How to Sterilize Used Breast Pumps

A breast pump is a useful tool if you are breastfeeding your baby. It allows you to express your milk into a bottle so that a caregiver or relative can feed your child, or store your milk in a container, short-term, for future use. To keep harmful bacteria from transferring to your baby, it is important that you clean and sterilize your breast pump regularly. However, any part that does not come into contact with your breast milk does not require routine sterilization. This includes some tubes and cords that come with the pump.

Instructions

1

Disassemble all washable parts of the pump and set aside the pieces that come in contact with your breast milk.

2

Fill a large pot with water and place it on the stove. Set the burner temperature to high and heat the water until it boils.

3

Clean the washable parts of the pump with soap and water. Thoroughly rinse each part with hot water.

4

Place the clean pump parts into the boiling water and let them boil for 10 minutes.

5

Lay a clean towel on the kitchen counter. Take each pump part out of the pot with kitchen tongs and place them on the towel. Let them air dry.

6

Pour rubbing alcohol through any tubes that come in contact with breast milk. This process will deter mold and mildew growth in these hard-to-reach areas.

7

Reassemble the pump when all of the pieces are completely dry.