Pumping cleaning tips?

[ellipsis]

How do you clean all of your pump parts without feeling like you're going crazy and constantly cleaning? I have 3 sets of flanges/filters/valves so I use 1 set per pumping session and throw it in a plastic bin for cleaning until I've used all 3 sets and then clean them all at once (soapy water + bottle brush and air dry). Is there a more efficient way to do this? How often should I sterilize? I'm currently SAH.

I have the Medela PISA, but I'm going to get the Spectra per the recommendations here!

[ewall]

Aug 28, 2015 8:36:25 GMT -5 ellipsis said:

How do you clean all of your pump parts without feeling like you're going crazy and constantly cleaning? I have 3 sets of flanges/filters/valves so I use 1 set per pumping session and throw it in a plastic bin for cleaning until I've used all 3 sets and then clean them all at once (soapy water + bottle brush and air dry). Is there a more efficient way to do this? How often should I sterilize? I'm currently SAH.

I have the Medela PISA, but I'm going to get the Spectra per the recommendations here!

Throw your pump parts in the fridge. I use the same set for 24 hours as long as I keep them refrigerated. I have MMM to thank for that tip!

I sterilized almost daily in the beginning with the microwave bags, but then I got lazy as my kid got older. I figured once he started licking the floor, the pump parts were the least of my worries.

[Brie]

Store one set of parts in the fridge between pumping sessions and reuse. You don't need to wash every time if they're refrigerated.

[Ashley&Scott]

Use one set per day, keep them in the fridge in a ziploc between pumping sessions. Wash once at the end of the day

[ellipsis]

Do you rinse or anything before you stick them back in the fridge? This is life changing advice here.

[ewall]

Aug 28, 2015 8:41:20 GMT -5 ellipsis said:

Do you rinse or anything before you stick them back in the fridge? This is life changing advice here.

Nope. I tap the parts against the bottle to remove excess milk. Sometimes I will wipe the shield thingy off with a paper towel. That way it's dry for my next session. 

[Ashley&Scott]

Aug 28, 2015 8:41:20 GMT -5 ellipsis said:

Do you rinse or anything before you stick them back in the fridge? This is life changing advice here.

I just wiped the milk off my flanges with a burp cloth that I kept in my pump bag. 

[MamaMaui24]

I also recommend the Medela BM soap for all the parts and bottles.

[simpsongal]

Aug 28, 2015 8:41:20 GMT -5 ellipsis said:

Do you rinse or anything before you stick them back in the fridge? This is life changing advice here.

You poor thing - you gotta put them in the fridge, no rinsing needed (if anything I think water from the pantry sink would introduce more bacteria to the party).  I used to keep a big supply of gallon Ziplocks in my office for storing pump parts in between pumps in the fridge.

I blame LCs and La Leche League - they tell you to wash between pumps.  NEWP!

[osulori]

Ditto everyone else on refrigerating pump parts, and MamaMaui24 on the Medela soap. That stuff was a lifesaver when I did have to wash pump parts.

[boxerdog]

Yes to the fridge. Livesaving. I did not rinse beforehand.

I sterilized daily for the first few months and now I realize that was stupid. I would probably do it daily for a couple weeks, maybe.

[boxerdog]

Aug 28, 2015 8:55:41 GMT -5 @abbycobb said:

Aug 28, 2015 8:48:35 GMT -5 osulori said:

Ditto everyone else on refrigerating pump parts, and MamaMaui24 on the Medela soap. That stuff was a lifesaver when I did have to wash pump parts.

What's the advantage of this stuff? I never had too much trouble using my regular dish soap, but people seem to really like the medela soap.

I never used it but I heard it cuts grease better. My pump parts were annoyingly greasy at times.

[Ashley&Scott]

I only sterilized once, before use. After that I just washed with hot water & soap.

[osulori]

Aug 28, 2015 8:55:41 GMT -5 @abbycobb said:

Aug 28, 2015 8:48:35 GMT -5 osulori said:

Ditto everyone else on refrigerating pump parts, and MamaMaui24 on the Medela soap. That stuff was a lifesaver when I did have to wash pump parts.

