So what makes cups wear out?

I heard if you take care of your cup it will last you a long time. What makes them wear out? Is boiling hard on them? Can folding it too much wear it out?

The material will just degrade over time, as things do. You might notice it becoming more brittle or showing slight cracks in the surface.

Chemicals can do damage, killing your cup faster, so be careful that you clean your cup according to the recomendations of the manufacturer and stay clear of silicon and oil based cleansers and lubes...and don't boil it dry or otherwise cook it.

I don't ever want my cups to wear out! Right now I have 2 cups so I can alternate and make them last longer. I just started my period tonight. I can't wait to see how well the cup works!

All very true, ankhst

Time and just the little things we do can wear them out. But sticking to mild soaps, water, and recomended sterilizing methods really helps.

I supose you could handle them enough to wear them out, but within reason, they shoudl be handled. I think its kind of like a house-- houses were made to be lived in. Ever notice how a house that doesn't have anybody living in it will fall apart much faster than a house that holds a family? Something about walking on the floor, opening the doors and windows, etc. That makes it all stay sturdy and young.

I think cups are very much the same. If you were to just leave a cup sitting in a box, completely untouched for 3 years, it would probably grow brittle faster than a cup that was ocasionally handled and folded to maintain its elasticity. I think its about finding that nice line between over using, and under using.

hm, that means i should sometimes use my old Mooncup, as I'm not anymore, since i bought the Fleur... (but it's nice to have a 2nd one, just in case...)