How do you clean a breast pump?

Written by Gaby

Edited on

12 March 2024

·

16:01

How do you clean a breast pump?

It's important that you clean breast pump before and after every use. That way, the milk stays fresh longer and the pumped milk is safe for your little one. We'll explain how to keep your breast pump clean.

Clean the breast pump

Clean the breast pump

With these 4 tips, keep your breast pump, so the pumped milk is safe for your little one.

Tip 1. Rinse and dry all parts before use.

Tip 2. Clean all parts with liquid.

Tip 3. Sterilize all parts.

Tip 4. Remove the breast pump in a clean place.

Clean parts

Tip 1: rinse and dry all parts before use

Before you start pumping, it's important that you rinse and dry all the parts. This way, you can be sure that you'll be working with a clean pump. Don't forget to wash your hands with soap and water first, or you'll have to wash all the parts again.

Breast pump with bottle brush

Tip 2: clean parts with liquid detergent

After use, take all parts from the breast pump, such as the breast shield, breast milk bottle, and vacuum valves. Clean all parts and clean them with warm water and liquid detergent. Then rinse all parts again so you're sure no soap residue remains. When all parts are clean, dry them with a clean cloth or just leave them to dry. Prefer not to wash by hand? Check in the manual whether all parts are dishwasher-safe.

Boiling the breast pump

Tip 3: disinfect all parts

To avoid giving bacteria and germs a chance, it's important that you disinfect your breast pump at least once a day. You can do this in different ways. Do you want to disinfect the parts in a pan? Make sure all parts are under water and let the water boil for at least 5 minutes. For sterilization in the microwave, use a special microwave bag. You can read how to use this on the packaging of the microwave bag.

Store breast pump

Tip 4: keep the breast pump in a clean place

After cleaning and disinfecting, it's important that you store the breast pump in a clean and dry place. Make sure you've washed your hands thoroughly before touching the clean breast pump. Store the parts on a disinfected storage box or on a clean surface, for example on the countertop. This way, you can be sure that the pump is clean for the next session and that your breast milk is safe.

Was this page helpful?

Article by Gaby

Breast Pump Expert.

Gaby