What's the advantage of this stuff? I never had too much trouble using my regular dish soap, but people seem to really like the medela soap.

I felt like it got the residue off with minimal or no scrubbing.

[felicity]

I also refrigerate between sessions. At the end of the day I just rinse the parts out and boil in a small pot for a few minutes while I'm getting dinner ready, then drain in a colander. They are dry by the next morning. I find this easier than dealing with soap and making sure they are rinsed completely clean and whatnot.

[VillainV]

Goodness, don't rinse between every pump! Refrigerator is fine (or cooler bag with ice). I washed once at the end of the day with hot soapy water and let them air dry on the drying rack (boon grass). Now, I will say that using cold flanges takes some getting used to, but it's way better than washing and drying between every pumping session!

[ellipsis]

Gallon sized ziploc bags have been added to the top of the shopping list for today! I have only been pumping at home for about 1.5 weeks so I haven't lost too much sanity yet

And since we're on the topic, any bottle cleaning tips??? Do I need one of those dishwasher baskets?

[momin2013]

Aug 28, 2015 8:58:09 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

I only sterilized once, before use. After that I just washed with hot water & soap.

This. And I have to add, ellipsis, you poor thing - you've been doing way too much work! Ditto all PP's re keeping parts in fridge and I just wiped the flange with a paper towel each time to get the drips off.

[sent]

I used to wipe the flanges and connectors with a papertowel before sticking it in the fridge.

Make your husband wash the parts! It's one of the few useful things mine did when DD came along. But he's weird and loves doing dishes and while he doesn't do them how I would, I overlook it. 

[ellipsis]

Aug 28, 2015 9:22:36 GMT -5 sent said:

I used to wipe the flanges and connectors with a papertowel before sticking it in the fridge.

Make your husband wash the parts! It's one of the few useful things mine did when DD came along. But he's weird and loves doing dishes and while he doesn't do them how I would, I overlook it. 

He is already doing 90% of her bottle feedings while I pump and will occasionally wash the parts too. He goes back to work on Tuesday so I am kind of nervous about doing it all!

[linz]

When my kids were in the nicu I washed parts after every pump session. 8 TIMES A DAY! With those stupid microwave bags bc they told me that's what to do.

Now I throw them in a ziplock bag and wash each morning before work. Sometimes on the weekends I wash every 36 hours. I don't ever boil them or anything.

[Poppy]

Do you have a dishwasher? I only handwash mine in a pinch. I also have three sets and use one set per day, refrigerating between pumps.

[VillainV]

I just washed all of the bottles and pump parts by hand at the end of each day. I filled up one side of the sink with warm soapy water, and used a bottle brush to wash them, then rinsed in clear water and let everything dry. We only run our dishwasher maybe once or twice a week, and we didn't have enough bottles for more than a day. We had maybe 9 or 10, and 4-5 were always in the fridge full of pumped milk for the next day, and 4-5 were dirty from THAT day, so we washed every day. Well, I should say that *I* washed every day.

[Myrrhine]

Aug 28, 2015 9:25:22 GMT -5 @simpledog said:

I did fridge all day then dishwasher or my H washed them at night.

This is what I did.

[persa]

Ditto to storing in fridge between sessions.

I use Dr bronners castile baby shampoo to wash since it rinses clean super easy

[pooh8402]

I never sterilized. I just washed everything in the dishwasher before my first use. I figure my boobs aren't sterile, so my pump parts didn't need to be either.

I've also been throwing them in the fridge between pumps. Hot soapy water and bottle brush at the end of the day.

[fashionx]

I'm just so happy to read this... Going to start using the fridge!

Sent from my Moto X using Proboards.

[zarapipe]

I do 48 hours in the fridge.

[smock]

I would throw my parts in a tub with some Medela breastmilk soap (seriously, that stuff is amazing), and tell Mr. Smock it was his job to clean all the parts/bottles/etc. every day. I figured if I was pumping, he could do the cleaning.

[huskymom]

I had 3 sets, would use for 24 hours using fridge storage, then we run the dishwasher every other night, so i'd throw the parts in a Munchkin basket. This way there was always a spare set clean. Use the dishwasher!!