If you are a pumping mama, then you have by now realized that you have to learn how to clean a breast pump.

You’ve likely also learned that it takes more time than you have to give it, seeing as how you are trying to deal with an infant at the same time. But thank goodness for folks who make products that solve problems, because there is a line of products that can help.

The Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Bag is yet another product that I would have absolutely never purchased had it not been given to me. Honestly, I’d never even heard of them before I received them, but if I had noticed them in the store, I would have thought that they were kind of silly. I mean, it isn’t rocket science to know how to clean a breast pump, right? Just clean your pump parts, people! What’s the big deal?!

Thank God for the mothers who have come before me! Once I started using my pump (I use an Ameda Purely Yours) I actually realized the following:

• a) there are a lot of parts that get used when you pump,
• b) they all need to be cleaned after every use,
• c) they are sort of a pain to clean.

Fortunately, I remembered that my friend had given me some of these Medela Quick Clean bags, so I tried them out. Basically you put your parts in the bag, put about 2 oz of water in, and pop it in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes. Remove the bag (carefully…think of popcorn bags an the steam that comes out when you open it). Take out your parts. You are pretty much done after that! If any parts still look a little milky, just run water over them. Most of the time I found that the parts looked squeaky clean. Furthermore, everything in the bag got really hot, which means that any bacteria or other such yuckiness was eliminated. I can’t guarantee that when I hand wash them, because I tend to wash things with warm water, not hot water (my poor hands just can’t take the heat!)

Each bag will last for 20 sessions. There are little boxes on the bags so you can take a magic marker and check off a box for each session. Otherwise, it would be impossible to remember how many times you’ve used it!

If you are pumping more than once in a day, here’s a little trick: put your pump parts in the Medela bag, and then put the bag in the fridge. The cold of the fridge will keep bacteria from growing (well, at least slow it down quite a bit) so you can re-use the same pump parts for your next session that day. At the end of the day, put them in the microwave so that they are clean for tomorrow. I’m planning on bringing a bag with me when I go to work and using this exact method. This cuts down on the work you have to do without sacrificing health and safety for your baby. Woo hoo!

Edit: And if you like this product and want more from the line, they also have Medela Quick Clean soap. This either wasn’t available when I originally wrote this post or I just didn’t know about it!

I hope this helps you learn how to clean a breast pump in the real world, when you can’t head to your kitchen sink after every pumping session! Or if you are lazy! Both apply in my case.

This post contains an affiliate link at no cost to you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.