What to Clean on a Medela Pump

Medela manufactures a line of breast pumps, which often are used by working mothers to pump their milk while they are away from their baby. Because some of the pump parts touch the mother's skin and milk, they require cleaning after each pumping session to keep them free of bacteria, mildew and mold. None of the pump parts require cleaning when switching breasts during an individual pumping session, but some must be cleaned after each individual pumping session is complete.

Parts of Medela Breast Pumps

Medela offers manual and electric breast pumps. The parts that can contact the breast milk and require regular cleaning include collection bottles, breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, cylinders from manual pumps, tubing, bottle covers and bottle nipples. Medela pumps use common parts for their entire pump product line.

Sterilizing Medela Breast Pump Parts

When using new pump parts for the first time, sterilize the parts that will contact the breast milk and mother's skin to eliminate any surface bacteria. To sterilize pump parts, place them in a pan and cover with at least one inch of water. Bring the water to a boil, and maintain the boil for 10 minutes. Remove the parts from the boiling water using clean tongs, and let them air dry on a clean cloth.

For manual pumps, sterilize the pump cylinder and piston, breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples. For electric pumps, sterilize the breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples.

Cleaning Medela Pump Parts

For regular cleaning, Medela pump parts that come into contact with breast milk can be washed by hand in hot soapy water or on the top rack of the dishwasher. The tubing used to connect the breast shield to an electric pump cannot be sterilized in boiling water or washed in the dishwasher; it must be washed by hand using hot soapy water and rinsed thoroughly by allowing clear hot water to flow through it.

For manual pumps, wash the pump cylinder and piston, breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples. For electric pumps, wash the breast shields, breast shield valves, personal fit connectors, storage bottles, bottle covers and bottle nipples.

Special Considerations

Medela recommends that mothers of premature infants regularly sterilize pump parts instead of using standard washing methods due to the infant's compromised immune system If a mother is pumping milk for multiple children, she does not have to clean any of the pump parts when switching storage bottles during a single pumping session as long as the bottles have been cleaned properly.