How to sterilize the menstrual cup?

If you don't know how to sterilize your menstrual cup after use, it's time to learn. It is one of the most important steps when cleaning the menstrual cup if we want to avoid vaginal infections and it is also very easy. Thanks to the material of our menstrual cup, medical silicone, bacteria will not be able to nest in it and we will maintain strict hygiene.

Some time ago we already told you how to clean your menstrual cup correctly during your period, we are going to give you a brief reminder and then we will give you all the tricks to learn how to sterilize your cup between cycles .

How do I clean the cup during menstruation?

During your period, between periods, we are going to clean the menstrual cup only with cold water . Once we make sure that it is clean, we will put it back on until the next extraction.

We have some tricks to clean the menstrual cup and make it perfect:

Fill the glass completely, cover the surface and press so that the water comes out of the holes and they remain very clean.

If you are away from home, and you don't know where to clean your menstrual cup, always carry a bottle of water with you, it will be your greatest ally in bathrooms without much privacy. Check out our tips for changing your menstrual cup in a public bathroom when you're out and about or at work.

If it's not busy, take advantage of the handicapped bathrooms because they almost always have a sink inside.

If you cannot bring a bottle of water into the establishment, always carry an intimate hygiene wipe with you as an exception.

Now, let's see what to do with the menstrual cup after your period . The time has come for sterilization!

When to sterilize the menstrual cup?

The menstrual cup is sterilized between cycles only once , but you can choose between two times to do it: sterilize as soon as your period ends or just before the next one begins.

This depends on taste, I personally always sterilize my menstrual cup when my menstruation ends , so I don't forget it and I can put it back in a month without having to wait.

If you decide to keep the cup in your bag and wait for the next cycle to sterilize it , remember to do it in time before bleeding appears.

We do not recommend sterilizing it twice (after your period and before your period) because the silicone can be damaged; one sterilization is enough.

sterilize menstrual cup

Where to sterilize the menstrual cup?

You have two options to choose where to sterilize your menstrual cup:

Sterilize in a container or kitchen utensil such as a metal saucepan, a pot, a cup... Try to always keep it clean, make sure your menstrual cup fits inside and wash it after use.

Sterilize in a silicone sterilizing cup like the one we include in all our GlupCup packs. If you don't want to use a kitchen utensil and always want to have a special sterilizer for your menstrual cup, buy our GlupCup Folding Sterilizer!

What is the sterilizing glass and how is it used? It is a silicone container that does not damage your menstrual cup nor does its composition change when it is subjected to high temperatures. Our foldable sterilizer is designed so that you can store it next to your menstrual cup without taking up much space, so you can take it on a trip without any problem. We include it in all our packs! And if you already have your menstrual cup, but are missing your sterilizer, you can buy it separately!

Depending on the method you use, you can heat the water on the stove or ceramic hob or in the microwave. Keep reading and we'll tell you how to do it.

How to sterilize the menstrual cup?

Now, it is time to sterilize the menstrual cup. In fact, the first thing we will do before using our menstrual cup for the first time is to boil it for 3-5 minutes . This sterilization process eliminates all impurities that may occur after handling and transportation from the factory until it reaches our hands.

There are three ways to sterilize the menstrual cup:

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and insert the menstrual cup for three minutes.
Bring water to a boil in a saucepan and pour it into the sterilizer with the glass inside for three minutes.
Put water in the sterilizer with the cup inside and heat it in the microwave for three minutes (without the lid).

Too easy! Of course, never leave it for more than 5 minutes or it will burn (don't worry because it won't burn, it will simply turn into sand). If one day you forget your cup and you see that its color has changed or that the texture is not the same , buy a new menstrual cup because it will no longer work for you.

My menstrual cup has changed color!

The useful life of a well-preserved menstrual cup is about 10 years, but for that we must follow all the hygiene tips mentioned above.

Although we must always keep in mind that the color of our menstrual cup will change over time, above all we will see that it tends to dye brown. This does not mean that our cup is dirty or unusable, it is simply the process of blood pigmentation that darkens it.

sterilize menstrual cup brown stain

If you want your cup to recover its initial color, just clean the menstrual cup with hydrogen peroxide : leave it overnight in a glass with hydrogen peroxide, you will see how it looks like it was just purchased! Of course, do this only once a year if you don't want your glass to spoil.

If you don't know how to clean the holes of the menstrual cup and make them look like new, you can use an interdental cleaner once a month.

You now have all the information to clean and sterilize your menstrual cup, now it's time to start enjoying it!