https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:57:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2508318 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 13:10:24 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2508318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also do fridge between pumps and hand-wash at night. Hand washing takes some time, but we only run our dishwasher 1-2 times a week and I don't have enough spare sets for that infrequent of washing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2508172 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:48:25 +0000 JenGirl 2508172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Boiled before first use. Handwash after every pump. Steam bag sterilize maybe once a month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2508136 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:09:27 +0000 HazelEyes 2508136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just rinsed between pumps at work, brought everything home and like PPs said, handwashed them in a big bin of soapy water and put them on a drying mat until I used them the next day.</p> <p>We ended up just keeping a plastic bin in the kitchen for dirty bottles and parts and washed as needed since I did a combo of bm and formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2508049 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:06:15 +0000 ShootingStar 2508049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only ever used the dishwasher, which sanitizes. I'd put all the parts in dishwasher baskets. So much less work than hand washing. My electric pump didn't have those little valves so I didn't need to worry about those unless I was using the manual pump. And then they got hand washed, but that was rare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507979 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:25:09 +0000 LulaBee 2507979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Boiled before first use, let them sit in Tupperware in fridge between pumping at work, hand wash in hot water with soap nightly. I've tried to boil every other week or so, but I'm not sure I'll keep that up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507915 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 08:33:56 +0000 snowjewelz 2507915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I boiled them after a work week but during the week, I store in the fridge between use during the day and just hand wash at the end of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507836 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:55:44 +0000 JoJoGirl 2507836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You didn't have my option! I just washed by hand with soap and water every night. I'd use the microwave bag like once/month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507799 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 05:57:39 +0000 Adira 2507799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I boiled them before the first use to sterilize them, but then just hand washed after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507741 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:41:17 +0000 lovehoneybee 2507741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I rinse them after each pump at work and store them in a freezer bag, then hand wash at night and use the steam bag most nights. We had thrush for a while so I'm a little paranoid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507681 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 19:56:02 +0000 shortcake 2507681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fridge at work for 2 days in a row and hand wash. Not sure why anyone would need to sterilize unless the baby is immune comprised in some way. I think it's unnecessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507668 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 19:37:50 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2507668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put the pump parts in the fridge at work between sessions, hand wash at night and use the steam bag once a week to sterilize. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507644 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 19:03:00 +0000 mfa_lady 2507644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I boiled before first use, used the Medela wipes between pumps at work, and did a combination of hand washing and dishwasher at home. I never separated the membranes from the valves--I just put them in the dishwasher still connected (I used a Munchkin dishwasher basket) or hand washed the same way and made sure to get them really soapy and run a bunch of water through. I pumped for over a year and never had any problems with these methods! </p> <p>It also helped to have an extra set or two of parts on hand so I could take a breather if ever I needed to on a rough evening. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507537 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 14:16:39 +0000 whiskers 2507537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Boiled before first use and hand washed after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507536 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 14:02:39 +0000 lilyofthewest 2507536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fridge or cooler bag during the day (or x2 days if I've been able to rinse with hot water after each pump and they aren't getting fatty buildup in them), wash in the dishwasher. I use the duckbill style valves that can go through the dishwasher. I have three sets of pump parts so I can have in use/dirty/clean &amp; ready to pack for the next day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507522 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:21:11 +0000 LemonJack 2507522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would wipe out the parts with the Medela pump cleaning wipes at work, and then throw them in the dishwasher at night. I hand washed the membranes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507438 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 09:05:10 +0000 littlebug 2507438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, stored the parts in a cooler bag during the day, then handwashed at night. Used the microwave steamer bag once a week. And I never separated the membranes - I was always afraid of tearing them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507407 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 07:42:13 +0000 MrsSRS 2507407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kept parts in a bag in the fridge and washed once a day. Every evening I dumped the parts in a giant bowl and filled with crazy hot water and a bit of Dawn. I let them soak for ten minutes or until I could comfortably handle the water, then rinsed, using a bottle brush where necessary. This was way faster than the dishwasher and eliminated the film that sometimes accumulates because breastmilk is so fatty and dishwashers struggle with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507406 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 07:39:42 +0000 futuremama 2507406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sterilized them for the first wash and soaked them in the sink/hand washed each night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507400 Sun, 27 Mar 2016 07:20:59 +0000 NavyRN2012 2507400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sterilized them before their first use, but just hand washed after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507359 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 23:50:25 +0000 BabyTsMom 2507359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't vote because I did something not listed. I used the Philips microwave sterilizer for pump parts and occasionally bottle stuff. It worked great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507351 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 23:19:42 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2507351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hand wash at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507327 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:41:51 +0000 peaches1038 2507327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I keep my parts I the fridge between pumps ad hand wash when I get home. I only have one set of parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507319 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:15:20 +0000 Miss Ariel 2507319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I got home from work I'd let them soak in the sink. I'd then pump once before bed and after use a steam bag in the microwave. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507318 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:11:06 +0000 kiddosc 2507318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At work I would rinse them and store in a ziploc bag in the fridge between sessions. Then they got washed either in a dishwasher basket or in hot soapy water. I always just left the membranes attached to the valves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507317 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 21:05:13 +0000 FannyMae 2507317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put mine in an electic sterliser (avent) with any bottles used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507314 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:50:41 +0000 Torchwood 2507314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use the bag most times, and throw them in the dishwasher occasionally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507302 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:29:37 +0000 catomd00 2507302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Put them in a dishwasher basket and threw them in there! Membranes were soaked in hot soapy water and rinsed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507300 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:23:14 +0000 mrsrain 2507300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I steamed them before first use, but otherwise rely on dishwasher or hand washing to clean parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507298 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:20:14 +0000 MrsF 2507298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to keep the parts in a cooler bag in the fridge all day at work and wash in hot soapy water in the sink at home at night. Done. </p> <p>At the beginning I would boil them every once in a while but I stopped doing that pretty quickly and never had a problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-clean-your-pump-1#post-2507296 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:08:08 +0000 DesertDreams88 2507296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just curious as to your rationale &amp; your thoughts on efficiency!</p> <p>I have a Medela pump, one microsteam bag, three sets of parts, many extra valves and membranes, lots of bottles, and a manual pump. I will be pumping either 3x a day at work or 1x at home &amp; 2x at time. </p> <p>Also, side-note, for those who use the dishwasher, what do you do with the membranes? I've been storing them in a tiny tupperware in the fridge &amp; boiling 1-2x a week; since I think they'd get lost in the dishwasher. Whenever I boil, I throw in any other similar items that need to be cleaned. </p>