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The Easy Way to Wash Breast Pump Parts – in the Dishwasher

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Disclosure: I was given a Pumpie 1N1 Dishwasher Bag and Wet Bag to review. The opinions here are my own.

One of the challenging things about exclusively pumping is the constant washing of pump parts and bottles – not only do you need to take the time to both pump and to bottle feed, but you have to clean everything! It can feel like the worst of both worlds. One way to make it easier to wash your breast pump parts in the dishwasher.

Breast Pump Parts in the Dishwasher

One way to make this easier is to use the dishwasher. With bottles, it’s pretty self explanatory how to do that – you can just put them on the top shelf with your drinking cups and glasses and other stuff. For more complicated bottles, you can use a dishwasher basket like the one for Dr. Brown’s bottles.

However, putting breast pump parts in the dishwasher on their own isn’t an option because they are too small, and they will fall through the top rack. You definitely need something to put them in so that this doesn’t happen, but that at the same time, lets the water and soap in so that the pump parts actually get clean.

The Pumpie 1N1 is a really good solution to this problem. I ran the dishwasher with my pump parts a few times, and everything got clean and nothing fell out.

One note: when I used my dishwasher bag, I wasn’t sure if I should remove the valve that attaches to the yellow connector because I was a little nervous that it would fall out. I asked Helen (the founder of Pumpie), and she assured me that I should. I tried it and ran the dishwasher that way a few times, and it was totally fine.

If you run your dishwasher every day, you could have a pretty simple system set up. You’d need to have at least two sets of pump parts on hand; one set you run through the dishwasher – along with your bottles, if you want – and the other you use and keep in the fridge between pumping sessions. (Updated 4/21/18: The CDC issued guidelines for washing pump parts that may contradict advice to keep pump parts in the fridge in between sessions. One option that would be compliant with the guidelines would be to buy as many sets of pump parts as you pump in a day, and run them all through the dishwasher every night.)

Pumpie Wet Bag with Breast Pump Parts

Speaking of keeping pump parts together, the Pumpie Wet Bag is similar to the Pumparoo (which I reviewed here) – it’s a reusable bag that you can keep your pump parts in after you pump and before you wash them.

There are a couple of features that I like about this product as compared to the Pumparoo or a ziploc bag – first, I like that you can collapse it out on the counter and use it as a spot to put your bottles and pump parts while you unhook yourself, and then easily use the drawstrings to pick everything up. The drawstrings also make it easy to open up the bag and have everything that you need in front of you.

The one concern that I had with these two products is that they are a little pricey (the Pumpie Wet Bag retails for $35, and by comparison, the Pumparoo is almost half that). I asked Helen about this, and she said that the bags are handmade by a mom in St. Louis. Additionally, they are adding monograms to the Pumpie bags, and the monogram will be included in the price.

(Updated 4/21/18: This post was originally and a review/giveaway, and was updated to provide more up-to-date information on the product.)

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Comments

  2. I would like to win the pumpie!
    I just had a newborn and am struggling latching this time.
    I am an exclusively pumping newbie.
    Pumpie would make my life easier.

  3. Yep, still a Ziplock bag for me on baby number 3! I was hoping a better idea would come along. This sounds like a great solution.

  4. I’ve been exclusively pumping due to my son having an airway defect. The pumpie bag would be much easier and efficient than using a ziploc bag!!

  5. Be careful running pump parts through the dishwasher!

    For example, I have a Spectra. From their FAQ:
    “The breast shield kits are dishwasher safe but proceed with caution. It is best to hand wash all parts. It is not recommended to leave the parts in through the drying setting ever, Because there are many different dishwasher models with different drying temperatures some may actually be too hot for the BPA free plastic and melt them. The ideal way to clean your parts is by washing them with warm soapy water and allowing them to air dry…”

    If you never use the drying function on your dishwasher, you’re probably ok. But I believe many people do by default and you’d want to be sure you change that! Even if they don’t all-out melt, a little softening and misshaping could be enough to affect performance. I also wonder whether one-piece flange/connectors would get clean. Certainly could be handy if it works.

