How to Clean Your Menstrual Cup (Wash, Sanitize, Store)

Key Takeaways:

• Wash the cup at least once every 12 hours. Always wash your hands first, then rinse your cup with warm water and a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Sanitize between cycles, not between uses. Boiling, a compact sanitizer, steaming, or a wipe-down with 70% isopropyl alcohol all get you there.
• Sanitizing and sterilizing are not the same thing. At-home methods sanitize a cup or disc, which is all it needs. True sterilizing takes an autoclave.
• Skip vinegar, bleach, oil-based soaps, scented washes, and anything abrasive. They can break down silicone or leave residue behind.

Reusable menstrual cups and discs have become a go-to for people who want a reusable alternative to disposable period products. Keeping them clean is a real part of that switch, and the good news is that the routine is simpler than it looks once you know which step belongs where.

To clean your menstrual cup between uses: wash your hands, remove the cup, empty it into the toilet or sink, and rinse it with warm water and a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser like Saalt Cup Wash before it goes back in. That is the whole routine.

Sanitizing is a separate, deeper step that happens between cycles, and we will walk through both, plus what to do when the only sink available is in a public bathroom.

The Difference Between Sanitizing and Sterilizing Your Menstrual Cup

Firstly, let's clarify the distinction between sanitizing and sterilizing. This article from Virginia Tech gives a great explanation of the differences between sanitizing and sterilizing:

• Sanitizing: This process involves reducing the number of microorganisms on a surface to a safe level. Sanitizing a period cup or disc aims to remove bacteria and other harmful microbes from the surface, and it should be done at the end of your period, before you store your cup or disc.
• Sterilizing: Sterilization goes a step further by eliminating all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores. This process ensures a completely germ-free environment. Sterilizing is usually only achievable using a combination of pressure and heat, such as utilizing an autoclave, and isn’t necessary for cleaning menstrual cups and discs.

Side by side, the difference is easier to see:

Always sanitize your cup before its first use, and after each period ends.

How to Clean Your Menstrual Cup Between Uses

Wash your cup each time you empty it, or at least once every 12 hours. Below, we’ll share some simple tips to clean your cup no matter where you are–at home, in a public restroom, or elsewhere.

At Home

The easiest place to clean your cup is at your own sink. Always wash your hands, then remove the cup and empty it into the toilet or sink.

Rinse the cup with cold water first, since cold keeps menstrual fluid from setting into the silicone, then move to warm water and a small amount of Saalt Cup Wash, which is made for exactly this job and rinses clean without fragrance or oils.

Run a finger around the rim and pop open the small air holes under it so nothing gets trapped. Then reinsert. Plenty of people just clean the cup in the shower instead, which works fine and saves a step.

In Public Restrooms

A public bathroom stall does not have to derail you. Bring a water bottle in with you, empty the cup into the toilet, and rinse it right there. No water on hand? Wipe the cup clean with toilet paper or a Saalt Intimate Cleansing Wipe, reinsert, and give it a proper wash as soon as you’re able.

Toilet paper can leave lint behind, so a wipe is the better pick when you have one. Cleaning a cup in a public restroom is mostly a logistics problem, not a hygiene one.

While Traveling

Travel is where a kit earns its keep. The Saalt Travel Kit holds your cup or disc, wash, and a collapsible cup for rinsing, so you are not relying on whatever the airport sink offers. If the tap water where you are is not safe to drink, rinse with bottled or boiled water instead.

Store your cup in its breathable cotton bag between trips, never sealed in plastic, so it can dry fully.

How to Sanitize Your Menstrual Cup or Disc: Boiling and No-Boil Options

Sanitizing happens once per cycle, after your period ends and before you store your cup away. You have four solid options; here’s how they stack up when you are deciding which one fits your setup:

Now, let’s break each of them down in detail:

Can I boil my menstrual disc or menstrual cup?

Yes. Boiling a menstrual cup or disc in water for 5 minutes is one of the most common ways to clean the cup at the end of a cycle. The high temperature reduces microorganisms on the surface to a safe level.

One practical note:

Hold the cup in a whisk or a pair of metal tongs so it stays suspended and does not scorch on the bottom of the pot. Set a timer, too. A cup left to boil dry is the most common way people end up needing a replacement. This article from the EPA details the efficacy of boiling water against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Can I steam my menstrual disc or menstrual cup?

Steaming has become a popular way to sanitize reusable cups and discs. The process involves using a dedicated menstrual cup and disc steamer, which utilizes steam at high temperatures to kill bacteria and other pathogens.

