How do you clean a 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
