While becoming a mom is a beautiful experience, many parts of the job are not so glamorous. Cleaning a breast pump can be one of these tedious, messy, and not-so-glamorous tasks. However, you can find beauty in the cleaning process with the right tips and tricks to maintain an efficient breast pump cleaning routine.
At Pumps for Mom, we want you to enjoy each and every aspect of motherhood – even the messy parts! With help from our Maternity Product Specialists, you can learn everything there is to know about top-rated breast pumps, including how to clean them! If you’re curious how to clean your Willow breast pump, our experts are here to share their best cleaning tips and tricks to ensure you and your little one are safe after every use. Check them out below!
In this blog, our experts share their tips on how to clean and maintain your Willow breast pump by covering the following topics:
- Why cleaning your Willow breast pump is important
- How to clean a Willow breast pump before pumping
- How to clean a Willow breast pump after pumping
Why Cleaning Your Willow Breast Pump is Important
Cleaning your Willow breast pump is extremely important for maintaining your and your baby’s health. Each time you express breast milk with your pump, its parts come into contact with your milk’s bacteria and other contaminants. This bacteria can then multiply and grow over time if left untreated, putting you and your little one at risk of catching an infection or illness from harmful pathogens.
Neglecting your breast pump cleanings can also harm your milk supply and your pump itself. If you pump milk and save it for later use, existing bacteria can decrease its nutritional value and make it rotten. Additionally, not cleaning your breast pump can affect your breast pump itself, affecting its efficiency and shortening its overall lifespan.
With all that being said, cleaning your breast pump is essential if you’re going to maintain a safe and efficient pumping schedule. Individually cleaning each breast pump part is the best way to prevent milk residue from building up and ensure a healthy milk supply for your baby.
How to Clean a Willow Breast Pump Before Pumping
It’s essential to have a pre-pumping cleaning routine in place to ensure your breast pump kit’s longevity and safety. For Willow breast pumps, experts recommend washing your hands with soap and water before touching the pump. Doing so will ensure you don’t transfer any oils, germs, or contaminants to your pump.
Before assembling your pump, inspect your pump’s flanges, tubes, and accessories to check for milk buildup, mold, or dirty areas. If you discover a dirty part, thoroughly clean it before assembling the entire kit. If you discover mold, you’ll want to discard and replace the part immediately.
How to Clean a Willow Breast Pump After Pumping
Cleaning your Willow breast pump after every use is essential. As we mentioned above, forgoing this step could put you and your baby at serious risk of infection. Luckily, the cleaning process for Willow breast pumps is pretty straightforward. In fact, Willow breast pumps like the Willow 3.0 and the Willow Go are dishwasher safe, allowing you to skip the lengthy handwashing process altogether! Read below for a step-by-step guide on how to clean your Willow breast pump after pumping.
If you’re cleaning by hand:
- Disassemble your pump by taking apart the tubing and all parts that come into contact with your breast and breast milk. This should include bottles, milk collection bags, flanges, valves, and connectors.
- Rinse each part to remove any remaining milk residue.
- Place each part in a wash basin filled with hot water and soap. This basin should be solely used to clean your pump to avoid cross-contamination.
- Scrub the pump parts with a sponge or brush. Like your basin, your sponge or brush should be solely used for cleaning your pump and nothing else.
- Rinse the pump parts thoroughly under running water or submerge them in a separate basin of fresh water.
- Put your pump parts on a clean cloth or paper towel and leave to air dry. Do not pat them dry!
If you’re cleaning with a dishwasher:
- Place dishwasher-safe pump parts on the top rack of your dishwasher. Do NOT put your pump motor in water or the dishwasher!
- Add soap and run the dishwasher using hot water and a heated drying cycle.
- Remove parts from the dishwasher. If items are not completely dry, let them air dry on a clean, unused paper or dish towel. Do not rub or pat dry!
Get a Free Willow Breast Pump through Insurance
Do you want to get a Willow breast pump free through insurance? You’ve come to the right place! At Pumps for Mom, we serve as the liaison between you and your insurance provider to ensure your breast pump comes at no cost to you. Shop our comprehensive catalog of top-rated breast pumps, and head to our form or contact us today to get a Willow breast pump through insurance.