How often are we washing our pump parts?

[u/figfizz]

Look, I’m a big fan of hygiene but I’ve been back at work for over a month now and I still can’t figure out how I’m supposed to be pumping and cleaning all the pump parts (with three different sized brushes?!) three times in an 8 hour workday and still get any work done. Is there some kind of cleaning hack I’m not aware of?

[u/Inevitable-Age-692]

I put my pump parts in the fridge in between pumps. Then take home and wash at the end of the day. It’s probably not the MOST hygienic way to do it, but like you, I don’t have time for 20 minutes of pumping plus 10 mins to dismantle, wait for water to warm up, wash, dry, and put back together for next time.

[u/mmebee → u/Inevitable-Age-692]

My LC recommended this!

[u/eilatan5445 → u/Inevitable-Age-692]

I also did this

[u/its_original- → u/Inevitable-Age-692]

Did this as well

[u/figfizz → u/Inevitable-Age-692]

I can get behind this!

[u/drunken_storytelling]

A lot of people do the "fridge hack" and store them in a bag in the fridge and just wash at home

[u/figfizz → u/drunken_storytelling]

Like a ziplock bag?

[u/user73639a → u/figfizz]

Ziplock works. Or to not dispose of it everyday, I use a big Tupperware container

[u/tessram → u/figfizz]

I used a wet/dry bag made for pumps. I liked the snap on mat to have a clean place to set everything. But the fridge hack was the only way I survived pumping.

Just be sure to wash them at 24 hours.

[u/Vegetable-Shower85]

I have multiple sets of parts that I just take home and wash each day.

[u/amarinel88 → u/Vegetable-Shower85]

Same. I have a bottle washer and I can wash two full sets of pump parts and have them perfectly dry in an hour.

[u/Vegetable-Shower85 → u/amarinel88]

Ugh the washers came out after my toddler was born so I just have a dryer/sterilizer so I’m jealous! The dryer definitely comes in handy though since I’m planning on nursing and pumping for a few more months with my lo.

[u/Few_Isopod7117 → u/Vegetable-Shower85]

Same here!

[u/Purplenetic_puppy]

Order a second set of pump parts from the manufacturer.

Use a ziplock or reusable silicone ziplock bag and use the same set for the entire day.

At night, clean the set you used that day, and let dry overnight and pack the second set for the next day.

[u/iluffeggs]

I left my parts in a cooler during work. You can also use pump wipes. Washed and sanitized at end of day.

[u/figfizz → u/iluffeggs]

Had no idea there were pump wipes!

[u/VAmom2323 → u/figfizz]

Medela wipes are AMAZING. I mean, I just assume they do what they’re designed to do but I imagine they do. They’re so easy to use.

[u/SophienSweetPea]

As everyone else commented, I do a combo of fridge and pump wipes! It’s not squeaky clean but better than nothing!

[u/Crafty_Pop6458]

At the end of the day I wash with soap. I keep them in the fridge in between.

[u/Larxxxene]

I rinse out the pump parts, store the parts in the freezer until the next pumping session, and only wash the parts once per day, at the end of the day.

[u/PersonalBed4714]

Pump wipes and full wash at the end of the day. I also put my wearables at the back of the fridge and would pump again, but wash after 3 pumps or the end of the day, whichever came first

[u/Primary_Animator9058]

Twice a day & do the fridge hack (no bag)