5 Ways to Sanitize Menstrual Cups and Discs | Free and $-$$
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2024
- Many menstrual cup and disc brands suggest that you sanitize your product monthly. Boiling is common but time consuming. This video will provide alternatives to boiling to sanitize your menstrual cups and discs. A mug in the microwave is a bit quicker and free, or you can buy a collapsible sterilizer to use at home and while traveling. Menstrual cup steam sanitizers exist that clean the product in less than 5-6 minutes, they're convenient, fast, and more discreet for dorm or shared communal living spaces. And if you can't get to water or a vessel, using alcohol wipes works in a pinch. Of course there is NOTHING wrong with just putting your menstrual cup in a kitchen pot and boiling it! Get over the ick because the product is already clean and guess what - a menstrual cup is cleaner than the ground beef you probably cook in your pots at home.
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0:00 Start
01:17 Sanitizing Cups and Discs - Why you should
02:53 Boiling Method
04:00 Pro Tip: Boiling Cups inside a Whisk
05:26 Microwave Method - Mug
07:13 Microwave Method - Collapsible Sanitizer
08:56 Menstrual Cup Steamer
13:21 Menstrual Cup Wipes
15:07 Free is Free or Pick What Makes It Work
Am I the only one who already knows almost all there is to know about these period products but is obsessed with watching these videos anyway 😅
Same here ❤ i just like kim 😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤
Yessss✨ I love this videos as well 😌
I love watching Kim's videos
Since I live in a hostel, getting a cup steriliser was the best thing I've done. It was expensive but a great investment. It shuts off automatically so I don't have to worry about burning my cup.
This video comes out just as i put water to boil for disc sanitation this morning, and then forgot it, and almost burned my apartment down 😅 thankfully no discs were harmed with this mistake lol. Btw, Thanks for all you do, Kim!
oh my! I just saw a reddit post last week (I linked it in my article that goes with this post) with photos from someone who walked away, seemingly permanently, and burned their cups to ash by letting the water all boil away and then some. Forgetting a few extra minutes won't do that. I think based on the photos no whisk could have saved those cups lol.
Kim, I’d like to say thanks! I’m 8 months postpartum and when my period returned sooner than I’d hoped I had to reeducate myself on menstrual cups. I’d been using them, with mixed success, for almost a decade prior to pregnancy but just accepted that I would always struggle with excessive leaking etc. Back then there wasn’t as much info out there! After watching a lot of your content (somewhat obsessively 😅) I feel so much more confident & knowledgeable about how to care for my new body & cycle. A very empowering experience!
For everyone who doesn’t live in the US, you can make a drying rack for cups yourself. Buy food safe silicone and roll a snake and form it yourself. It works great! I would’ve loved to buy one but they don’t ship outside the US. Thank you for the idea Kim!
I used to do the pot & whisk method but I got the Saalt Steamer when it launched and I am soooooo happy. I'm so lazy and I love how convenient and fast the steamer is since I can store it in my bathroom.
I would also add a great option for microwave use - a plastic soup cup/soup container 🎉Works like a treat, great size and costs close to nothing. It even comes with a lid with vents so the steam can escape and won't splash boiling water everywhere. Love this solution ❤
thank you so much kim!!! i have been using menstrual cups/discs for years after you helped me find the right one for me, and now i’m moving to college, wondering how on earth im going to sanitize my disc in a dorm room. your video came at the perfect time!!! as much as i love how you normalize period products, i am NOT that close with my roommates yet, to just whip out a dirty disc and start making girl dinner hahaha
Baby bottle sterilisers are a great alternative many women have at hand too… and have probably already thought of
I wish there was a device that had a dual purpose as both a menstrual cup sanitizer and a face/hair steamer! They both seem to operate off the same technology, but can both take up so much shelf space ....
