How to clean breast pump parts

Build the routine around your manual

Your pump’s manual identifies which pieces need washing and which can safely go in a dishwasher, steamer, or boiling water. Read it before the first session. Use the CDC routine below alongside those model-specific instructions.

A practical setup has a clean area for disassembly, supplies for washing, and a protected drying space. Work through the routine once before you need to do it in a hurry.

The essential steps

1. Wash your hands before handling clean equipment.
2. Take apart the milk-contact kit as shown in its manual, then rinse away milk.
3. For hand washing, use dish soap and warm water in a basin reserved for feeding equipment. Keep parts out of the sink itself. Use a dedicated brush only if the manufacturer permits it.
4. Rinse thoroughly and let parts air-dry on a clean surface, protected from contamination.
5. Clean the basin and brush too, and store parts only after they are dry.

Sources: FDA washing and drying guidance and CDC basin instructions. Use the current CDC website below for sanitizing frequency.

The motor is not a washable collection part: keep it out of water. Wipes do not replace washing milk-contact parts before their next use. See the FDA cleaning guidance.

Inspect tubing before use. CDC advises discarding and replacing tubing with milk or mold inside. Follow the model’s manual for tubing and condensation care. Read CDC tubing guidance.

When sanitizing matters

CDC recommends daily sanitizing for extra protection, especially for babies under 2 months, babies born prematurely, or those with a weakened immune system. Clean first, then use an approved sanitizing method. Older, healthy babies may not need a separate daily sanitizing step when parts are cleaned carefully after each use.

Read the current CDC sanitizing recommendations. Cleaning removes residue; sanitizing adds germ reduction. Home care should not be described as complete sterilization.

Plan for the next session

A spare compatible kit can make scheduling easier while one set dries. Before purchasing one, compare the parts you already own with the manufacturer’s kit contents. Include a place for used parts in your bag so they stay separate from clean equipment.

Refrigerating used pump parts is not an established substitute for washing after each use. Do not plan your routine around that shortcut. For an infant with special health needs, follow your care team’s instructions.

Next, read the milk storage guide to plan what happens to the milk after the session.

Do not copy one pump’s heat-treatment method

Elvie Stride 2’s Rev E manual prohibits steam and microwave disinfection. That is why a general cleaning guide cannot safely prescribe one heat-treatment method for every pump. Check the exact model, the parts you have, and the instructions supplied with them.

Before the first session, mark which pieces can be washed, how they may be sanitized, and which must stay dry. If two manufacturer instructions conflict, contact that manufacturer before using a method that could damage the part.