Why did my cup lose stiffness?

Previous | Next

04 October 2012 @ 05:08 pm

Hello cup-users,

I have had a violet-colored meluna classic cup for a year, and I had been cleaning it after each cycle in half-strength hydrogen peroxide (soaked for a few hours), which helped get the stains out. But gradually it became permanently stained an icky color that bothered me enough to buy a new cup (I bought a BLACK meluna classic this time, which kind of reminds me of a toilet plunger, but no stains for me anymore!).

But I noticed right away by comparing the two cups that the new black one is significantly stiffer than my old one.
Is lost stiffness just a part of cup aging, or might the hydrogen peroxide have softened the TPE material?

I'm not worried about staining anymore, so now my only concern is taking good care of this cup. Does anyone know what the least harsh method of cleaning is? Is it boiling?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Tags: cleaning, cleaning - boiling, cleaning - stains, meluna

15 comments | Leave a comment | Edit Tags | Add to Memories

15 comments —

( 15 comments — Leave a comment )

ozonemama on October 4th, 2012 10:23 pm (UTC)

This doesn't really answer your question but I found the black cup to be stiffer than the other colors of the same stiffness.

Edited at 2012-10-04 10:26 pm (UTC)

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)

serpent_849 on October 4th, 2012 11:44 pm (UTC)

are you sure it's not the size? the old medium classic was stiffer than the small and large.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

ozonemama on October 4th, 2012 11:47 pm (UTC)

The ones I had were all large and Xl and the black was the stiffest of the bunch

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

liimabean on October 5th, 2012 12:56 am (UTC)

Actually, they are two different sizes! The old one was XL and the black one is L. I thought since they were from the same "classic" material that they would be the same. But maybe the size and color difference is the reason - thank you!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

ozonemama on October 5th, 2012 01:07 am (UTC)

I'm glad I was able to help : )

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

serpent_849 on October 5th, 2012 01:09 am (UTC)

a brand new cup will also lose a bit of its stiffness as you start using it. every now and then there are posts from people who lose their long-term cup friends or damage them while boiling (typically one of the brands available offline, like diva or mooncup), replacing it with the same size and not being as satisfied.

as for least harsh: it's been recently speculated that there's a link between the fact that diva company recommends boiling for 20 MINUTES and replacing your cup annually...

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

juliiie87 on October 5th, 2012 01:21 pm (UTC)

I know that the medium is softer than the large, so my guess is that the XL could also be softer than the large, and perhaps the small is firmer than the medium ? Just a guess, bu probably something about the ratio between the size of the mold and how much material they use to fill it up... The black could also be more concentrated so it's darker ? Idk...

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

liimabean on October 5th, 2012 12:48 am (UTC)

I never thought about that possibility, ozonemama (that the black is stiffer) - That's helpful! That means that my cup might not have lost as much stiffness as I thought.

Edited at 2012-10-05 01:02 am (UTC)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

(Deleted comment)

liimabean on October 5th, 2012 12:53 am (UTC)

Thank you! I thought with soap there was the risk of soap residue getting inside the vagina? I know a lot of cup-users on this forum use soap as well, though, so it can't be too bad!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

m03m on October 5th, 2012 10:11 am (UTC)

Well, yes, unless you rinse really well. Which most of those who use soap know to do.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

emploding on October 4th, 2012 10:42 pm (UTC)

My meluna got softer over time, and I don't clean it (well, I use water and sunlight). However, my Miacup didn't really get much softer, so I think it's to do with the type of materials.

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)

liimabean on October 5th, 2012 12:59 am (UTC)

You know, I actually read that UV rays are damaging to TPE (but not to silicone). I'm pretty sure I read it on the Meluna website.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

emploding on October 5th, 2012 01:05 am (UTC)

Yeh I've heard that too, but I don't do it all that often, just when it starts getting too stained (it's a clear glitter cup, so when it get stained it looks reallllly manky lol)

Plus I have 4 meluna's (bought two and each came with a freebie, oddly enough my fave is the free one!) so I'm not too fussed if it dies, it's had a good life.

But that could explain why it's gotten a bit soften and my Miacup hasn't (which is silicon)

Edited at 2012-10-05 01:05 am (UTC)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

chamekke on October 5th, 2012 03:54 am (UTC)

The MeLuna FAQ definitely says to avoid exposing your cup to sunlight because the UV radiation will "embrittle" it and reduce its lifespan. (Although I'm not sure whether "embrittling" is the same as softening? When I read that word I thought it means the cup becomes more prone to cracking or crumbling.)

Still, it sounds like you should avoid exposing your MeLuna cup to sunlight if you can.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

juliiie87 on October 5th, 2012 01:22 pm (UTC)

... and according to Meluna, hydrogen peroxide in standard concentration should be fine, so that's what I'd use to tackle the stains on a Meluna.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)

Log in