How to Use an Anal Douche

Your lovely peach has a play date coming up… but is it ready for action? What if you’re getting devoured from behind and it turns out the booty ain’t clean?

The good news is, if you’ve already washed between your cheeks with soap and water, it’s pretty unlikely you’ll encounter any real mess back there. (And if your lover can’t handle getting dirty, maybe they shouldn't handle you.) That said, using an anal douche can help put your mind at ease and feel fresh before anal sex.

Before you skip off to the bathroom, let’s find out how to use an anal douche – because there are some risks when it’s not done properly (more on those later). Read on to learn how to use an anal douche to safely cleanse that beautiful behind.

There are several types of anal douche kits available, so it’s good to know your options:

• Anal douche bulb. The most popular type of douche – and the one we recommend. Bulb douches are easy to use, giving you plenty of control over the water pressure and temperature. Get tips on how to use yours below (or shop anal douches here).
• Saline enemas. Ready-made with pre-measured saline solution inside them – handy if you’re worried about how much water to use but it’ll get expensive if you’re using them regularly. Also, enema kits are designed to treat constipation; be careful not to pick up a medicated one, as it’ll contain laxatives (messy).
• Cleansing syringe. Some people opt for a syringe-style douche because it doubles as a lube applicator and won’t get any awkward air inside you when used properly. But hey, bum queefs are a natural part of anal play. Don’t be ashamed!
• Shower attachment. You can get a douche shower attachment to spray water directly inside you, so long as you’re very careful with the temperature and pressure. It’s a bit annoying to install, so this type of douche is better for occasional, but experienced players.

First things first, you don’t have to use a douche to do anal sex or even rimming. You’ll be clean enough if you go for a poo about an hour before you play, and wash between those cheeks with warm, soapy water. It can also be helpful to eat a fibre-rich diet to keep your bowel movements regular.

You might still decide to use a douche, just for the peace of mind. If so, follow these steps. We’ll show you how to do it safely, without damaging your delicate insides.

1. Choose a good quality douche

If you’re new to douching, you don’t need a huge bulb or a very long nozzle on your douche. Look out for douches that can hold about 200ml, with a flexible bulb to make it easy for you to control the pressure.

Douches are usually quite affordable, so you don’t need to splash out (no pun intended). But it’s worth getting a good quality one from a trusted sex toy company – it’s going inside you, after all!

You can also get hose attachment-style douches that replace the head of your shower. But bulb-shaped anal douches are far more popular – they’re less faffy to set up and a little bit safer, since you can control the water temperature and pressure.

2. Give yourself an hour to prepare

You might be surprised to learn that poo doesn’t sit inside your rectum, unless you really need to go. That means the best way to clean yourself out in preparation for sex is to have that poo about an hour before.

Then, if you want to, you can get ready to douche. But be warned! It might take a little while for all the water from your anal douche to leave your body. Give yourself at least 30 minutes between douching and sex to avoid any leakage.

3. Fill the bulb with lukewarm water

When you’re ready to douche, fill a clean bowl with lukewarm water. Test the water on the inside of your arm to make sure it’s a comfortable temperature.

“You want it as close to room temperature as possible, so that it’s comfortable,” says Annabelle. “I recommend filling it from a bowl or basin, so you have complete control over the temperature.”

Then, submerge your anal douche in water and squeeze tightly to push all the air out. As you relax your grip, the anal douche bulb will expand and fill with water.

Expert advice: Never use soap to douche! Warm water is enough (and it won’t upset the natural chemical balance inside you).

4. Apply anal lube

Even though the nozzle is slim, you need to apply anal lube before inserting it. Your anus doesn’t self-lubricate (unlike a vagina) so anal lube is there to help slip slings inside you without discomfort or tearing. Rub a generous amount of lube onto the nozzle as well as your bum hole.

Know your lube: Read our guide on the best anal lubes

5. Choose a comfortable position

You’re about to flush your body with water, so it’s probably best to do it in the bathroom. Hop in the shower or squat over your toilet (depending how strong your glutes are). Just be warned that if you haven’t done a number two recently, you might be rinsing more than just a bit of dirty water down your drain after douching…

From douching positions to sex positions: Check out these anal penetration positions next time you play

6. Insert the nozzle

Place the tip of the nozzle against your bum hole and gently guide it inside you, without squeezing the rubber bulb just yet. Douche nozzles can range from about two to six inches long. You don’t need to insert the whole thing, especially if you’re new to anal play and douching. Insert about two and half inches for your first time.

7. Stop immediately if it’s painful

Douching shouldn’t be painful, but if it is it could mean you’ve gone too deep or haven’t applied enough lube. Stop immediately and asses whether you can try again safely (with more lube) or if you need to let your body recover.

8. Gently press the bulb

To start flushing, slowly squeeze the bulb for about five seconds. “Be gentle and allow your body to respond to the sensations,” advises Annabelle. “If you feel the need to stop partway through, or not use all of the water, that’s fine.” It’s important that you don’t apply too much pressure as it might damage your rectum.

9. Let the water leave your body

Keep the bulb squeezed as you pull the nozzle out, as this will stop anything being sucked back into it, keeping the cleaning process simple later. Now for nature to do its work.

“Gently remove the douche and wait until you feel the natural urge to dispel the water,” says Annabelle. You can squat or bear down slightly as though you’re going to the toilet but avoid straining – the water will eventually just come out on its own. Repeat the process a couple more times, until the water runs clear.

10. Clean your douche

Most douches have a removable nozzle, which makes clean up easy. Since the nozzle is the only part that goes inside you, this is the most important part to clean. Rinse the nozzle with warm water after use and spritz with an antibacterial sex toy cleaner. Let it dry completely before reattaching or storing your douche.