Got my first reusable flex disc from your shop a month ago and I just ordered this steamer from your shop a few days ago! I’m excited to use it!
love your channel!!! it's been so helpful
I use a UV sanitizer box. It’s not a cheap solution, but it’s big enough to sanitize everyday items like phone and keys. I can also use it for adult toys or my night guard. It’s handy if you would get a lot of use out of it.
I have a baby bottle sterilizer I am going to try that seems to be the same thing as the steamer in this video! Just a thought for anyone who has a baby and don't use bottles anymore. I'm using the flex cup for my first time (first time using a cup in general) and loving it so far! I've subscribed because these videos are super helpful, well done, and easy to follow!
This is a great vid! I had never considered the whisk method to prevent scorching, I like that a lot!
I also like the whisk method because i feel like it is easier/safer because you dont really have to fish it out if the boiling water to let it cool you just take the whisk out
Agreed, this is a great tip. But what Kim didn't note because it was probably too obvious to her, is that the whisk she used is a silicone coated or plastic type style of whisk. I think that would add better protection for the menstrual product than a metal whisk. Just something to note. I don't personally have a silicone whisk but now I'm getting one for this purpose. 😊 Thanks Kim, this is brilliant
When she said “hey google” she activated my Google and it set a timer😂
oops
😂 that's hilarious. That didn't happen to me with this video but it has happened to me before with a similar "hey Google" comment from a different channel.
This is great thanks
I fell like Milton tablets were overlooked in this video. They're convenient and cheap. No need for heat, just a bit of water and a container.
at least for those of us in the USA they aren't easy to find.
@@PeriodNirvana That's very unfortunate as they are very cheap an convenient. Specially while travelling.
Agreed, I've been using Milton tablets for 8 years now, they're quite convenient.
we also don't have them in Turkey. I'm lucky enough to have a friend visiting the UK every now and then. Thankfully a batch of tablets lasts for a long time.
Thanks for the tip! I live in the UK and never heard of this option - I hate boiling and travel a lot for work so this is definitely a game changer for me :)
Yes, thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware of Milton tablets but now I'll be on the look for them.
Avent pacifier sterilizing box is awesome for discs and cups.
I got a steam microwave bag. Can steam as many items as you can fit in the bag, add water, throw it in the microwave. Can be used up to 20 times, and cost $7AUD
I was about to suggest these also! So easy to use.
I used them for pump parts and bottles when my baby was little. I actually used them way more than 20 times, until the seal stopped working well.
I'm not even comfortable boiling a menstrual cup in the same pot I would use to prepare food for myself in, much less food for other people. I wouldn't want to eat anything prepared in somebody else's menstrual cup pot. So I bought a cheap, ugly pot that is used for only that purpose.
you can also recycle a baby bottle heater
When will the cup stands be on your website? I’ve been wanting one for the longest time 😭
I use the pot method. Got a pot just for it from the thrift store for 2 bucks so I didn't have to ask my housemates if they were comfortable with me using the communal pots for my cup 😂
Same. I use a cheap pot that isn't used for anything else.
are those racks the same femdisk sells in Germany? The disc looks also very similar to the Hello disc. Do you have any revews to fendisc?
Ive heard of uv sanitizers for menstrual cup. Like little foldable containers that have a uv sanitizer light in them. Has enough research gone into then for them to be market ready?
I bought a crappy Walgreens menstrual cup because money saving for my first one you know 🙄 ( I just ordered a Saalt from you 2 days ago 😄) the stupid directions did not say 5 mins. I’ve been boiling that mfer for 20 mins each month. And last month I just used tampons because I was too lazy to do it. Thank goodness I won’t have to do that anymore! And thank goodness for your education!
I hope it was on sale! Their cup is priced way too high for what it is. You can find really good brand options for about the same as their price or even less.
My Saalt cup said five minutes 😅
Maybe it's different for their different cups though
i got a steaming container with my second cup i bought, it‘s not very high quality but it gets the job done, i have since switched to microwaving mugs tho because my menstrual cup just fits better in those and they‘re in the cupboard right next to my microwave.
