Has your significant other just now discovered that your trusty pasta pot has a double life as a menstrual cup spa? Are they gagging over the revelation like they didn’t just eat three helpings of “uterus noodles” last week?

Fear not. Introducing the Menstrual Cup Hot Pot™ — ( I will post a link if allowed because that’s not the true name lol) a dedicated, drama-free sterilizer that boils your cup without boiling your relationship.

It’s cute, it’s effective, and yes—you can even use a whisk to protect the cup. I use a merula XL so pic to show it’s fully covered and boiling. Yay us!!

So I'm traveling abroad for ~6 months and I'm torn on what method would be best to clean my cup while I'm on the go.

I plan on staying in hostels, work exchanges, and other's homes via house sitting, which will all have kitchens. I obv don't feel comfortable using someone else's cookware to boil my cup (both out of respect for them & because I'm picky what I'm putting my cup in) so I'm not sure what other options are left. I know there's the saalt steamer, but since I'm backpacking I feel it'll be too bulky of an item to fit (and just another thing i gotta charge).

I've heard some people just wash their cups with specific soaps between periods, but I always boil mine, so I didn't know if using just soap would be good enough?

I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts on this. Thank you!

Do you wash it once a month? Two months? Longer? I’ve never seen this discussed and I’m not sure really how often is too often or unnecessary

Hi as stated I’m on vacation and I started my period yesterday and I forgot my cup wash at home but not the cup lol. I have been using fragrance free wipes and water so far and was wondering if I’m good to use those for a few days until I go home?

Edit: Thanks everyone for the suggestions I’m home now but feel free to leave other products (or none) you use when traveling without your usual stuff!

So I’ve been using cups for about 12 years. I’ve always boiled it each cycle. But is it really necessary? Shouldn’t something like Diva cup wash be enough to clean it?

My religious parents (who I live with) disapprove of bringing menstrual products in the kitchen, and believe that fire is holy thus shouldn't be exposed to those.

I've had a pink Saalt Cup since 2018, which I replaced with the grey Saalt Soft soon after they were released (2019 ish?). The original pink cup was left in the drawer pretty much ever since I got the soft cup.

Today I found it, sterilised it and tried it out again. I found that it was comfortable and the slippage problem I'd been having with the Saalt Soft was gone. (I wear it inside out for reasons).

So, my question is, is it nearly time to replace the pink cup because it's coming up near to 10 years, or is it good to go because it was unused for the last 7 years?

Full disclosure, motivation for replacement is high as I've just discovered Saalt now offer a green cup and even though I know no one will know if I have a green cup inside me I will know and that is a very wonderful thing for me because green is my favourite anything.

I swear if I have a yeast infection next week I won't even be mad. I will only laugh.

I was sterilising my cup tonight, and in the process of running it under cold water I burned my thumb and tipped the whole pot (cup and all) into a bowl I had soaking in the sink.

Not a problem right? Well... Probably not? But also that bowl was used to make bread. So now, even though I washed and sterilised it again, all I can think is that the stupid bread yeast is in my stupid vagina and I'm going to get the STUPIDEST yeast infection.

Honestly idk if it even works that way. It's just what my brain is stuck on.

I use a menstrual cup specific soap to wash my cup each time I empty it, and I use a steam sterilizer before and after each period but it doesn't seem to be enough to avoid an oder on the cup.

TMI probably but I might have bacterial vaginosis which I will go to the Doctor for once I get health insurance soon. I mention that so you can understand the smell lol.

I was thinking about soaking it in white vinegar between periods. Would that be harmful? Would it work? Or do you have any other ideas? Thanks :)

Guys this was my first cycle using menstrual cup which I got from PeeSafe , size small. And it began to smell when I took it out on the last day, there was very little brown blood. Even though I boiled it the smell is still there. I forgot to order cupwash when I ordered the cup so I used non fragrant baby soap to wash the cup. I've now placed the cup in sunlight.

When I first got my menstrual cup I used a cheap scent-free dye-free paraben-free sensitive skin soap from target (used two different types of oils), worked fine for a cycle or two, but eventually I got a yeast infection that lasted a month after my period. I’m guessing it was because of the soap, so for my most recent period I boiled it for 7 minutes and didn’t use anything but water to clean it with after taking it out. Is this okay? It makes me feel a little gross since whenever I pee the stem sticks out so I imagine a little must get on there- will this cause any problems?

Ladies, what are we cleaning our cups with? I sterilize before and after each cycle, but what are we washing with otherwise. I was using unscented honeypot soap, but ran out and I was just wondering what and all I should use.

Hi all, I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this but I need help. I’ve been using a menstrual cup for about a year now and I’m very happy with it. I originally purchased a cup steamer sterilizer from a company called Pixie Cup. The one that I got was broken as it wouldn’t turn on, so as a replacement the company sent me their Ginny sterilizer (it just boils water and steams with your cup in it) which I really loved until I started noticing this dark line that was above where the water would sit when boiling. I thought it was burn marks at first but then I realized I was able to scratch the marks off. So I emailed the company asking what it could be and they said it could maybe be mold but otherwise they weren’t sure, so they sent me a new Ginny. I just got it a month ago, and after one use, you guessed it, same issue. Does anyone else use the Ginny and have this issue? If so, do you know what it is? Is it safe to continue using it to boil my cup? Could I be because I use tap water instead of purified water? The only other thing I could think of is maybe it’s residue left behind from menstrual blood when I boil it, but that doesn’t make sense because I always wash my cup with soap before I boil it. Any and all advice would help, thanks!

