Menstruators can get quite hung up about smelling during their periods. It’s perfectly natural for there to be some slight odor but if you’re concerned about a strong smell do go and see your doctor. The good news is that if you think the funky smell is coming from your period cup, there are things you can do about it.
How to keep your period cup fresh
It can be a good idea to boil your cup for 20 minutes before and after your period, for the cleanliness of your cup and the health of your vagina. Make sure you use a deep pot to boil your menstrual cup otherwise you will risk burning or warping your menstrual care device. Check out full details on ‘How to clean’.
Alternatively, use liquid soaps or cup wipes that have been specifically formulated for menstrual cups. These washes are designed to clean the cup properly without leaving any residue. Avoid any that include oils, colorants or scents as they may leave chemicals on the cup. Some ingredients also harm the silicone material. A normal vaginal pH level is between 3.8 and 4.5, which is moderately acidic. Look for cleansing products that have a similar PH balance.
Never, ever put your period cup in the dishwasher!
There are some alternatives that you can use, if you don’t have cup wipes or a proper liquid wash at hand.
Wipe thoroughly or soak your menstrual cup for an hour with vinegar. Pro tip: You can also use a toothpick soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean out your menstrual cup holes. Boil your cup AGAIN for 20 minutes and allow your cup to air dry in the sun completely before use. Leaving the cup to soak in the sun helps with discoloration or smells – but it’s not always the most practical solution!
Finally, you can make a solution of half water and half vinegar and soak your menstrual cup for an hour. You already know what to do next! We'll give you a hint: boil your cup for 20 minutes!
Hi Gloria!
For our menstrual cup, made from medical grade silicone, we mostly recommend vinegar/water mix or Lunette Cup Cleanser and alcohol based Cup Wipes are usually really great at removing some unwanted smells from the cup!
Unfortunately, we cannot 100% guarantee that baking soda, or vinegar/baking soda mix overnight would not cause any damage to the material of the cup (or a disc). This is why we mainly recommend these few tips. Great to hear that it worked for you, but remember to always check that the products have not caused any changes to the surface of cup/disc
Even when using just water/vinegar, or other recommended methods – remember to clean and boil the cup thoroughly before inserting it again to avoid any possible infections or irritation from changing pH!
Best,
Team Lunette
I left my menstrual disc in for over 12 hours (I was busy with work) and when I took it out to empty the content, the smell was horrible. I washed multiple times, soaked it in hot water, tried hot water with baking soda for about an hour but it still didn’t get rid of the horrible smell. So I decided to make a mix of apple cider vinegar (that was what I had), baking soda and hot water, kept it overnight and the smell reduced drastically (it went from a 100 to a 10). So I guess baking soda and apple cider vinegar works perfectly.
I’ll definitely need to try soaking mine in alcohol. Mine, without fail, ends up smelling like (TMI) really bad breath mixed with a fart every single month and it’s really started to disgust me. I also live in a basement apartment with no yard, so leaving it in the sun isn’t an option. Alcohol it is!
Melanie, I feel your pain! I left mine to dry in my bathroom window..well, my husband didn’t close the door thoroughly and the cats got in there. I couldn’t find it for most of the day, until I walked in and they had finally batted it next to the door. Oje. 🤦♀️
Crazy thing, I got out of the shower, glanced over at the cup, and thought to myself, “I hope the cats don’t get in here and knock that down, maybe I should put it away..” But alas I forgot, and my premonition came true. Ergh. 😒
Hi Melanie!
Glad to hear the sun trick is working to get rid of the smell! Yikes about your dog’s new chew toy though haha!
Best,
Team Lunette