Cleaning Your Breast Pump

By Laura Silvas, RN IBCLC

Keeping your breast pump parts clean is as important as keeping your baby's pacifiers and bottles/nipples clean. While each breast pump is different and breaks down differently, cleaning & sanitizing is similar with each pump.

Before you begin, it is essential to look at your breast pump manual to learn how to assemble and disassemble the pump. Following the directions in your pump's manual ensures that the pump will work properly and last longer. You will also understand which parts can be cleaned, how they should be cleaned, and how you should put them back. While each piece should be cleaned and sanitized if possible, some may only be cleaned with a warm cloth. However, there are some tips and tricks to help ease your busy schedule.

Steamer bags, pump wipes, and sprays are all convenient accessories that can be purchased at local stores to do a quick clean after a pumping session. One of my favorite tricks, especially for exclusive pumpers, or working mothers, is to store the pump parts in the refrigerator. After completing a pumping session, disassemble the pump parts from the bottle or storage bag, and place them in a storage container or bag that seals. I use a food storage container that is large enough to hold these supplies, plus any extras. After that, place the milk and your pump parts in the fridge for later that day. You can run these under warm water to make them more comfortable when you use them again. By doing this, you are keeping the parts clean, and any milk that remains in the pump parts will not go off, as it will stay cold. At the end of the day, wash and sanitize as usual.

There are many ways to sanitize the parts of your pump. However you choose to do so for your infant's feeding supplies, is typically okay for pump parts too—for example, boiling them on a stovetop, or countertop sterilizers, popping them in a dishwasher, or even using steamer bags. The steam bags are a great addition to working mothers' pump bags as well. However, some parts may not be sterilized in these bags, so always read your pump's instructions. Also, if you use any lubrication in your flanges, sometimes, it is easier to remove the lubricant with a warm, wet washcloth to ensure it washes away entirely. 

Air drying is also acceptable for pump parts, as long as they are in a clean area. Any condensation in the tubing can typically be removed by dispatching the pump parts and leaving the suction turned on for air to flow through the tubes. Remember to change pump parts about every three months or so, depending on the frequency used. This practice ensures that the pump will last for longer and empty the breasts more effectively.