I live alone, so the thought of people having a problem with making 'girl dinner' in the spaghetti pot has never occurred to me 😂
I’m sad…. When is the Saalt cup and disc steamer back in stock on Period Nirvana store?
Do you ship to Germany? I would love to have one of these drying things and maybe a 3rd cup.
Leider nicht, nur US. Die meisten Cup-Hersteller senden aber weltweit. Ich habe mir lebensmittel-echtes Modelliersilikon geholt und selber eine Schlange geformt. Dann trocknen lassen und fertig ist dein eigenes Trockner-Ding! 😊 Hoffe das hilft.
Can you use antibacterial soap?
Would it be ok to use a UV or an ultrasonic cleaner?
Could you use those microwave steam sterilizer bags made for breast pump parts? I have a bunch left over.
I do. Works for me.
Thanks!
Will you store ever ship to Canada?
Sorry i have questions regarding the use of a menstrual disc and idk who to ask so if you, or any other watcher of this channel, can answer me, it would help me so much.
I watched all your videos as I was looking for a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to tampons, so i decided to buy a menstrual disc.
I took your website’s test when choosing the disc and used your tutorials when inserting it, but i have only one issue, and i don’t see anybody talking ab it so idk what to do
So I bought the lumma disc size S, & i inserted it correctly, because i checked and i tucked it properly behind the pubic bone, my cervix is inside it (i checked), i touched all the borders and its in place, the problem is the round part/“cup” part thats underneath the rim/border, it doesn’t open properly in the round shape, its like folded in itself a bit. This is my third change during this period, each time i tried with my finger to get it to open more, but it’s like when i create the eight shape during insertion, the cup part folds itself towards the inside following the eight shape i fold it in, and when i have put it in, it doesn’t expand/unfolds itself properly because the walls of the vagina from underneath kinda keep that space not “deep” enough and push it in itself. The only part that unfolds & permits the blood to be contained, is the part that has the vaginal canal below so there is no vaginal wall stopping it.
I thought, as the blood would pour in, the weight of the blood would help the disc take the same shape it has when its outside the vagina, and therefore permit the full capacity of it, but it didn’t and instead the blood started getting out when the capacity of the “punched-in” (sorry idk in what way to describe it) shape was finished. I think it didnt even reach 1/3 of the capacity it’s supposed to have.
Even from watching the video tutorials, it seems as if the vagina walls would shape themselves around the form of the disc, instead in my case it seems as if the walls and the insertion process are shaping the disc.
So… anybody has any tips? Did i make a mistake in inserting it? Do i have the wrong size/disc and maybe another size, brand or type of disc would have fit me better?
Also to give further context. I am a virgin, 21 years old, first time menstrual disc user and never used a menstrual cup, usually i use tampons, medium height cervix and i don’t have a tilted cervix. My flow is considered medium or light.
The diameter/circumference of the lumma disc S seems to fit me as I comfortably tucked it behind the pubic bone and behind the cervix, the rim itself adhered well to the vagina walls, after each use i had to untuck the disc from behind the pubic bone so i dont think the issue was it slipped in my vaginal canal.
Also i have been working in a standing position during the use, so it cannot be possible that the spill was caused by auto-dumping happening.
It is also not a small spill, i had the disc in for 10 hours (the capacity is supposed to be 12 hours) & i had put a pad for safety reasons and the pad ended up full, so that’s a lot of blood that wasn’t contained. The disc wasnt even 1/5 full due to the folds.
And my flow is not heavy, I usually change a tampon/pad every 8-10 hours during my heaviest day.
I’m so confused if this is normal, and for discs, capacity-wise, i have to take into consideration the anatomy and depth of the upper part of the vagina where the disc sits…. or if instead the disc is supposed to unfold into its proper form…. somebody help plsss idk anybody irl who uses a disc so i cannot ask anybody around me! & sorry for the massive TMIs and detailed descriptions
Awww I hope someone more experienced responds to you. I'm new to using these products so I don't know much. I'm using the disc and the 2 main things that have helped me are 1. Use gloves. The ick factor is high for me and I found that I leaked the one day I didn't use a glove, I guess because I didn't feel comfortable to properly check the placement so I hadn't tucked it behind my pubic bone properly so...use a glove the first few times and 2. Dont insert straight up: insert in and then back as opposed to in + up. Apparently it helps it sit properly. Once it's in there, tuck it properly behind the pubic bone and that should be fine.
