Using Menstrual Cups – Handling And Care
We received a great question from one of our fans:
What do I need to do to take care of my menstrual cups in between uses?
If you’re wondering the same thing, look no further! We’ve got you covered in today’s post. Read on to learn more about the handling and care of your menstrual cup. With proper care and plenty of love, you and your menstrual cup can have a long happy relationship.
Always Wash Hands Before Handling
Let’s get real: Our hands are filthy. We touch stuff, cough in them, eat with them, clean with them, etc. They’re amazing and we should love every inch of ourselves, but our hands are also very very dirty from all the action they see every day. Before handling your cup at any time (whether for cleaning or inserting/removing) always make sure to thoroughly wash your hands with a gentle, fragrant free soap. Remember – your menstrual cup is an internal device, do you want all the things you’ve touched and handled throughout the day to wind up on your cup? Gross.
During Your Cycle, It’s Recommended Your Wash Your Cup Daily
Many women prefer to simply rinse their cup daily during use, but we recommended you wash your cup once or twice a day (a good rule of thumb is to wash it when you empty it). Doing so helps to keep your cup clean, and reduces what you’re putting back in your body.
When washing your cup daily there are three things to keep in mind:
- Always use a soap that is gentle and mild
- Steer clear of perfumes and fragrances
- If possible, use a wash specific for cups or one that is PH balanced
Sterilize Your Menstrual Cup Between Cycles
Whether your cycle is ending or getting ready to start, we always recommend sterilizing your cup before use.
Sterilizing your menstrual cup at the end of your cycle will help prevent any bacteria from growing on your menstrual cup while in storage. Make sure the cup fully dries before storing.
Sterilizing your cup before use will reduce the amount of contaminants that may have accumulated over the past month while your cup was in storage. Fortunately, if you store your cup correctly, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of unwanted contaminants reaching your cup.
Store Your Menstrual Cup When Not In Use
This brings us to our next tip: Always store your cup properly when not in use. Leaving your cup on your bathroom counter when not in use opens it up to a ton of possible contaminants. Storing it in a drawer somewhere offers slightly more protection, but every time you open and close that drawer you’re potentially letting in pollutants. The best thing for your cup is to store in its own container. Storage container ideas include a cloth wetbag, cute storage box, or even a Tupperware container.
Did you know? Every SckoonCup purchase includes an adorable ORGANIC menstrual cup storage bag. Perfect for keeping your SckoonCup clean between uses.
Do you have a tip not listed above? Let us know! Join the conversation on Facebook.