How to Properly Clean Baby Bottles and Pump Parts

This is one of those topics that seems so basic, but actually does require some special education! Most people know how to wash dishes pretty well, but there are some extra things to know about cleaning baby bottles and pump parts.

First though, ALWAYS be sure to read the manufacturer’s recommendations for the products you are using. For example, it can be important to know if items are not dishwasher safe to avoid having them melt during the dry cycle.

Why Clean Baby Bottles and Pump Parts Matter

It’s really important to only use very clean bottle and pump parts when you’re feeding your baby or pumping milk to feed your baby. When those items are clean, your baby’s risk for bacterial contamination is greatly reduced. So, washing the items well after use is important, but there are some other important steps to take to avoid contamination.

• Wash your hands first. Make sure your hands are always very clean when handling these supplies. Even if they were cleaned well, if you touch them with dirty hands, it could lead to illness for your baby.
• Make sure all surfaces are clean. If you are placing your pump or pump parts or bottles onto a table while you pump milk, make sure it is a clean table. If you set a clean bottle down onto a kitchen counter to pour pumped breast milk into it, are you sure the countertop is very clean? Disinfectant wipes can be handy to clean an area before setting your supplies down. It can also be helpful to create a space in your home that is ONLY used for preparing bottles or assembling a pump. That way you can know that it wasn’t recently used for preparing raw meat or something else unsanitary.
• Make sure the whole pump is clean. If some milk or dirty hands make contact with the knobs or dials or the body of the pump anywhere, it can cause contamination, so giving these parts a wipe with a disinfecting cloth is a good idea too.
• Check the tubing regularly. You shouldn’t need to wash or sanitize the breast pump tubing. Pumps are designed in a way that the tubes should not make direct contact with milk. However, it’s important to check it regularly to be sure it’s not dirty on the inside or the outside. Tubing should be replaced every 3-6 months as regular maintenance, but if it’s dirty, it should be replaced. You might also need to check that your pump is working properly if the tubing is getting dirty.

Supplies

You might not need to buy all that much special equipment for washing bottles and parts, but here are some things you might want to use:

• Dish soap
• Dishwasher – Most pump parts and bottles are dishwasher safe. Be sure to read your manufacturer recommendations for washing. Some people prefer not to use the dishwasher. If you will need your supplies more than once a day, for example, waiting to wash a dishwasher load might not make sense for you. Also, dishwashers can sometimes be more harsh. Hand washing can prolong the life of your supplies.
• Dishwasher detergent
• Bottle brush
• Straw brush/pipe cleaner brush – These are the small bendy brushes you can use to clean reusable straws or water bottles. They are sometimes handy for cleaning pump tubing or bottle nipples.
• Nipple brush – There are brushes especially made for cleaning bottle nipples. It’s a good idea to use these at least occasionally. Breast milk can leave some fatty residue behind if not cleaned quickly or thoroughly enough.
• Dishwasher basket for small parts – This is usually a small square or rectangular plastic basket with a lid that closes. It’s for the smaller parts that might get thrown around in the dishwasher.
• Dedicated drying rack or clean towels for drying.
• Large storage bin with a lid or large sealable plastic bag to store clean and dry parts. It’s recommended that these items stay sealed into a separate/dedicated container to avoid handling with dirty hands or cross contamination.
• Disinfectant wipes

Cleaning Procedures

If you choose to use a dishwasher, there are a few things to remember:

• As a general rule, you want to put your bottles and pump parts on the top rack. The lower rack is usually much closer to the heating element. Plastic can sometimes melt if it gets too close.
• Rinse all the parts well immediately after use instead of putting them directly into the sink or dishwasher. It’s important to remove as much milk residue as possible.
• Use a hot water cycle with a heated dry or sanitize cycle.
• Use a basket or laundry bag to keep the very small parts from ending up in the filter or on the bottom of the dishwasher.

Washing by hand is what many people do. Here are some tips to make sure your bottles and pump parts are clean and safe:

• Wash your hands well first.
• Never put bottle or pump parts into a dirty sink. Instead, rinse well and place them into the clean basin or sink that you use ONLY for cleaning bottle and pump parts.
• Use a dedicated sink for washing these items and make sure to clean and sanitize it regularly. If you don’t have 2 sinks, you can use a dedicated plastic dish basin to wash.
• After a few uses, wash and sanitize the sponges, brushes, and cloths in the dishwasher or washing machine.
• Use a separate drying rack or clean dish towels or paper towels on a clean counter to dry.
• Make sure bottles are taken apart to clean.
• Make sure that you wash all pump parts that come into contact with milk or your body.
• Fill the sink or basin with hot water and dish soap to clean.
• Use separate sponges, brushes and cloths to clean these items. Rinse them well or wash after use, and allow to air dry on a clean rack or surface.
• Let the bottle and pump parts air dry on a clean drying rack, dish towel, or paper towels on a clean counter. It’s best to have a separate rack or area for drying these items.

Sanitizing. You may not need to sanitize if you’re following appropriate cleaning procedures or using a dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle, but it is especially recommended if your baby is less than three months old or is medically compromised in some way.

• Steam sanitizing – There are many products for steam sanitizing or sterilizing. Some are very expensive machines that plug into the wall to sanitize. There are more affordable options that can be used in the microwave.
• Boiling – FIRST, please read the instructions to know if your plastic parts are safe to boil. Glass and stainless steel can be boiled, but not all plastics. Boiling can sometimes damage or warp plastics or the plastics might release harmful chemicals at high temperatures.
  • Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove.
  • Put all of your parts carefully into the boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
  • Stir occasionally.
  • Remove the items from the water with tongs. They’ll be hot!
  • Allow to air dry in a dedicated area.
• Sanitizing with bleach or any other disinfectant chemicals is NOT recommended.

This might all sound very overwhelming! There are definitely some things to learn, but once you get things set up, you should be able to get into an easy routine with the cleaning.

Most people do prefer to have a separate area for this kind of cleaning, because it simplifies everything while providing an extra measure of security and safety.

Also remember that you might not need to do much of this at all if you’re exclusively breastfeeding. It’s also OK to just breastfeed without worrying about these supplies and procedures until you really need to start thinking about it.

References:

How to Clean and Sanitize Breast Pumps – CDC

How to Clean Your Breast Pump: Tips to Keep it Germ-Free – AAP

Cleaning a Breast Pump | FDA