Pumping is hard work.  And cleaning your pump can be just as hard.  But providing milk for your baby is worth it.  Follow these steps to help keep reduce the chance of breast milk contamination.

Always have your instructions handy to refer back to.  Printing a copy maybe better than using your phone.  Phones have lots of germs.  Always wash your hands after using your phone while pumping.  If you need a copy click here.

Always wash your hands before doing anything with your pump, pumping parts or your milk.

Put your pump together and make sure everything is clean.  (It should be clean from the last time you used it)

Start with clean pumping parts, a clean pump, and a clean place to put your pump.  This is very important if your using a shared pump or you are using your pump in a shared area.

After pumping store your milk then clean your pumping area and your pump.

Take your pumping parts apart and rinse any pieces that came into contact with your milk.  Place rinsed pumping parts in a clean place.  I put mine in a clean bowl.  Don’t put any of these pieces in the sink.

Hand Washing Pump Parts

Don’t use the sink.  Instead use a wash basin or large bowl.  This wash basin or bowl should be for cleaning of pump parts only.  This will help to make sure you don’t get germs from other places.

Add soap and hot water.

Scrub each piece with a clean brush.  For the little parts make sure to use a small brush that can reach the small parts.  Most bottle brushes come with a small brush but if this smaller brush doesn’t reach all the parts very small brushes can bought.  

These brushes should be used only for cleaning pump parts, bottle, and other baby feeding items.  Don’t use your regular brush that you use with other dishes.

Rinse the soap off your pumping parts.

Place clean pumping parts on clean unused towel.Wash bowl or wash basin and brush as well.  These can be washed in the dishwasher as well.

Dishwasher

Place small pumping pieces in a mesh bag or a dishwasher basket.  Place mesh bag or a dishwasher basket on the top rack.  Run dishwasher with hot water and heated dry.

Wash your hands again before taking the pumping parts out the dishwasher.

If your pumping parts are still wet after washing place on a clean dish towel.

When your pumping parts are all dry place in a clean storage container with a lid until you need them again.

These instructions are great for pumping at home and for cleaning your parts when you get home from being away from your baby.  If you need to clean your pumping parts at work or on the go try a steamer that is make for infant feed parts (pumping parts, bottles, pacifiers, etc) that goes in the microwave or plugs in.

We would love to hear how pumping fit into your day.  Do you make time to clean your pumping parts?  If you are still confused about how to clean your pumping parts or how to make pump cleaning work on the go please leave a comment.

-Emily Garrison