How to Anal Douche

What is anal douching?

Anal douching is the act of cleaning the rectum, usually through a process of rinsing with liquid. It is commonly done prior to anal sex. Anal douching, however, is not required to engage in anal sex or play. It is an optional step.

Technically, all you need to prep clean yourself is to gently clean the external anal canal. Another standard step to take is to have a bowel movement before anal sex. Most bowel movements are generally able to clear the rectum. But, there are some cases where feces can linger so anal douching can be a personal choice you can take to feel “cleaner” or even “more confident.” However, with douching, an anus is still an anus. According to the Central Outreach Wellness Center, a little mess is “no big deal, especially with a respectful partner.”

Anal douching is not without its caveats, and there are a few things to note before trying it out. In this guide, we’ll talk about how to safely anal douche and what to expect when douching for the first time.

#1 Be gentle

Your anus is an anus. It is impossible to clean your hole 100%. If you douche too aggressively (for too long and too hard), you risk irritating and injuring the lining of your rectum. Overdoing it can cause micro tears in the outer layers of your anal canal. Micro tears open the gate to infection. Douching should not take longer than 10 minutes - any longer and you’re probably doing more harm than good. If it gets uncomfortable at any point…STOP. Anal douching should not be done more than once a day, and no more than 3 times a week.

#2 Use body-safe tools

1. An enema bulb or a fleet enema is ideal. Excessive douching from too much liquid can cause harm to the anus, especially from something that holds more water, like an enema bag. Shower heads are known to be more extreme because you're unable to control exactly how much liquid is being used. For this reason, we'll be sticking to enema bulbs and fleet enemas. Most sex toy shops sell enema bulbs but look out for the ones with the flexible tips. Hard plastic going into your bum isn’t the most comfortable, so the flexible tips are ideal. Fleet enemas can be purchased online or at your local drugstore plus they come with a saline solution.

2. Use safe water. A common question is, “Can I use tap water for an enema?” If the tap water is not drinkable, do not use it inside of your body. In the cases where tap water is not safe to use, you can turn to bottled or filtered water. The saline solution that comes prepackaged with a fleet enema is also safe to use. Just make sure you follow the directions on the packaging. If using water, make sure it is slightly cooler than lukewarm to avoid any injuries. And don't get fancy with the soaps and scents. Water only. Normal saline only.

#3 Respect the process

Before you begin douching, sit on the toilet and try to expel as much poop as you can. We want to start with a clean slate, or as much as a clean slate as possible. This does not mean take a laxative. A laxative will cause unnecessary gas, diarrhea, and cramping which is arguably more problematic than if you didn't take any laxative. Poop without a laxative. Anal douching should really only be done 1-2 hours before engaging in any anal sex. The timing allows for any remaining liquid to be expelled from the anus beforehand and not as a surprise during sex. Once you've done that, you're ready to start anal douching.

1. Start with clean tools to avoid any harmful bacteria from entering your body. Remove the tip from the bulb and apply unscented antibacterial soap to everything. Rinse both the tip and bulb until all the soap is gone. Fill the bulb with warm water and shake it for 10 seconds. Squeeze all the water out. Repeat 2-3 times. Your tools are clean and ready to go.

2. Follow the mixing instructions for your Fleet enema (if you’re using this).

3. Go to the bathroom where you can clean yourself comfortably. This might be in the shower or on the toilet - in whatever position you feel more comfortable douching.

4. When you’re ready, fill your enema and apply generous amounts of lube to the tip. The lube will help make insertion a more comfortable experience. Squirt the enema bulb until some water comes out to make sure there are no lingering air bubbles. You want to shoot water into your bum, not air.

5. Gently insert the enema into your butt. 1 to 2 inches is usually all you need. It’s not necessary to push the entire thing into your butt.

6. Squeeze the liquid inside for 5 seconds, filling your anus with the water or saline. You'll feel the liquid.

7. Try to hold the liquid inside for a few seconds. If you feel the need to release, just release. Some people like to move around by jumping or taking their hips “around town” before releasing.

8. Release the liquid (into the toilet or shower). At this point, you should be able to see the liquid come out a different color or with a smell. That is completely normal.

9. Refill the enema as necessary and repeat steps 4-8 times until the water is clear and there is minimal smell. Try to minimize how many repeats there are because you don't want to overdo it.

10. Clean your enema with warm soapy water and let it dry. Detach anything that could be detached for better cleaning. Anything that is single use, throw it away and replace it for the next time you need to anal douche.

11. Shower yourself off and make sure to clean up the bathtub, the toilet, and basically anywhere you used to douche. We don’t want any harmful bacteria growing.

You're going to need 1-2 hours before you engage in any anal sex. More than likely, any lingering water will be coming out during this time. In the meantime, you can massage your abdomen area, lay on your side, do some comfortable movement to get that liquid out. Clean up any toys you might be using later, have your condoms at the ready, and anything you might be using during anal sex.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be squeaky clean. Some guides may advise you to douche for hours on end or to use larger tools. This guide errs on the side of caution and body comfort, so we advise to not douche for longer than 10 minutes and to use smaller tools like enema bulbs and fleet enemas. Remember five seconds of water at a time, always listen to your body, and don’t forget to relax afterwards. Your anus is still an anus, so if accidents ever happen, that is completely normal.