This method is quick, easy, and avoids the risk of damage that boiling may pose to cups or discs if forgotten in a pot of water.

This study from the National Library of Medicine details the effectiveness of steaming for the purposes of sanitizing.

Can I use rubbing alcohol to sanitize my menstrual disc or menstrual cup?

Yes, with one specific type of alcohol: use 70% isopropyl alcohol. Wipe the cup or disc clean inside and out, then let it air dry completely before you store it. This is a quick, easy, and affordable method of sanitizing, and a good one to keep in mind when you are away from a stove.

Can I use a compact sanitizer or the microwave to sanitize my menstrual cup or menstrual disc?

Pouring boiling water over a cup or disc in a compact sanitizer, or microwaving your cup or disc in a compact sanitizer, will sanitize it, as the heat will reach a sufficient temperature (100 degrees C, 212 degrees F) to help reduce microorganisms to a safe level.

Microwaving water usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. Go much longer and the water can superheat, meaning it climbs past 100°C without visibly boiling, because microwaves heat the water molecules directly rather than the container. Wattage varies, so follow the directions that came with your sanitizer.

The Saalt Compact Sanitizer is built for this and packs down small enough for a gym bag.

Can I use hydrogen peroxide to sanitize my menstrual cup or menstrual disc?

Yes, you can. You may soak your menstrual cup or disc overnight (up to 8 hours) in a 3% peroxide solution (the over-the-counter kind), which will help sanitize it and remove stains.

Please note that due to silicone's porous nature, frequent soaking of cups or discs in hydrogen peroxide can degrade the silicone over time. Overnight soakings are recommended only a few times a year. The other sanitizing methods listed above will not degrade your silicone cup or disc.

What to Avoid When Cleaning Your Menstrual Cup

A few things do more harm than good. Keep these off your menstrual cup wash routine:

If your cup has picked up a stain or an odor you cannot rinse out, that is usually cosmetic. A cup that has turned sticky, cracked, or torn is telling you it is time for a new cup.

A Clean Cup Should Take Five Minutes, Not a Ritual

Whether you opt for boiling, steaming, isopropyl alcohol, or compact sanitizers, regularly sanitizing your menstrual cup or disc is the step that keeps it safe to reuse cycle after cycle.

Once you know what each method is for, picking one takes about two seconds.

A compact sanitizer is the easiest one to actually keep up with, since it does not need a stove or a spare appliance.

Build a routine that fits your life and cup care stops feeling like a chore. Explore Saalt’s cup and disc cleaning extras, from wash to the Saalt Compact Sanitizer to a travel kit, and find the setup you will stick with.

FAQs About Cleaning Your Menstrual Cup or Disc

What is the best menstrual cup wash or steamer for sanitizing between cycles?

For everyday washing, use a cleanser made for silicone. Saalt Cup Wash is formulated for exactly that: fragrance-free, oil-free, and it rinses clean. For the between-cycles step, the Saalt Compact Sanitizer is the most practical pick for most people, since it works with boiling water or a microwave and packs down small. If you would rather have a dedicated countertop appliance, the Saalt Steamer runs a full cycle hands-off.

How can I sterilize a menstrual cup without boiling?

Worth clearing up first: at-home methods sanitize a cup rather than sterilize it, and sanitizing is all a cup or disc needs. If you want to skip the stove, you have three options. A compact sanitizer handles it with a microwave or a kettle. A menstrual cup steamer does it hands-off. Or you can wipe the cup down, inside and out, with 70% isopropyl alcohol and let it air dry completely.

How long should I boil my menstrual cup or disc?

Five minutes in boiling water is the standard. Keep the cup suspended in a whisk or held with metal tongs so it is not resting against the bottom of the pot, and set a timer. Boiling longer does not do more, and a pot that boils dry will damage the silicone.

How often should I clean my menstrual cup or disc?

Wash it at least once every 12 hours, which lines up with how often you should be emptying your cup anyway. Sanitize once per cycle, after your period ends and before you put the cup away. Some people clean their cup more often on heavy days, and that is fine. Just do not skip the between-cycles sanitize.

Can I use dish soap to clean my menstrual cup or disc?

It is not the best choice. Most dish soaps are scented or contain oils and degreasers that cling to silicone and are hard to rinse off fully. A gentle, fragrance-free soap works if that is what you have, and a wash made for cups works better. Whatever you use, rinse the cup thoroughly until the water runs clear.

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician, gynecologist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, vaginal health, or the compatibility of reusable menstrual products with your body. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately contact a doctor or call your local emergency services.

Sources

https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/FST/FST-386/FST-386.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6838735/

https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water