Menstrual cup stains are super common and are a badge of honor in a way… It shows a lot of use, how you’ve dedicated your cycle to less waste (think of all the products you’ve kept out of landfills!), and that you’re making healthy decisions for your body. Still, they can be an eyesore. So if you love your cup and want to keep it looking like new, don’t worry — it’s possible to remove menstrual cup stains and prevent them in the future!
How do I clean off any staining?
If your cup is dingy or has staining, scrubbing it alone probably won’t be enough to get it looking fresh again. You’ll need to use a product specifically for stain removal. Fortunately, there are several stain-removing solutions that are safe to use, environmentally friendly, and easy on the wallet.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective stain remover for protein-based stains, which includes period blood. Hydrogen peroxide is simply water with an extra oxygen molecule attached. That extra oxygen molecule is what gives it its stain-fighting power. The 3% solution sold as a first-aid antiseptic can also be used to remove period stains from your cup, as well as from other materials such as cloth pads, sheets, and underwear (but test it on colored fabrics to make sure the colors won’t fade).
To clean your menstrual cup with H2O2, soak it at room temperature for an hour in a glass container or jar with 1/3 cup hydrogen peroxide and 2/3 cup water. This should eat the stains away on its own, but if there is anything remaining, take a toothbrush or washcloth and give your cup a good scrub.
Sodium percarbonate
Sodium percarbonate, also known as sodium carbonate peroxide, is a salt that also contains active oxygen, which makes it excellent for stain removal and cleaning. Sodium percarbonate can be considered an alternative form of hydrogen peroxide; when added to water, it releases hydrogen peroxide. The Environmental Working Group gives sodium percarbonate a safety score of 1-2, meaning it has the lowest possible health hazard when used as directed.
We developed our new Pixie Cup Dust stain remover with sodium percarbonate for both its effectiveness and convenience. It’s a powder, so it’s easy to use, takes up hardly any space in your bathroom, and has a long shelf life. It also contains sodium carbonate, another gentle cleaning agent made up of sodium and acid. Sodium carbonate also has an EWG rating of 1, making Pixie Cup Dust safe for you, safe for your septic system, and safe for the environment.
Here is a video showing the before and after footage of using Pixie Cup Dust on a stained cup.
How do I prevent menstrual cup stains?
Sterilize your cup regularly. The best way to keep your cup stain-free is to do your best to prevent staining! In addition to washing your cup each day and sterilizing your menstrual cup before and after each period, make sure you are giving your cup a scrub in the areas that often experience buildup such as around the rim and in the grooves of the stem. Also, try to minimize the amount of time the cup is exposed to the air without a thorough cleaning because this can lead to the darkening of the silicone.
Give it a good scrub. You may think your cup is beyond saving, but we want to assure you most stains can come off! Are you ready for one of our best stain-removal hacks? Here we go: grab an old toothbrush and scrub your cup with a little warm water and some silicone-safe cleaning solution! You will be surprised how much of the “staining” comes off with this technique!
Let it soak. We all need a steamy bath sometimes, even your menstrual cup! Squirt a little of the cleaning solution mentioned in Step 2 into a bowl or your Pixie Cup Cup with some hot water and let it soak for a few hours! Pair this with a good scrub and you can say goodbye to some tough stains!
Sunsoaking your cup. Placing your menstrual cup in a sunny location (preferably outside) for a few hours will do a world of good for any discoloration. Sun bleaching has been around for centuries and has never let anyone down yet.
Grab some Pixie Cup Wash and an old toothbrush and go to town scrubbing! Your cup will be sparkling in no time.
