How to Care for Menstrual Cups and Discs Correctly

Reusable menstrual hygiene products are becoming an increasingly common part of women’s routines. Yet questions remain about caring for them both between uses and from one cycle to the next. Intimina shares guidance on treating menstrual cups and discs properly - neither too much nor too little - and dispels mistakes that must be avoided.

Cleaning menstrual cups and discs correctly

More women are regularly using menstrual cups and discs to collect their period. This increases reuse while reducing dependence on disposable sanitary pads and tampons, which are considered to have a greater environmental footprint and to be less economical over time. After a Spanish gynaecologist reported seeing women who wash these products with bleach, it is time to clear up the confusion and explain how these collectors should be hygienically cleaned.

According to Intimina, one of the biggest risks is “not cleaning the menstrual cup or disc thoroughly enough, or using unsuitable products”. The collector brand advises users to “always use mild soaps, preferably fragrance-free” and warns them “not to allow it to dry out completely before storing it”.

The brand adds that users should “rinse it with water at every change during the menstrual cycle, wash it once a day with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, and rinse it very thoroughly. (...) At the end of every cycle, after washing, it should be sterilised. This prevents germs from remaining. They can multiply in the collector before the next cycle”.

Heat and storage advice from Intimina

In warm weather, Intimina continues, “it is important not to expose cups to temperatures higher than those used for sterilisation: the heat generated by steam. And do not leave them on the hob for too long. Menstrual cups have a ‘pan on the cooker’ effect; if we forget them, they will end up becoming misshapen or disintegrating. Follow the recommendations. Without doubt, the silicone sterilising cup is much more practical and safer”.

Material and drying are essential

The brand stresses that, as it is “a product inserted into the vagina”, “proper care and the material it is made from are crucial”. “Medical-grade silicone ensures low porosity, preventing germs from building up, and it also provides greater durability,” it says.

It adds: “As important as sterilising it - and I recommend using a silicone sterilising cup in the microwave - is allowing it to air-dry. Store it safely in a cloth bag or in the completely dry sterilising cup.”