How to clean a breast pump

originally contributed by www.trusted-breast-pumps.com

Mothers who bottle feed their babies are always concerned about keeping the feeding bottles and nipples clean and sterilised at all times. Breast feeding mothers do not have to worry about cleaning bottles and buying nipples, but mothers who use breast pumps to pump and store milk for their baby have to worry about keeping the breast pump clean.

Electric breast pumps like Pump Style Advanced come with tubing which has to be kept clean all the time, to prevent bacteria from develop in it. The tubing has to be cleaned every time after using the breast electric pump to ensure your baby’s health.

Containers used for storing breast milk should also be kept as clean as possible. Moms should always employ safe and sanitary practices to clean breast pumps and express milk for their babies. This article gives you handy tips on cleaning your breast pump, which should be followed for your child’s safe health.

Read the instruction manual – All breast pumps come with instructions to use and clean them. Manual breast pumps are used differently as compared to electric breast pumps and do not include any tubing. They are cleaned differently, so following instructions in the manual which comes with the pump is very important. If you are facing difficulty in understanding the instructions, you should call the manufacturer and talk with their customer support staff for clarifications.

Understand which parts can be washed Not all parts of the breast pumps can be washed. For example, the electrical parts of the pump should never come in contact with water. They should always be wiped with a clean and dry cloth.

Before you clean the parts in water, you will have to disassemble the breast pump parts. Separating them ensures that each part is cleaned thoroughly and milk does not solidify in joints between the different parts. Hot water and soap should be used to clean each part, and they should be rinsed properly and left to dry. Some breast pump parts are dishwasher safe, but you should never assume that yours can be cleaned in a dishwasher as well. Always read the instructions carefully to check how you can clean your breast pump, and if your breast pump can be cleaned in a dishwasher or not.

Do not use a towel to dry the breast pump parts – Never use a towel or cloth to wipe the bottles or tubing dry. Cloth and towels can contain germs or bacteria which can contaminate the breast pump. 

Simply leave the parts to dry on a clean rack and use them only when they are completely dry. You can also place the parts on a clean paper towel to let them dry.  Inserting wet tubing in the electric breast pump can damage the pumps machinery.  The best thing is to wash the breast pump immediately after every use, so you will have the parts dry and ready for assembling for the next time use.

Cleaning breast pumps thoroughly is essential and important for your baby’s health. There are different sterilization methods also which can be used to clean your breast pump. They include the following:

• Electric Sterilization Method or using a Microwave – Breast pumps can be sterilized using an electric counter top sterilizer or by using a microwave. However, you should make sure that the breast pump parts can be safely used in a microwave. Special bags and containers are available which are designed to help you sterilize breast pump parts. They allow you to use water to steam the parts of the pump just like baby feeding bottles and nipples are sterilized.
  
• Dishwasher Sterilization - Some breast pumps are safe to use in the dishwasher, and can be placed in the top tray to clean. The instruction manual should tell you how the breast pump parts should be cleaned, which usually involve washing on the hot cycle of the dishwasher to ensure that enough heat is available for sterilization of the pump parts.

 
• Stovetop Sterilization – This is another common method used by mothers to sterilize feeding bottles and breast pump parts. Washed parts of the pump should be placed in a large pot filled with clean water and boiled on high heat on the stove for ten minutes to sterilize the pump parts.

Again, you should read the instruction manual to check if the breast pump can be sterilized using a stovetop.

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