Diva Cup Cleaning With H2O2.
July 5, 2017 8:12 AM Subscribe
Hello uterus-having friends! At the end of my cycle, I soak my Diva Cup in a 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and (usually) warm water. Is this a bad idea?
Once it's visibly clean, usually a day or two later (but sometimes longer, if I forget) I rinse the Diva Cup with warm tap water and store it until the next month - at which time I give it a quick wash with soap and water before use. It's easy and doesn't require much effort, which is why I've been doing it this way.
I keep seeing warnings to NOT to use hydrogen peroxide, but I can't find any reason why it's a problem. My cup looks brand new and is in (visibly) perfect condition after a few years of this cleaning method - should I be concerned about continuing to do this?
Once it's visibly clean, usually a day or two later (but sometimes longer, if I forget) I rinse the Diva Cup with warm tap water and store it until the next month - at which time I give it a quick wash with soap and water before use. It's easy and doesn't require much effort, which is why I've been doing it this way.
I keep seeing warnings to NOT to use hydrogen peroxide, but I can't find any reason why it's a problem. My cup looks brand new and is in (visibly) perfect condition after a few years of this cleaning method - should I be concerned about continuing to do this?
Best answer: Here is a hydrogen peroxide material comparability chart.
Basically, you're fine. At 100% H2O2, it's still a B-rating.
posted by juniperesque at 8:36 AM on July 5, 2017
Basically, you're fine. At 100% H2O2, it's still a B-rating.
posted by juniperesque at 8:36 AM on July 5, 2017
Best answer: If you have bacterial vaginosis, hydrogen peroxide could help re-balance your flora. As far as getting it in your vagina, even in much larger amounts, you would be fine. Your normal flora probably generates hydrogen peroxide naturally.
Study about using hydrogen peroxide washes to fight bacterial vaginosis
posted by littlewater at 8:44 AM on July 5, 2017
Study about using hydrogen peroxide washes to fight bacterial vaginosis
posted by littlewater at 8:44 AM on July 5, 2017
Best answer: Weird, the official Diva Cup washing instructions say not to use it, but I SWEAR when I started using mine in 2009 they said to soak it in H2O2 which is what I've always done with no problems. The DivaCup is silicone which is fine to use with H2O2 so I don't know why they say not to do that now. I would just worry that diluting it would make it less effective. Though if you're washing it with soap and water before use I don't see why there should be any problems whatsoever.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:47 AM on July 5, 2017
posted by rabbitrabbit at 8:47 AM on July 5, 2017
Best answer: I am a polymer chemist: to further confirm silicone + peroxide is fine from a chemical degradation point of view. Other peroxides may damage the silicone through cross-linking, but hydrogen peroxide is not one of them. Speculation: maybe the manufacturers have seen something about other peroxides and silicone and are taking an overly-cautious approach?
posted by firesine at 9:06 AM on July 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by firesine at 9:06 AM on July 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
I do this and nothing bad has happened yet.
I think I remember reading that it might damage the cup, but it seems fine so far.
posted by exceptinsects at 11:11 AM on July 5, 2017
I think I remember reading that it might damage the cup, but it seems fine so far.
posted by exceptinsects at 11:11 AM on July 5, 2017
I do the exact same thing with mine and have for years. The cup still looks brand new and I have had no adverse reactions downstairs either, so I'm going to keep doing it.
The instructions do say not to use it, but then again, they are trying to sell you their Diva Wash, so take that however you will.
posted by futureisunwritten at 11:15 AM on July 5, 2017
The instructions do say not to use it, but then again, they are trying to sell you their Diva Wash, so take that however you will.
posted by futureisunwritten at 11:15 AM on July 5, 2017
I have an off-brand one, and it came with instructions that said I should soak it in hydrogen peroxide (but I think it was a 10% mix that was recommended).
posted by lollusc at 4:52 PM on July 5, 2017
posted by lollusc at 4:52 PM on July 5, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
Most of the warnings for things not to do to Diva Cups are about things that 1) damage the silicone (which hydrogen peroxide does not) and/or 2) damage your bits. It's going to be bad news bears if you put hydrogen peroxide in your vagina or on your vulva, but that's not what you're doing or even close to what you're doing. This isn't going to hurt you or the cup. You're fine.
posted by phunniemee at 8:25 AM on July 5, 2017 [1 favorite]