How to Clean Your Menstrual Cup

Menstrual cups are a safe, eco-friendly alternative to other period products. They reduce the risk of vaginal dryness, collect more flow and can be worn for up to 12 hours. But because they're reusable, it's important to know how to clean your menstrual cup between emptying and reinsertion and between every cycle.

The great thing about menstrual cups is that they can last up to 10 years. Taking proper care of your menstrual cup by cleaning and sanitizing it can not only help it last longer but also ensure it's safe to use.

As you will be inserting your menstrual cup into a sensitive part of your body, it's important that bacteria and odor do not build up. If you use an unclean menstrual cup, you risk the chance of irritation and even (in rare cases) infection. But don't let this discourage you from using them. Cleaning your menstrual cup is easier than you think! Here, you'll find all the information that you need to know!

Before insertion, wash your hands and clean your menstrual cup with mild, unscented and oil-free soap. If you're unsure which soap to choose, our Pixie Cup Wash is a natural, plant-based soap that is hypoallergenic and protects the silicone material of your cup.

Cleaning with water and soap should be done every time you empty and reinsert your menstrual cup. Doing this helps to prevent the build-up of bacteria.

Being in the comfort of your own bathroom means cleaning your menstrual cup with soap and running water is a piece of cake. However, if you're in a public restroom where you'll be using a stall or any other place where a sink won't be beside you, this might be a bit more of a challenge. Don't fret, there are 2 ways you can get around this issue.

The first option is to bring bottled water with you. Use one hand to empty your cup and use your other hand to pour the water and rinse your cup clean before reinsertion.

The second option is to empty your cup and use toilet paper or our Pixie Wipes to clean it. If you're worried about bits of toilet paper sticking to your cup when wiping it, try dapping your cup clean instead.

Yup, you read that right! Boiling your menstrual cup is the most common and recommended way to ensure it's sanitized and sterilized. Once a month, between each cycle, boil water in a pan (we would advise only using this pan for boiling your menstrual cup) and place your menstrual cup into the boiling water for 10 to 20 minutes. A little hack for ensuring your cup doesn't burn by touching the bottom of the pan is to put it inside a metal whisk to hold it in place. Genius, right?

To avoid degrading the silicone or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material of your menstrual cup over time, don't boil your menstrual cup too often and for too long. This helps your menstrual cup last longer!

You might be uncomfortable with boiling your menstrual cup. Having family members or flatmates asking what on earth you're doing boiling a cup on the kitchen stove that you all share can be an awkward experience. So we totally understand if you would much rather avoid it altogether! Thankfully, there are other ways to sanitize your menstrual cup without boiling it in a pan.

Menstrual cup steamers, like our Pixie Cup Steamer and Steamer 2.0, are a relatively new way to sanitize menstrual cups. Best of all, they can kill 99.9% of germs in just a few minutes! It's very easy to use; plug the steamer in, pour clean water into the middle hole, place your menstrual cup on the platform, close the lid, press the button, and voila! The steamer will do its magic and sanitize your menstrual cup in 3 minutes!

Menstrual cup steamers aren't the only way to steam your menstrual cup though. If you're wondering how to clean your menstrual cup in a way that doesn't take up much space, then our Carry Cup and Carry Cup 2.0 are the perfect solution! Place your menstrual cup inside a Carry Cup, fill it with water, microwave it then you're done! Our Carry Cups are great to carry around as they are collapsable and compact.

If you're using a public restroom, you can even use our Carry Cup to rinse your menstrual cup too! Just add water to it before going into a stall, remove your menstrual cup, place it inside and seal the pot lid, then shake it lightly before reinserting. Afterwards, dump the water from the pot into the toilet and you're good to go!

Using 3% hydrogen peroxide helps to clean your menstrual cup by removing stains and killing germs. But don't go straight to the hydrogen peroxide that was opened once and has been collecting dust in the back of your medicine cabinet. Make sure the hydrogen peroxide you use isn't expired first to ensure it's effective. To check if it has expired, pour a small amount in the sink and check if it bubbles or fizzes. If it does bubble or fizz, then it's safe to use for sanitizing your menstrual cup.

To safely sanitize your menstrual cup with hydrogen peroxide, wear hand and eye protection, place your menstrual cup inside a glass facing down, and then pour the hydrogen peroxide inside until the cup is fully submerged. Leave it to soak overnight or for 12-24 hours and your cup will look like new! Make sure to give your menstrual cup a thorough clean with water and soap afterwards to remove all the hydrogen peroxide residue before using it.

Hydrogen peroxide is a pretty strong chemical; make sure you don't overuse this method for cleaning your menstrual cup to avoid degrading it and shortening its lifespan. If you would like to use this method, only do so once every 3 months.

Not everyone is a fan of how strong hydrogen peroxide is for menstrual cups. So using our Menstrual Cup Stain Remover is a great option for sanitizing your menstrual cup with more gentle yet effective ingredients. Add a packet of the Stain Remover to a cup of boiling water and leave your cup to soak for 6-8 hours. Afterwards, wash it off with water and soap and your cup will have a fresh new look again!

See? We told you that cleaning your menstrual cup is much easier than you think! There are various options to choose from that could best suit you. Avoid using alternatives such as vinegar, lubes, bleach or dishwashing liquid as these products could cause irritation, pH imbalance or infections.

Now that you know how to clean your menstrual cup, go forth and use your menstrual cup with no fear!