5 Easy Ways to Clean Your Menstrual Cup in Public

Time to tackle a big subject - how to clean your menstrual cup in public. No, it doesn't involve ever leaving the privacy of your bathroom stall! I'm sharing 5 easy options to choose from when you're on your period and need to empty your cup in public. These tips also apply to reusable menstrual discs, but I've included some additional advice for these products as well.

My favorite method? Skip cleaning entirely! Just remove the cup, empty contents, and re-insert. You can wash at home later.

Did I run around town (and Germany) to film various bathrooms over the course of a few weeks? Yes. Yes I did. Could these shots have been better if I weren't terrified of public humiliation? Also yes. Short of perfect shots I had to use an iPhone and go for "the best camera is the one you have with you" approach to videography. Better to product helpful content than keep waiting weeks for better footage.

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00:00 Introduction
01:08 Why menstrual cups can be convenient on the go
01:55 1. Use "on the go" cup wipes
02:33 2. Use travel cup cleaning spray
02:55 3. Bring a travel squirt bottle
04:22 4. Pre wet paper towels
05:19 5. Just empty and re-insert
06:32 Winning the bathroom lottery - sink in stall
07:20 Extra advice for cleaning menstrual discs in public
08:09 Cleaning my disc in public story
09:15 Menstrual disc self-emptying to avoid public emptying
10:14 Do what works best for YOU

[notmychelle]

My best strategy so far with my disc is to not put it in until I’m within the 12-hour removal window. Sometimes I leave for work at 5:30am and can get home as late as 7pm. So I insert my disc around 7-10am and wear a cloth pad in the morning til then. Honestly I don’t even want to try a total removal and reinsertion of a disc away from home. Without a full rinsing it would be way too messy IMO and I think I would feel too rushed to place it properly.

[catherinesvideos]

I've been fine just using a regular drinking water bottle that I usually carry when I travel anyway to give my cup a quick rinse and then re-insert. Similar to the accessible stall/bathroom, the "family restroom" in places that have it can also have a sink in it and be a bit more private, but again those are there for particular situations so use best judgement.

[lavenderbee]

Thank you for another brilliant video! 👏My tip is to change your cup just before you leave the house. Simple but effective!

Obviously this wont help everyone, it depends on your flow 👌

[kikoyoyo]

A Mario Bros. Nintendo 3 DS case is where I keep all my menstrual products for on- the go situations. Good concealing period stuff & gives one that "oh yeah" feeling if you are a gamer. Even Hello Kitty pencil cases are cool 😎 to use.

[dilsdoes]

i just got one of those silicon sterilisers so what i plan to do is fill it with water bring it to the stall and put it in and shake to rinse. i tested it out and it worked pretty well!

[angryowl]

Gender neutral restrooms are great for this! Since they normally come with a sink and a toilet in the same room

[kayleejenkins]

I have only had to change once in public with a reusable product and I’ve been using them for 8 years now!

[lizzeyflower]

Thanks to you have packed a well shocked periods kit for my sister 6 for now and cousins that are 8. I full will all types of goodies that even my aunts had no idea what things are. Such as books. Every type of products opinions for periods. And cute plushie that has shape like heart 💛 with a quote you mentioned before.

[LilacsAdore]

I dealt with this using your hello disc in a public restroom last week! I got blood everywhere including the stalls 😭 and had a very messy cleanup (even walked out with blood on my forearm during the chaos) but somehow got asked out again. It happens!

[LR-kepw]

My strategy is DON'T BE EMBARRASSED to wash discs in public. I've done it a couple of times since my disc rarely auto dump. People don't really care, and even they do, they try to not look at you. I mean after all it is a female bathroom, we all have period, if they are uncomfortable with period maybe that's not my problem.

[k.w.]

I use a little perfume spray bottle that I repurposed. It is small (2 oz or so) and because it has a spray pump, I have the option to use the spray or open it and get a bit more water out that way. I keep it in my purse all the time with just a little bit of water. That way if it breaks or leaks it's not a huge amount to spill all over. I also keep a pair of thin fabric thong underwear as an emergency, in case I ever need to change. I LOVE my bidet too and hate using "regular US toilets" when at work or traveling.

[AmandaNBerry]

😭 where were these vids when I first started?! Lol I’m here to get more savvy bcuz I have always been a #5 type girlie but it’s nice to build confidence in other methods. Thanks for this content!

[hidalitaranda]

Thanks! This was super helpful! The tips provided give me more confidence to try it outside of the home.

[AzariaYun]

I’ve switched to a disc which I leave in all day and rely on auto dumping for heavy days; however, when I did use a cup, I would carry a small spray bottle with water in my purse. It was easy to spray the blood residue out and then reinsert the cup. I also used the spray bottle to get the blood off my fingers.

[zsb]

luckily in india, most toilets like at the mall or restaurants have a handheld bidet so i just use that, else there will definitely be a tap within the stall .. but yes changing in a moving train was probably the most challenging for me..
ps wont the alcohol wipes or sanitizer cause irritation down there?

[SageMamoo]

This was more helpful than you know!!!

[johnpaulbacon]

Hello - Thanks for this great video. The more informative videos like these - it will allow me to be better able to support my significant other when needed. A suggestion I would like to add is to have a Pack of the "Lume" Acidified Deodorant Body Wipes. They would make cleaning a menstrual cup or disc a very easy and quick process. The wipes are "flushable" like toilet paper - so you can dispose of them in a very easy and environmentally way.

[tippy]

Most of the time I am on my period I am using public restrooms. I do delivery work. Sometimes I use toilet paper to clean my disc or cup. Lots of times I just reinsert it without wiping it off.

[isabella]

9:31 what do you mean by "bear down"? Also do any of these product cause cramping? I know sometimes when I've used tampons i end up with more cramping so i was wondering if any of these may have a similar effect

[aranyangi]

I have a couple of questions:
1.) I don't want to carry a water bottle to my stall because it is too awkward or weird to do that at some places (e.g. my workplace). If I use toilet paper to wipe my cup, I always see tiny bits or hairs of paper that stick to my cup. They would only come off if I were to rinse it with water. Won't these bits of paper cause irritation or buildup of bacteria when it enters the vagina?
2.) Won't sanitizer wipe ingredients like oils, scents and other non-evaporating (non-alcoholic) substances irritate some women down there?