How To Clean Your Lunette Menstrual Cup
If you’re reading this, you most likely just purchased your first menstrual cup, or you’re at least thinking about it, right? One of your main concerns might be, “how do I clean my cup? Is it safe to use it over and over again?” Don’t worry, menstrual cups can be a little confusing and there’s definitely a learning curve, but you’ll be a PRO in no time!
With proper care and a quick clean, your Lunette cup can be used over and over again – for several years!
First Use, First Cup Clean
First things first, wash your hands and clean the Lunette cup by washing it with water and a mild liquid soap free of coloring agents and perfumes. We recommend using our Lunette Cup Cleanser that smells like eucalyptus and is chemical free, making it completely safe for your vagina and pH levels.
After you’ve washed both your hands and cup, boil it (yes, like in a pot) in water for 20 minutes before first usage. Make sure that there is enough water so that the cup does not burn on the bottom and it can float!
Pro tip: place the cup in a wire whisk to prevent contact with the bottom of the pan during boiling.
For day-to-day Menstrual Cup Cleaning
As we mentioned above, we highly recommend using our Cup Cleanser that is designed for washing a silicone cup. However, if you don’t have access to our cleanser, make sure to use liquid soaps that are fragrance-free, oil-free, and have a mild to acidic pH level (between 3,5 and 5,5). Just be sure it doesn’t contain any oils – they can stick to the cup and create a film that could irritate the body. Also, do NOT use dish wash or detergent – and most definitely do not put your cup in the dishwasher!
We advise boiling your cup for 5 to 10 minutes between each menstrual cycle to keep it fresh and clean. If you are out and about you can use our handy Lunette Cup Wipes to clean the cup.
How to get rid of lingering odor in your menstrual cup
Yes, your cup might start to smell if you don’t take proper care of it. How do you prevent your cup from smelling? First off, know that just because it smells doesn’t mean it’s dirty! We ALL have different bodies, which also means different body odors ;). In case of smell, you might want to try boiling your cup for 20 minutes every time BEFORE and AFTER every cycle, rather than 5 to 10 minutes.
You can also soak your cup in a 50-50 solution of water and clear vinegar for an hour. Remember to thoroughly clean your cup and then boil it to remove any residue!
The best way to get rid of menstrual cup stains
When you rinse your cup, remember to always use cold water to avoid staining it! If your cup is already stained, let it sit under the sun for a couple hours, or soak it in a spirit vinegar and water mixture for an hour (50-50 is a good ration). Afterwards thoroughly wash the cup then boil it for... you guessed it, up to 20 MINUTES!
Cleaning the air-holes
- Wash your hands and leave the warm water running.
- Fill the Lunette menstrual cup with water.
- Place your palms over the wide end of the cup so that it is covered.
- Squeeze the cup so that the water is forced through the suction holes.
You can also use a blunt toothpick soaked in rubbing alcohol, or a toothbrush dedicated to this purpose. Do not use sharp items such as needles or pins on your cup, they will do more damage than good!
The most important tip
Always wash your hands and make sure your finger nails are clean and always boil your cup for 5 to 10 minutes before and after every cycle! If nothing else, remember that!
Read more on our cleaning page! Or check out our full range of cup cleaning products.
14 comments
Hi Deborah Quigley!
We have previously recommended boiling the cup up to 20 minutes, especially on the first boil before use. However, we have now conducted a lab test to ensure that just 5 minutes of boiling the cup in-between your periods is perfectly sufficient and we recommend the shorter time to save energy and your time :)
Now, we recommend the cup to be boiled for 10 minutes on the first time before use, and then for 5 minutes in between each cycle, to make sure to kill all the bacteria on the surface of the cup.
-Team Lunette
Sterizing the cup.
Much of your information says to boil the cup 20 minutes. Other websites say that if you boil more than 5 minutes you could be shortening the lifetime of your cup.
WHAT’s UP???
Hi Ying!
Great question! Unfortunately we haven’t tested steam sterilizer in official circumstances and therefore can’t recommend it.
