Women go through different seasons in their lifetime. The stage in between the ability to give birth and the end of it is what is known to many as menstruation or period in layman’s term.
As a woman, surely you have learned almost all of the twists and turns of this monthly occurrence. However, as time goes by, the demand for such convenience and comfort that many ladies seek during red day increases.
Women’s Quest for Comfortable Period
Gone are the days when women make do of uncomfortable and costly products just to get by with their menstrual periods.
Now, they look for something that can keep up with their lifestyles and demands of their job on a daily basis. And most of all, women want a product that’s pocket and eco-friendly. Thus, the menstrual hygiene market has been innovating products such as tampons, sanitary pads, and menstrual cups to meet women’s demands and needs.
For instance, menstrual cup, although it is not new in the market, it just recently made a buzz as a reliable and cost-efficient menstrual product. The menstrual cup has earned praise from women across the globe due to the benefits it gives.
If you are one of the many women who got convinced to use or try the said product, then it is only right that you know how to take good care of it. Thus, read on to learn more about how to properly clean your menstrual cup.
How to Sanitize for First Time Users
If you only have recently bought the menstrual cup, it doesn’t mean to say that you can use it right away. You need to sanitize the cup first since it is massed produced, and you do not want to irritate the most sensitive part of your body due to possible irritants during production.
What you need to do is to clean the cup thoroughly with warm water and scent or oil-free soap or cleanser. Also, you need to sterilize the cup by soaking it in boiling water for at least 5 to 10 minutes before using it.
The key here is to read the instructions on how to properly use the cup to avoid any unnecessary damages or irritating your vagina due to misinformation or improper use.
How to Clean Your Cup During Cycle?
Menstrual cup sanitation is done daily during your menstrual cycle. In this period, what’s important here is to at least clean the cup twice a day, ideally every 4 or 8 hours.
You need to remove your menstrual cup from your vagina and empty its contents. After the pullout, you can wash the cup with running or lukewarm warm water and gentle cleanser and re-insert it.
Also, if you prefer to use soap, then make sure that it is scent-free and water-based and is an oil-free soap or wash. Or, you can look for soaps that are specially designed for menstrual cups. You can use any menstrual cup washes as long as that can’t denature medical silicone, the primary material used to produce the cup.
How to Clean Your Cup at the Ends of Cycle
If your menstrual cup needs to be cleaned daily during your menstrual cycle, then it is crucial at the end of your period since you will be keeping it for a while until your menstrual cycle comes back next month.
With this said, it is highly recommended that you sterilize the menstrual cup before and each cycle (before using the menstrual cup and after the end of your period). Thus, what you need to do is to sterilize the menstrual cup before storing it away.
Before sterilizing the cup, simply wash it with water, just like how you would normally do. After cleaning, bring a pot of water to boil then soak your menstrual cup for at least 2 to 10 minutes. Afterwards, you may air-dry the menstrual cup and store it in a pouch where it can “breathe” freely.
Helpful Hint
In cleaning the menstrual cup, it is useful that you rinse it with cold water, then follow it up with warm water. By doing the said rinsing process, you will help prevent the chances of your cup’s discoloration since rinsing it with warm water only can lead to discoloration.
Takeaway
Menstrual cups are reusable menstrual hygiene products, which means they need certain cleaning maintenance to prolong their usage life. Thus, the matters discussed above will undoubtedly help you in keeping your cup clean and keep your hygiene in check during red days. Lastly, you need to read the manual or instructions that come with the package after you buy the product so that you would know don’ts and do’s for using the cup.
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