To sterilize or not to sterilize... That is the question...

Re: To sterilize or not to sterilize... That is the question...

• beeish member

  October 2015

  I still sterilize my bottles every wash. Recently we've had problems with contaminated tap water. So now I'm super paranoid and will always sanitize. I also filter distilled baby water. I've seen several recalls for contaminated distilled water. So of course I'm paranoid!

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• ecloho member

  October 2015

  I pump & put them in the fridge, pump again (you do not have to wash in between uses for that day). When done for the day I soak in HOT soapy water (our tap water comes out super hot!!) every few days I put through the dishwasher on the steam setting

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• dmh1687 member

  October 2015

  I hand wash everything in hot water, dry on our Boon rack, and then put everything into the steam sterilization bags they sell at Target. Put 2 oz of water into the bag with the bottles and pump stuff, seal the bags, and put in microwave for 3 minutes. Makes it easy to do.

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• SnarkasaurusRex member

  October 2015

  ecloho said:

  I pump & put them in the fridge, pump again (you do not have to wash in between uses for that day). When done for the day I soak in HOT soapy water (our tap water comes out super hot!!) every few days I put through the dishwasher on the steam setting

  I do pretty much exactly this (I use the steam sterilizer bags instead of the dishwasher, unless I have a ton to sterilize). As long as you put your pump parts in the fridge between pumpings you can use them all day long. I sterilize everything every week or so.

  

  

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• n3na94 member

  October 2015

  ecloho said:

  I pump & put them in the fridge, pump again (you do not have to wash in between uses for that day). When done for the day I soak in HOT soapy water (our tap water comes out super hot!!) every few days I put through the dishwasher on the steam setting

  I will definitely try it instead of washing every part every time I pump. Do you rinse the parts with water before putting it in the Fridge!?

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• ecloho member

  October 2015

  @n3na94 nope I don't rinse… I just wipe any excess milk drops off the outside of the flange with a burp cloth

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• qtjo5 member

  October 2015

  I wash and re use my pump parts and pump bottles through the week and each weekend I sterlize in boiling water on the stove.

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• lschwahl member

  October 2015

  My lactation consulant told me that using sterilizer bags has been proven to grow the most bacteria. Boiling parts in water grows less, but hand washing in hot soapy water and rinsing in cold water and air drying grows the least bacteria. She told me to just keep washing by hand.

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• Smark1129 member

  October 2015

  I run hot water through the flanges with the valve attached - it helps the valve not get clogged. I boil everything when I get home, but I work in a hot with the gross and ever germ filled public! When I'm at home I usually just rinse with hot water since nothing ever just sits with milk in it.

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• acciocoffee member

  October 2015

  I just hand wash everything, but now that I am working and pumping more I might start running stuff through the dishwasher once a week.

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• SBbabyonboard member

  October 2015

  I also keep my pump parts in the fridge throughout the day and just wipe the inside of the flanges as I get that ring of milk residue,and then just wash my bottles with hot soapy water throughout the day and I sterilize everything at the end of the night before bed (I use the steam bags as well made by medela)

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• massey25 member

  October 2015

  I hand wash them all daily. I've started to keep them in the fridge overnight and use them in the morning before they go to the sink. I just bought some Dr.Brown's steam bags to try so I don't have to boil stuff so much. We shall see how it goes

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