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 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 Feelbetter 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 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 20 minutes between each menstrual cycle to keep it fresh and clean, but if you forgot or didn’t have time to boil it, you can sanitize the cup with our handy Cup Wipes, or wipe it down with rubbing alcohol. Once you get home, make sure to boil that cup for 20 minutes!
How to get rid of lingering odor
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 ;). We can't emphasize this enough – boil your cup for 20 minutes every time BEFORE and AFTER every cycle, rather than 10 minutes.
You can also use rubbing alcohol and soak it for one hour, For a more natural route, soak your cup in a mixture of vinegar and water (50:50) for the same amount of time, and always remember to thoroughly rinse and then to boil your cup for 20 minutes after you soak it in any of the methods mentioned above to remove any residue!
The best way to get rid of 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 spirit vinegar or lemon juice and boil it for... you guessed it, 20 MINUTES!
Cleaning the air-holes
Fill the cup with water, place your palm on it, turn upside down and squeeze! When the water squirts out through the air-holes, they should be instantly cleaned! 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 20 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.
Nice Blog
Hi Sara! If you can’t boil your Cup you can use our handy Lunette Cupwipes. They contain only water and alcohol (ethanol), and the wipes are compostable. 😊
-Team Lunette
I cant boil my cup before every period. Is it possible to santize lunette cup with alcohol instead of boiling before each cycle?
Hi Kate! Yes, just give your Cup a good wash to make sure there is no Feelbetter Cup Cleanser residue and you’re good to go!
-Team Lunette
What if you left your cup in the Lunette cleaning solution in water over night because you forgot about it? Is it still okay to use