Best regards, Team Lunette
Instead of boiling, can I steam my lunette cup to sanitize?
Hi Shell Vee,
Our recommended way to sterilise your Lunette Menstrual Cup is to boil it. Make sure your Lunette Cup is thoroughly clean before you begin.
Boiling works by raising the temperature high enough to kill any bacteria left after washing.
Add a generous amount water to a large saucepan or pot. If your tab water has exceptionally high mineral consistency, we recommend using filtered water.
Place your Lunette Cup in a large saucepan on the burner of the stove, not turned on yet. Use only completely clean, unbroken pan/pot with intact coating.
Bring water to boiling, and boil rapidly for 5-10 minutes. Do not leave the cup unattended and monitor the amount of water by not letting it run low, and not letting the cup burn to the bottom of the pan. Before the very first use of the cup, boil it for 20 minutes.
Turn off the stove and allow the water to cool down enough so that you can pick up the cup.
Wash your hands thoroughly before you handle the clean cup.
Take the cup from the saucepan and shake off any excess water, careful not to burn yourself!
If you are not using the Lunette Cup again straight away, store your cup in its own, clean pouch.
Please note, the menstrual cup is not intended to be boiled with any cleansers or detergents. Please use clean water only for boiling.
Best regards, Team Lunette
So when boiling it do you put it in the water at let it come to a boil so a total 20 minutes in the water all together or bring water then put the cup in to boil for a total of 20 minutes?
Hi,
I love my Lunette cup! I was just wondering: does it really need to be boiled for 20 minutes between cycles? Aren’t 5-10 minutes enough?
Thank you!
Della asked if it’s okay to disinfect with rubbing alcohol instead of boiling. I have done this for ten years, and have not had a problem. Obviously, just because one person hasn’t had a problem doesn’t mean it’s safe! But if you wash it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, and clean your hands before applying, it is going to kill most bacteria. This is the common recommended method for cleaning sex toys from doctors, and while a menstrual cup will be inserted for a longer time, the possible bacteria you could be exposed to are similar.
I wish there was more thorough research about the different cleaning methods of menstrual cups, and the chance of infection as a result. Not having easy access to disinfection methods is a common barrier to menstrual cup use, particularly for people with roommates, or people in families or countries where menstruation is still very taboo.
Hi Elena, thank you for your message!
Yes; oils are bad for medical grade silicone. There is tiny amount of essential oils in Lunette Cup Cleanser which won’t harm the cup. Essential oil has a bit different structure and therefore it isn’t that harmful :)
We advise to thoroughly rinse the cup after having used the cleanser. Please keep in mind: If you know you are sensitive to or react to essential oils we recommend being extra careful and make sure to thoroughly rinse the cup to avoid any residues. Or you might not want to use the cleanser at all if any allergies or sensitivities towards essential oils are know.
Best regards, Team Lunette
Hi Della,
we recommend boiling the cup in order to sanitize it. The cup should be cleaned first to remove any blood and tissue and then boiled. Use our Lunette Cup Cleanser to clean the cup, then boil it for 5 to 10 minutes. Boiling works by raising the temperature high enough to kill any bacteria leftover after washing.
One option would be to use a pot that is solely used for boiling the cup and not for food preparation. If you feel uncomfortable you could always wash the pot after having it used for boiling the cup :)
Best regards, Team Lunette
Hello,
You recommend oil free soap to wash cup however, your wash is advertised as scented with lemon and eucalyptus oils. What’s the difference? Will this cause irritation?
just wondering—can rubbing alchohol be used to clean the cup insted of boiling water? i am just a tad uncomfortable with the thought of boiling it in a pot because what if i need that pot for cooking? would it be alright to sterilize with rubbing alchohol and then run under boiling water in the sink?
Hi Jade! Great question! Unfortunately we haven’t tested UV sterilizer in official circumstances and therefore can’t recommend it. Best regards, Team Lunette
can I just use the UV Light sterilizer to keep my cup clean after using cup cleanser, instead of boiling it, because I am not allowed to boiling water. If UV light can not used, is there another way ?
