Trust me, it's disgusting.
The manufacturer's instructions say to clean it with 70% isopropyl alcohol, air dry it and store it in its case, then replace every 6 months.
Do you do that every day? How exactly do you clean the inside of it, or know that it got clean? How do you know it's actually dry before you seal it up in the case? That plunger gets pretty wet from saline during insertion. And... how long have you had this plunger?
So here are our recommendations:
1. Replace plungers regularly
This is obviously NOT a substitute for cleaning them. But it's a lot better than allowing bacteria and mold to build up.
Check with your lens provider for their recommended replacement interval. 3 months is a common recommendation, but many also recommend monthly.
Order a 10pack so you never run out, or create a subscription to have one delivered automatically at the interval of your choice.
TIP #1 - Order a multipack
If you're anything like me, you find it surprisingly hard to get around to changing plungers. I've been wearing sclerals for 20 years - and running this business and nagging people about replacing THEIR plungers - and I still keep my plungers longer than I should! I think it's because they're just so small that they fall below the threshold of "this matters". And, procrastination is not my friend.
TIP #2 - Create a subscription
If you don't want to pre-purchase, OR you don't want to have to keep track of how long you've had your plunger, create a subscription to get a plunger delivered automatically at the interval of your choosing.
2. Clean and store plungers carefully
Ideally, you'll...
- Clean the outside with 70% isopropyl alcohol'
- Clean the inside with alcohol using a mini cleaning brush (below) that will actually reach in there (and no, a Q-tip won't fit)
- Leave it to completely air dry
- Place in its case
If you're like me and just not waiting around till you're sure it's dry, storing your plunger in a vented storage case (see below) will be less likely to encourage mold & mildew.