How to Clean the Tubes on a Medela Pump

Medela offers excellent electric breast pumps that are easier to use than manual pumps, and work easier than manually expressing breast milk by hand. Though electric pumps make pumping easier, from time to time milk can get backed up into the tubing, causing a mess. Knowing how to clean the Medela pump tubing when this happens can help to keep your machine in good working order and the milk you offer your baby sanitary and fresh.

Things You'll Need

• Medela breast pump
• Medela tubing
• Stock pot
• Water
• Stove

Instructions

1. Detach all tubing from your breast pump and run it under cool running water to get most of the milk off of the tubing.

2. Fill your stock pot with water and place it on your stove. Set the heat to high and wait for the water to come to a boil.

3. Carefully lower your breast pump tubing into the boiling water and set a timer for 10 minutes.

4. Remove your stock pot of water from the stove when your timer goes off. Carefully drain the hot water from the pot and rinse the tubing under cool water until it is comfortable to handle.

5. Hang the tubing to dry so that all of the water can run out of it. Make sure that the area is well-ventilated and do not resume use of your tubing until it has fully dried.

References

• Medela: How Often Should the Tubes be Boiled?
• Kellymom: Milk Expression Tips and Pump Information
• Breastfeeding Essentials: Breastpumps 101