How to Clean and Disinfect Your Cups

Cupping cups touch skin directly and get reused across clients, which places them in the same equipment category, semicritical, as devices like respiratory therapy tools under healthcare reprocessing standards. That means cleaning alone isn't sufficient; proper disinfection matters as much as the cleaning step itself.

Step 1: Cleaning

• Immediately after use, soak your cups in warm soapy water until you're ready to clean them properly. This keeps any lotion or oil from the treatment from drying onto the cup.
• Wash thoroughly with a sponge, cloth, or brush, including the inside of the cup and around the rim.
• Rinse thoroughly in hot water.
• Shake off excess water and let cups air dry. Any water left on the cup will dilute your disinfecting solution in the next step.

Cleaning alone does not kill bacteria. Disinfection is a separate, required step.

Step 2: Disinfecting

The required level of disinfection varies by country and region. Most jurisdictions require Low Level Disinfection (LLD) at minimum; High Level Disinfection (HLD) meets a higher standard. Contact your local or regional health authority to confirm what's required for reusable tools and cupping products in your area.

Low Level Disinfection

Bleach, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide are commonly used for LLD:

• Fully immerse cups in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for 30 minutes, or a 1:50 dilution of 5.25%-6.15% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) for 5 minutes.
• Wear eye protection and rubber gloves; both bleach and hydrogen peroxide can cause chemical burns.
• Ensure cups are fully submerged for the entire required soak time.
• Rinse extremely thoroughly under warm running water for several minutes, wearing your protective equipment throughout.
• Shake off excess water and air dry.

High Level Disinfection

Glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide are the standard options for HLD, consistent with CDC/HICPAC guidance on reprocessing semicritical medical equipment:

• Fully immerse cups in a 2.0% glutaraldehyde solution for a minimum of 20 minutes, or a 6% to 7.5% hydrogen peroxide solution for a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Wear eye protection and rubber gloves; both chemicals can cause chemical burns.
• Ensure cups are fully submerged for the entire required soak time.
• Rinse extremely thoroughly under warm running water for several minutes, wearing your protective equipment throughout.
• Shake off excess water and air dry.

A note on alcohol

Alcohol is not recommended for disinfecting or sterilizing cupping equipment. It lacks sporicidal action, meaning it doesn't reliably kill bacterial spores, and repeated use will break down silicone over time, causing cracking and premature wear.

If you want a ready-to-use High Level Disinfectant rather than mixing your own solution, we recommend Sporox II or PREempt.

What not to use

• Lysol wipes or mouthwash do not meet the requirements for proper disinfection.
• Never clean cups in a dishwasher or with boiling water; both will degrade the silicone and can cause cracking.

Frequently asked questions

Is cleaning cups with soap and water enough? No. Cleaning removes visible debris but does not kill bacteria. Disinfection is a separate, required step.

Can I use rubbing alcohol to disinfect my cups? No. Alcohol lacks sporicidal action and will degrade silicone over repeated use, causing cracking.

How long should cups soak for high-level disinfection? A minimum of 20 minutes in 2.0% glutaraldehyde, or 30 minutes in 6% to 7.5% hydrogen peroxide.

Can I put my cups in the dishwasher? No. Dishwashers and boiling water can seriously damage silicone cups.

Order our free printable quick-reference guide for cleaning and disinfecting your cupping supplies.