Hygiene is non-negotiable, but it shouldn't become a mental load. We hear everything and its opposite about maintaining reusable period products: electric sterilizers, chemical tablets, microwaves...
The truth? The platinum medical silicone of La Cup Luneale and the Menstrual Disc is an inert and non-porous material that is very easy to clean. No need for expensive gadgets. Here is the official, simple, and safe protocol to keep your product hygienic for 5 years.
Article Summary
1- The basic rule: Sterilization or Cleaning?
Whether you use La Cup or The Disc, we must distinguish between two very different actions:
- Sterilization: Its goal is to kill resistant bacteria (like those potentially responsible for toxic shock syndrome). It is mandatory at the beginning of each cycle (before the very first insertion).
- Cleaning: Its goal is to remove blood, biofilm, and impurities. It is done at each emptying (every 6 hours max during the cycle).
❌ Our expert opinion: Beware of plastic "steam sterilizers" sold at a high price by ordinary cup brands. They are often not very durable and less effective than a good boil. A simple pot remains the most reliable (and eco-friendly) method. Also, do not use a special plastic microwave sterilizer: a simple glass or glass jar is just as effective (and it's free and zero waste!).
2- Before first use & Between cycles
This is the "Deep Clean" moment. Before inserting your Cup or your Disc on the 1st day of your period, it must have been disinfected.
| ✅ The Recommended Method | ❌ To avoid absolutely |
|---|---|
|
Boiling Water (5 min): Submerge your product in a pot of simmering water. The tip: Put it inside a kitchen whisk so it doesn't touch the bottom and burn! |
Harsh chemicals: Bleach, rubbing alcohol, pure white vinegar, pure hydrogen peroxide. They deteriorate the silicone structure in the long term. |
| The Microwave (5 min): Completely submerge your product in a glass of water and microwave it until it boils. | The Dishwasher: Detergents are too abrasive and can leave chemical residues on the silicone (which you will then put in your vagina...). |
| Cold-water sterilization tablets: (Milton type) Very practical when traveling or camping if you don't have a stove (respect the time indicated by the manufacturer). | — |
👉 Should you really buy a sterilizer? Our firm opinion: The truth about sterilizers.
3- During your period (Daily routine)
Once the cycle has started, there's no need to boil it every time! A careful cleaning is enough at each removal (every 6 hours max).
The express protocol:
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Empty La Cup or The Disc into the toilet or a sink.
- Rinse with cold water first! This is the secret to prevent hemoglobin from "cooking" and staining the silicone (or creating odors).
- Wash with lukewarm water, with a suitable cleanser or simply with clean drinking water.
Which soap to use?
Medical silicone does not like fatty substances. Absolutely avoid superfatted soaps, shower oils, or overly scented supermarket intimate gels that can leave a greasy film.
Favor soap-free cleansers with an acidic pH and a safe composition: the ideal is a specific cleanser like La Mousse Luneale (organic, oil-free, and formulated to attack neither the silicone nor your vaginal flora).
👉 To go further on product choice: Which soap to choose for my cup?
4- At work or in public restrooms: Survival mode
This is the #1 hurdle for beginners: "What do I do if the sink is shared outside the stall?".
Don't panic, you don't need to take your blood-filled product out in front of your colleagues. Here are the foolproof tricks:
💧 The water bottle technique:
Simply take a small bottle of water (preferably with a sports cap) with you into the stall. Empty your cup/disc into the bowl, rinse it directly over it with your bottle, and reinsert. It's clean, discreet, and hygienic.
💧 The Cleaner technique:
Luneale designed Le Cleaner, a portable Japanese bidet. Autonomous and practical, you slip it into your bag filled in the morning, and you can easily clean your Cup all day long (and additionally, after using the toilet, it allows you to clean yourself effectively).
👉 More tips for being out and about? Read: 5 solutions to manage your cup in public places.
5- Odors, stains, or yellowing: What to do?
Over time, even a clean product can change color or retain an iron-like odor. It's not dirty; it's the natural oxidation of hemoglobin on the silicone.
- For persistent odors: Boil your product with a spoonful of food-grade baking soda in the water.
- For transparency (yellowing): A bath in hydrogen peroxide (diluted to 50% with water) for a few hours can restore its brightness. Warning: do this exceptionally (once a year), not every cycle!
👉 Find our complete recipes here: My cup smells bad, the solutions and My Cup is no longer transparent, what to do.
In summary: Drinking water, possibly a soap-free cleanser with an acidic pH, and a pot of boiling water at the beginning of the cycle. That is all your cycle needs.
