Sterilising your menstrual cup at the start of each cycle is non-negotiable. It's what eliminates resistant bacteria potentially linked to TSS.
To put your mind at ease — and take your money — many brands try to sell you "special sterilisers" (boxes, eggs, foldable containers…). Are they really necessary? The answer is NO. Here's why they are often a pointless expense, or even a bad idea for your health, and how to do better for free.
Table of contents
1- The principle: 5 minutes in boiling water
To sterilise medical-grade silicone, there is really only one method: full immersion in boiling water (100°C / 212°F) for at least 5 minutes.
❌ The common mistake: Pouring hot water from a kettle over the cup in the sink is not enough. The water cools too quickly to kill resistant bacteria.
2- Why "special" sterilisers are just gadgets
The market is full of sterilising boxes in plastic or foldable silicone. Here's why we don't recommend them:
- The problem with heated plastic: Even BPA-free plastic, microwaved at high temperatures, is never entirely safe (migration of micro-particles).
- The ecological and financial cost: Why manufacture, transport and buy an additional plastic object when you already have everything you need in your kitchen?
- Hygiene: These boxes are often difficult to dry thoroughly, becoming breeding grounds for bacteria if stored improperly.
3- The safe, free solution: The glass of water (Tutorial)
The best steriliser in the world is already in your cupboard: it's a glass (jam jar, mustard glass, mug). Glass is an inert, safe material that withstands boiling and releases no particles whatsoever.
- Take a glass container (jar or mug) kept solely for this purpose.
- Fill it with tap water.
- Submerge your cup or disc completely in the water.
- Microwave for 5 minutes (the water must reach boiling point).
- Leave to cool for a few minutes before removing (watch out — it will be very hot!).
No microwave? The good old pot of boiling water on the hob works just as well (place the cup inside a whisk so it doesn't touch the hot bottom of the pan).
4- Comparison table: Gadget vs Home method
Let's weigh it all up:
| Method | Cost | Health / Material | Ecology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic steriliser | €15 – €20 | ⚠️ Heated plastic (questionable) | Unnecessary waste |
| Silicone steriliser | €10 – €15 | ✅ Neutral | Unnecessary production |
| Glass / Jar (Luneale Method) | €0 | ✅✅ Glass (Inert & Safe) | Zero waste |