All the best.
Maybe try a firmer rim or larger size.
A bit confused by what you mean by figure-8 fold. I thought only cups had multiple folds??
Was ist mit Sauerstoffbleiche? So kann man auch Verfärbungen entfernen.
❤👍
Can I just soak them in boiling water
Question. I got my first cup and going to my aunt’s place for Easter.
I plan on wearing pads at night, how would I go cleaning my cup in the morning?
You just need to use hand soap and water during your period. You can wash it, place in your pouch while sleeping, and put it in again in the morning. Assuming I understand your question here. You can sanitize it after your period when you're back home or before the next cycle
@@PeriodNirvana thanks 😊
I use the formoonsa collapsible sterilizer and that’s about $10 last time I checked on your shop. A game changer for sure because I used to boil.
Edit: I guess you don’t carry it anymore but it’s still a great product nonetheless.
Edit2: wow I can’t find the formoonsa disc sterilizer anywhere online now. Was it a limited time product?
I saw on Reddit that some people just use vaginal wash soap is that ok
You need to sterilize it once a month
The steamer is not that expensive tbh..a cup is basically the same price
Love menstrual disc but there’s no way I’m using it to both cook and boil food. Please don’t use the same pot for cooking food for guests.
Why not? Like she says in the video, you’re cleaning your pots after every use anyway right? We put cutlery in our mouth and then clean them and use them again, including for guests 🤷🏼♀️
Thank you! It's disgusting and a good reminder not to eat at people's homes, and yes it's very normal to be grossed out by the idea of eating out of a pot that was used to sterilize a period product.
@@rachelwhite1702 would you pee in a cup, sterilize it, and then drink from it? It’s the same concept. The cup maybe clean but knowingly I would never do it
@@maggiegitu8879 yup I can’t people actually mix it with things they cook with
The key point is it being washed, and in this case boiled. Boiled = sanitized = safe. Also, as she mentioned at least 2 or 3 times, the cup/disc is washed before boiled anyways, it's not a bloody cup in your pot. It's not as terrible as you're thinking.
But you clean your cup however you're comfortable, don't pass judgement on people who boil their cup since it's literally the safest practice.
Or if you don't have periods, then ... you definitely don't need to be passing judgement, period.
Ma'am. Neither the pot, the stove, nor the water from the tap are free, not to mention "your own home"!
I edited out my response to people saying these aren’t free bc it was already commented on IG on an earlier video. Your cookware/stove/mortgage/rent are sunk costs already paid for as part of your overall cost of living expenses. They’re not incurred costs just bc you use a cup or disc. None of them are free but neither is the water you’re using to brush your teeth.
@@PeriodNirvanaI get what you're trying to say, and I'm really glad that's been your life experience. I just think there's a way to describe it without completely alienating people who don't have access to kitchens with clean running water. That's at least 20% of the US population, between fully unhoused and those of us in "substandard" housing (think no potable water and/or electricity). You don't need to say they're free because we have them at home. We literally might not. Reusable menstrual products are actually really helpful to a lot of folks in those situations, so I think it's important to keep language inclusive. Just my $0.02, though.
@@rubyadrian2291How would you propose listing the costings for these amenities, especially with the different contexts you've provided? You've raised a concern primarily around access, and whilst that is valid, it isn't reasonable to expect her to answer for this.
@@balanceis_key, @rubyadrian2291 did not ask for cost to be listed, just that the language is inclusive, like how this channel tries to be gender neutral to not alienate anyone. This could prehaps be done by saying these options are more affordable, more so if you have your own home, or something like that.