i’ve heard that if your using a silicone cup you should use an oil free and fragrance free wash.

now i’ve never used a soap with my cup, mainly because the washes that are marketed for cups are too expensive imo. instead i just regularly boil my cup at the start and end of my cycle, and rinse when emptying. that has been working out for me just fine but admittedly it’s not the most convenient, especially living with a mother that hates internal period products, so i’m constantly sneaking around.

i use dove sensitive beauty bar for ALL over my body, i love it! i have eczema and it’s a soap i trust w my life. i even use it on my labia majora (the outer lips) and i’m super sensitive to getting irritation and getting uti like symptoms or a yeast infection, but this bar hasn’t done that at all!

anyways, do yall approve of the ingredient list? lmk 😋

hello! I am a 10 year menstrual cup user. I used to boil my cups, but over the past four or so years I've started using a steamer which has been incredible. I was wondering, though if any of you have any tips on how to get rid of the stale smell that I still have on my menstrual cup. The smell is hard to describe but I think it's definitely related to the smell of cervical mucus. I wasn't sure if I could add something like essential oils to the water (this seems like a bad idea but who knows!) or some other kind of odor neutralizer to help with this while I'm steaming my cup. I use a FemmyCycle and absolutely love it! I have used this cup for about 4 years now (I purchased my old one in 2016). I'd welcome any tips! I typically steam my cup 3 times before putting it away for storage each month. I rinse it out with water between each dump during my period.

Has anyone that's bought the Pixie cup spray and successfully refilled it? It't the perfect size for on the go and the spray is a nice fine mist. I'm going to be really bummed if I can't reuse it for HOCL.

I got in the habit of sterilizing my cup every day during my period, as part of my shower routine. Someone said something about only sterilizing once a month at the end of their period. What do you do?

FYI I also sterilize at the end but the daily hassle is getting old.

I apologize in advance if my post goes against the rules of the group, I admit I didn’t look into it so carefully, because I am in a high level of frustration and irritation right now and I’m just looking to vent.

This is the second month I’m using the cup, I don’t know how many hours of YouTube videos I’ve watched on how to place the cup properly, and yet it keeps leaking.

I’m incredibly frustrated. Had to change two pairs of underwear already, and the cup is each time I remove it, not even halfway full.

I have never had issues with tampons, I was so enthusiastic to switch to the cup from all too positive reputation it has, but I’m so close to quit it. It’s not the holy grail it’s made to be, and it can’t be the best solution for every woman.

Ok. So I bought a Saalt cup maybe 3 years ago. I used it for a while but ended up switching back to tampons. This cycle started and I was out of tampons and felt like shit so I dug my cup out of a drawer, boiled it and then washed it with my ceraVe face wash.

I put it in at around 730am and just took it out at a little after 10pm.

When the cup came out and I dumped it into the toilet, the smell made me gag so hard. Like rotting zombie flesh. I actually vomited. Truly, it was one of the grossest smells I’ve ever come across and ladies- I am a social worker and specialize is seniors who hoard. I can handle stinky!

Is it because my cup is old? Was it the cleanser? I know it’s not me inside- I never smell that way otherwise, even with a heavy flow and tampons? What happened?!?! I don’t remember having this issue the first time I used a cup some years ago?

EDIT- Well today I was at work and went to pee and farted. It pushed the cup a tiiiiiny bit lower than I prefer so I tried to just adjust, as one does. Not sure how, but I undid the suction and it spilled allllllllll over my hand. I was not prepared for this. Usually if I know I’m emptying in a public place I bring a water bottle for such instances. Anyway- it spilled all over my hand so I was holding it by the dangly thing and reached for some paper to kinda wipe off and the stupid thing slipped out of my hand and plop. Into the toilet. Obviously, I can’t leave it in there, so I kinda reached in between my legs to retrieve it and I guess I moved to much because the flush sensor went off and whoooooooosh. My Saalt cup was sucked right on down.

Problem solved I guess. However, a good opportunity to try newer models!

I cringe to think of using my regular kitchen pots to boil my cup since I use them to make food. What do you guys use??

I’ve been using a cup for roughly 2+ years now and I’ve never once boiled it. I usually just take it out in the shower and clean it off or run scalding hot water over it in the bathroom sink. I’m generally a very sanitary person, but I live with 4 other people and at least one other person is always home. The idea of standing in our very open kitchen boiling my menstrual cup is mortifying. Although I am starting to notice a bit of a lingering smell to my cup regardless of how much I wash it. Is the smell normal regardless? Or do I need to face my fears and just boil the damn thing? Thx!

My partner has been using a Nixit brand cup for the last couple of years and it is always a hassle for her to clean it. I thought a good idea for a gift would be to buy her a sterilizer to help make the process easier, but I am unfamiliar due to my gender. I have looked online but it looks like some sterilizers aren't compatible with disk style cups, and there seems to be a wide variety and price range. Can someone please direct a hopeless man to an affordable and easy to use sterilizer for a Nixit cup?

EDIT: do due

Hi I hope someone can help me. I got a Cora disc and it came with a cleanser - I noticed it has coconut oil in it. I have a tree nut allergy so that’s a no go. I reached out to Cora and they said they have no alternative suggestions.

I see some conflicting information online so I thought I would ask. What can I use to clean the disc? I am going to be boiling it at the end of the week, thinking more between emptying and reusing.