Welcoming a new baby means countless moments of joy, but it also introduces a learning curve that no one fully anticipates until they are in the thick of it. For nursing mothers who pump, breast pump care can be tricky, and keeping breast pump parts clean and truly sanitized is one of the most important of your new daily responsibilities. Milk residue that gets left too long on the parts will become the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and a biofilm that no amount of casual cleaning can sufficiently remove. The good news is that safe, thorough cleaning and sanitizing require only a few minutes once you understand the right steps and the reasons behind them.
Breast Pump Care: Cleaning and Sanitizing Safely
Why Cleaning and Sanitizing Are Two Separate Steps
Many mothers use the terms “cleaning” and “sanitizing” interchangeably, but these are actually two functions that accomplish two different goals. Cleaning removes the visible milk fats, proteins, and other residue from the surfaces of flanges, valves, membranes, bottles, and tubing. Warm water and a mild dish soap designed for baby items can handle this task beautifully.
Sanitizing, however, takes the process further by killing the microscopic organisms that cleaning alone leaves behind and which aren’t visible to the naked eye. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends both steps for any item that touches breast milk in any way, and especially if your baby is still under three months, was born prematurely, or has a compromised immune system. But the reality is that even healthy, full-term infants can still benefit from this extra precaution because their digestive and immune systems will continue developing well into the first year.
Gather the Right Tools
To thoroughly clean and sanitize your breast pump parts properly, here’s some of what you’ll need:
- A dedicated washbasin that you use only for pump parts and baby bottles (remember that using the kitchen sink could introduce cross-contamination).
- A fragrance-free, dye-free dish soap labeled safe for infants; many popular brands offer versions specifically for breast pump parts and bottles.
- A small bottle brush with soft bristles that can get inside narrow tubing connectors.
- A separate nipple-and-valve brush.
- Soft microfiber cloths or paper towels reserved solely for drying pump parts (this prevents cross-contamination by lint and stray germs from using ordinary kitchen towels).
Cleaning After Every Pumping Session
The moment you finish pumping, take thirty seconds to rinse each part under cool running water. Using cool water prevents milk proteins from “cooking” onto the plastic the way hot water sometimes does. Next, disassemble everything completely. Remove the membranes from the valves, separate the backflow protectors, and detach all tubing from both the pump and the flanges.
Fill your dedicated basin with hot, soapy water and submerge all the components. Scrub them gently but thoroughly with the bottle brushes, paying special attention to the underside of valves and the inside of duckbill or membrane covers. Finally, rinse everything again, this time under warm running water, until no soap residue remains, and then place the pieces on a clean towel or a drying rack designed specifically for baby items. If you have the time, air drying beats towel drying because even freshly laundered towels can harbor bacteria.
When and How Often to Sanitize
Sanitizing daily is really the gold standard if you have a newborn or a medically fragile infant, but once your baby reaches three months and is in good health, you can do it less often so long as you clean thoroughly after each use. Many experienced mothers end up sanitizing in the evening after the final pump of the day, so they can store their replacements parts in the morning.
There are four reliable methods for achieving true sanitation: boiling, steaming, using steam sanitizers designed for countertops, or using your dishwasher. Each works well when you follow the instructions precisely.
The Boiling Method
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Carefully lower the disassembled pieces into the water using tongs, and set a timer for one full minute from the moment the water returns to a boil. When the timer goes off, turn off the heat and let the parts remain in the hot water for another minute or two before removing them with clean tongs. Place them on a fresh, clean towel to air dry.
Microwave Steam Bags
Steam bags are very convenient and also effective. Fill the bag with the recommended amount of water, which is usually two ounces or so, and then add the clean, disassembled parts. Seal the bag securely and then microwave it according to the package directions. This will usually take from three to eight minutes, depending on the wattage of your microwave.
Allow the bag to stand for the suggested cooling time before you open it, and then empty the parts onto a clean drying rack and let them air dry. Each reusable bag can go for twenty or more cycles, so this is an economical and portable way to sanitize, especially if you have to pump at work. Just be sure to allow bags to completely air dry between uses.
Electric Steam Sanitizers
Countertop electric steamers that are specifically designed for bottles and pump parts are now available, and they’ve definitely gotten more popular with moms over the last few years. All you have to do is load the clean parts onto the racks exactly as the manufacturer specifies, add the correct amount of water to the base, and press the button. Most units finish in six to twelve minutes and keep the items sterile until you open the lid.
The Dishwasher
The CDC recommends using your dishwasher to clean and sanitize at the same time. This works only if you use the hot water wash and heated dry settings (or sanitizing setting). Using the dishwasher seems so simple you might wonder why anyone would use anything else, but the breast pump parts can take up a lot of space, and running both a hot water wash and a heated dry cycle can take more time.
If you have other kids and lots of dishes that need to be done, the dishwasher may not be the most feasible application, and an electric steam sanitizer or a microwave bag could be much more efficient.
Special Considerations for Tubing
Liquid inside the tubes can promote mold growth that will spread to every bottle of milk you pump, so the tubing has to be dealt with carefully. If you notice no milk or condensation inside the tubing after a session, then simply hang it to air dry, but when milk does enter the tubing or you notice any condensation, wash it immediately.
Run warm, soapy water through each tube, then rinse them thoroughly with clean water. Hold one end up high and let gravity drain the tube completely or use a pipe cleaner made for pump tubing. Then, run 70% isopropyl alcohol through the tubing to sanitize it before thoroughly rinsing it with water and hanging to dry. Tubing doesn’t do well being boiled, steamed, or put in the dishwasher, so the alcohol is the fastest, safest way to ensure sterility.
When you need the best in breast pumps, accessories, and cleaning supplies, visit Breastpumps.com, where healthy babies begin. We help moms get the pumps and accessories they need, and you can visit our Mommy Blog for practical tips from other mothers or connect with a lactation specialist.