Cleaning breast pump parts is an essential step in protecting the health of you and your baby. Bacteria can grow on breast pump parts if not cleaned properly and can cause infections in both you and your baby. Cleaning breast pump parts is a relatively simple process, but it’s important to understand the various what to do with breast pump strategies that are available to slow bacterial growth between uses.
The first step in cleaning breast pump parts is to rinse the pieces with warm water after each use; this will help remove any milk residue and debris that may have accumulated during pumping sessions. This should be done as soon as possible after each session so that bacteria do not have a chance to grow on the surface of the pieces. After rinsing, all of the pieces should be washed with hot water and soap (or a solution specifically designed for cleaning breast pumps). A soft cloth or sponge should be used for scrubbing all what to do with breast pump surfaces, paying special attention to areas where milk residue may have accumulated such as tubing connectors, valves, etc.. It's important to make sure all surfaces are completely clean before reassembling your equipment for storage or next use.
Once everything has been washed thoroughly with soap and hot water it's important to sanitise all surfaces by boiling them or using a chemical sanitizer such as diluted household bleach (1 part bleach mixed with 10 parts water) or alcohol-based solutions like rubbing alcohol (at least 70% concentration). Boiling should be done at least once per day while using the device, while other solutions like bleach or alcohol-based cleaners can be used several times per day depending on how often you're pumping throughout the day/week (be sure to follow manufacturer instructions).
In addition to regular washing and sanitising practices mentioned above, there are several strategies available for slowing microbial growth between what to do with breast pump uses:
1) Refrigerating - After rinsing out your equipment after each session you can store it in an airtight container lined with paper towels at 4°C [40°F] for up to 2 hours before washing again; however this method doesn't kill bacteria so it shouldn't replace regular washing practices!
2) Freezing - You can also freeze components overnight prior to washing them again; freezing kills more bacteria than refrigeration alone but requires more time/effort upfront so this option might not always be practical depending on when/how often you're pumping throughout the day/week.
3) Wiping down - A final option is what to do with breast pump wiping down equipment with an alcohol-based cleaner like rubbing alcohol after each use; this won't necessarily kill bacteria but will help reduce their numbers thus slowing their growth until they're able to be fully washed off before next use!
4) Sterilisation – If possible sterilise components between uses by boiling them in plain water for 5 minutes at least once per day while using the device regularly throughout the week/month (follow manufacturer instructions if provided). This will ensure maximum cleanliness of components since boiling kills most types of microorganisms including viruses which cannot always reliably be killed through simple methods described above! Additionally what to do with breast pump many manufacturers provide steam sterilisers which can also achieve similar results without having to boil items manually every time a need arises – consider investing in these devices if budget permits!
No matter what strategy you choose when dealing with cleaning breast pump tools make sure to follow manufacturer instructions closely otherwise risk damaging products by using improper techniques such as exposing them to too much heat from boiling temperatures etc. Additionally, keep in mind that these methods outlined here only meant slow bacterial growth between washes – what to do with breast pump regular thorough washings still necessary ensure safety for both user babies when dealing any type appliance involving bodily functions!