Washing Breast Pump Parts

That's the way I've been washing my parts for the last 13 months. They're fine. As long as you use hot water I think you're ok. I also scrub the nipples with a small nipple brush to get anything the larger brushes miss.

I think you are doing a great job! the medela steam bags are great, and get rid of any bacteria that you cannot reach. you could always take a q-tip and get up inside of the areas that the bottle brush can't reach. sounds like you are doing ok!

I used to rinse in hot water immediately after using and then do a once a week steam bag in the microwave cleaning. I had a Pump in Style.

Try the mini brushes that Dr. Brown's sells for cleaning their bottles. They fit in all the nooks and crannies. Good luck!

I do the same with my Medela pump. But, I've found that I can squeeze a Q-tip into the parts that are hard to reach, sometimes removing a little fluff from the tip so it can fit. Good luck!

You're doing fine. I've done very similar... during the work day, I wash them off and then microwave them in the Medela steam bags (those things are great!). In the evening I throw them into hot, soapy water with all the bottles, let them soak a bit and then scrub/rinse.

I did notice that at some point early on I wasn't getting all the milk out of the valves (and my milk was thicker then, I used to get plugged ducts), so I just started watching out for that when washing everything right after pumping.

sounds like your doing a good job. Sometimes I would take a toothpick to the parts I could get to with soapy water.

There are some places that you just can't get to on the parts...I just rinse mine in warm water as soon as I'm done and then use the Medela wipes when I'm at work. When I get home I use the sterilazation bags. Just do your best...if they get to a point (like mine did after my first son) where you just don't feel comfortbale with how clean they seem, just buy a new set. They are pretty cheap.

-M

Sounds like you're doing exactly what I did and my son survived his first year with mostly pumped milk (meaning I must've done something right or at least not harmful :-)

I always just separated the parts and put them through the dishwasher each night and never had any trouble with them coming clean. Figured that the heat of the dishwasher provided sterilization too.

A trick I learned from other moms at work was to just store the parts in the refrigerator during the day. Then no need to clean them after every pumping, rather just wash once at the end of the day.

I rinse in warm soapy water, then use a microwave steam sterilizer. I will do this for the first few months, then once my baby is a bit older, just throw everything in the dishwasher. It turned out fine for my first child.

I.,

I did pretty much what you are doing but I'd put mine in the dishwasher pretty regularly too. Breastmilk is quite oily and the dishwasher seemed to clean all the little parts I couldn't reach with a nipple brush.

T.

I did everything that you're doing and then every once in a while I'd throw everything into a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes. All of the plastic parts with the exception of the tubes and the flappy valve things can be boiled. Add that to your routine whenever you can spare the time and you'll be fine!

I always used Dawn and hot water.

I did the same as you and breastfed/pumped for my son for 11 mos. When I went to work, sometimes I had to use the "water-less wipes" b/c I wasn't close to a water source. I never had any issues.

Enjoy!

Best, S.

Sounds to me like you're doing everything right. I used the dishwasher a lot as well, if a load needed to be ran. I think with the brush and hot soapy water, you're doing great!

I just washed with soap and water and never had a problem. Just make sure you pull the yellow parts off the clean in there.