as you can on your own before douching. This clears out the bulk of what’s sitting in there, so you can use less water to get clean. So, use the bathroom before you start.

Add lukewarm water

Use lukewarm water that’s slightly cooler than bath temperature. Hot water can irritate the tissue, while water that’s too cold can cause cramping and discomfort. Some people prefer filtered water, but tap water is generally safe to use. You don’t need to add soap or anything else to the water.

Practice first

If you’re using a bulb or syringe style douche, practice slowly squeezing the water out. You want the stream to be gentle and steady, not too strong or sudden. If you’re using a shower attachment, adjust the temperature and pressure before you insert anything inside you.

Apply lube to the nozzle

Lube — like anal lubes or a water-based lube — makes insertion smooth and comfortable. So apply generously to the nozzle to make things nice and slippery. That way, you’re far less likely to irritate or tear the tissue inside you.

Partially insert the nozzle

Step into the shower, or sit over the toilet so the remnants and water have somewhere to go (besides your bathroom floor). Relax your butt muscles by taking some deep breaths, or by gently massaging the anal opening with a clean lubed finger. Insert the nozzle slowly and gently — don’t force it. If you feel pain, stop.

Gently squeeze the douche

“Once the bulb is inserted, you’re going to squeeze [it] completely to fill the anus with the water,” explains Javay. Press slowly and steadily on the bulb or syringe and keep the flow of water gentle. It might feel like a strange sensation if this is your first time.

When the douche is empty, slide the nozzle out. If you’re using a bulb douche, keep squeezing the bulb as you remove the nozzle. That way, you don’t suck the water already in your rectum back up into the bulb.

Hold the water inside you

There’s no hard and fast rule about how long you should hold the water in. Aim for 10 to 30 seconds, but if you feel any cramping or discomfort, let your body release the water immediately.

Mint-Monster on the Lovehoney Forum doesn’t overthink it: “I just hold the water in until I feel ready to expel it — no need to rush it.” Forum user Calie tried to hold it in for a minute or so, “but don’t fight your body. If your body wants to expel it before then, do so.”

Let the water leave your body

When you’re ready, relax your muscles and let the water, and anything it brings with it, go. You may need a minute or two until everything gets out, so make sure you can lean against the bathtub or wall for support.

You can gently push like you’re having a bowel movement, but you must not strain or push hard as this can give you hemorrhoids!

Repeat until the water runs clear

Reapply the lubricant as often as needed, and repeat the douching process until the liquid runs clear. Don’t immediately jump into bed! It takes about 30 minutes to an hour for all that liquid to fully drain out and your butt muscles to relax.

Carefully clean the douche

After you douche, wash the bulb or syringe (including all the parts) with warm soap and water, or with a sex toy cleaner. Focus especially on the nozzle and inside the bulb.

Suck up some warm soapy water into the douche, give it a few shakes, and squeeze it out into the toilet or shower. Repeat this a few times before letting the douche air dry completely. Store it when it’s fully dry to prevent any mold or bacteria from growing.

Shower attachments are convenient, but there are some things to keep in mind to use them safely:

• Test the water temperature with your hand or wrist before you use the douche. It shouldn’t be too hot — ideally, it’s nice and warm, like the water in a bath (or a bit cooler if you like hot baths).

• Use low pressure when you’re about to begin. High pressure can force the water deeper into your colon, and that can cause cramps, pain, or injury to the rectum. Bring the water down to a gentle stream once you’ve gotten the temp figured out.

• Time how long you douche. Limit each douching to no more than 30 seconds, so you don’t get too much water inside you at one time.

• Don’t use a regular showerhead without a special anal douching attachment. Otherwise, it’s a lot harder to control the stream and pressure.

“You can absolutely engage in anal play without douching, though [some people find] it does allow for a more enjoyable experience,” explains Javay. It’s just one of many optional ways to prepare for anal, so don’t feel pressured to do it if you’re not comfortable.

Whether you douche or not, these tips can help keep you feeling clean for anal:

• Follow a fiber-rich diet: Eat plenty of vegetables, whole grains, and legumes like beans and lentils. Not only are they good for you in general, but these fiber-rich foods help keep your stools firm, formed, and easy-breezy to pass.

• Don’t use laxatives: If you’re dealing with constipation, talk with your doctor about solutions. There’s nothing inherently bad about laxatives for douching, and people do use them, but they could cause other issues like cramping and bloating. User SR36 says, “Laxatives could mess up your stomach and make the situation worse, or lead to other symptoms of irritated bowels — like gas and cramps (not what you want when considering anal).”

• Poop an hour before: Remember, the point of douching isn’t to empty your whole colon — it’s to just clean out the lower part. In most cases, a good poop is enough to take care of any issues during play for the next few hours.

• Shower first and wash between cheeks: A warm shower with soap can all-around make you feel clean and ready to go. You an use your hands to wash between your cheeks, but avoid getting soap inside your butt hole.

• Carefully clean up after: Keep some wipes or a wet washcloth on hand in case any poo makes an appearance during anal play — it happens! After sex, hop in the shower or a warm bath to clean up and come down from your high.

• Never go straight from anal to vaginal sex. You must thoroughly clean the penis or dildo with soap and water any time you transition between anal and vaginal penetration. Otherwise, you risk transferring bacteria into the vagina and causing an infection. You can also use a fresh condom for extra peace of mind.

A good anal douche is comfortable to use and easy to clean. Look out for a flexible bulb douche that’s easy to squeeze (as this helps control the pressure). It should be made from body-safe material such as silicone. If the nozzle is made from hard plastic, it must be smooth and rounded at the tip to avoid injury.

Javay recommends our Flexible Tip Anal Douche, which holds up to 5.4 fl oz. She says, “it’s one of the best options as it’s fully silicone and the insertion tube is tapered and flexible for comfortable insertion.” Silicone is durable and easy to sanitize, making it one of the most hygienic materials. With the Lovehoney Flexible Tip douche, you can also remove the nozzle to help rinse it through and submerge in water during cleaning.

No matter which douche you choose, be sure to buy from a dedicated sex toy retailer that has an easy returns process and good reviews. That way, you can be sure you’re getting something safe and well-designed. You might have questions about how to use your douche, so go with a company that also has a responsive, knowledgeable customer service, too.