    Even if I thought the other parts would be ok, I would probably still clean my duckbill valves by hand to make sure soapy water didn’t cling inside them (not an issue for the flat valve style).

  6. This is my first time exclusively pumping, I would love to try anything that makes it easier!

  7. I am currently using a ziplock bag and Pumpie looks interesting. Would love to use it!

  8. Just heard about wetbags last week. I have been using zip loc bags. Would be great to have something reuseable. Thanks.

  9. Anything to make the pump life easier! Thanks for all your tips and reviews.

  10. I’ve had a part melt in the dishwasher because it fell on the coil! This would prevent a repeat!!

  11. Before reading your post last time I didn’t even know it was an option to leave things in the fridge between pumps.

  13. I would love to have a pumpie bag. A new baby, being a student and being in the military keeps me busy.

  15. I’m 4 months into exclusively pumping and these both seem like they would be great products to have!

  16. After doing triple feeds for 6 weeks and now being a new EPer and a full time nurse and mom, I would love to have something less wasteful than the plastic bags I’m using. The pulpit sounds wonderful!

  17. I have a 4 week old and I’m a new ep-er, I’m using a ziploc bag. Hand washing everything while already being back at work is hell.

  18. 6 months into my pumping journey and woo this would deff make it easier for the rest of the months I plan to continue to pump for.

  20. Love this idea! Truly, on of the most difficult (and daunting) challenges of EP’ing is washing parts. Hope I win, I’d love a chance to have anything to make my life a little easier!

  22. Have been exclusively pumping for 7 months and am just now finding this awesome product! Would love to try it!

  24. This pumpie sounds great for EPers! I pump 7+ times a day, and washing parts is the bane of my life.

  25. This looks like it would be really handy for at work! Working twelve hours shifts means multiple pumping sessions at work!

  28. Would love to win! I have a toddler and newborn twins and anything that saves time would help!

  31. This bag looks great! Just today I lost a tiny piece of my pump parts. I went out of my mind looking for it in the dishwasher. Luckily it showed up, but I was just about to start to search for a solution to keep everything secure on the top rack so this would be perfect!

  32. I’m a first time mama to a beautiful 7 week old boy, and this site has helped me so incredibly much. The “real talk” info is relatable and I’ve learned so much about this journey. These products seem great and will give that extra time to be with family, or maybe a few extra minutes in a warm shower !! ?

  35. The Ziploc bag is my go-to right now… between visiting my ex 24 week twins in the NICU every day and keeping up with a decent pumping schedule, I would love to try these products to hopefully make life a little easier!

  36. Wow…I didn’t even know something like this existed! Sure beats cleaning my pump parts every night! Definitely will have to get one.

  37. using a ziplock bag inside a cooler to store parts currently! Would be so much easier at work to use the pumpie!

  38. First time mom here and also using a ziplock bag. Winning the pumpie would be awesome! I can’t tell you enough how much this group/newsletter has helped. Thank you for everything 🙂

  40. One of these bags would make my life a great deal easier! My baby boy (1st child) is three weeks old today. After a difficult struggle and a lot of work with lactation consultants, I have become an exclusive pumper. It feels like all I do is pump, clean parts, and repeat. I gladly do it because I love my little so much, but it’s tiresome. Anything to help avoid burnout would be great!

  42. What a convenient idea! So much better than my ziploc bags covering each flange!

  43. This would be amazing! I am 4 months in to EP and hand washing is so time consuming.

  44. This seems awesome! My current strategy of putting pump parts in my salad spinner in the dishwasher isn’t working very well 🙂

  45. Would love to win and get back an hour or so of my day to spend with my little guy!!!

  48. I’ve been using a ziplock bag and the refrigerator bag would be great!

  51. I have been exclusively pumping for 3 weeks now and anything to make my life easier would be amazing! Love that there are useful accessories for EP-ers out there!

  55. Been exclusively pumping for almost 10 months and the idea of not washing my pump parts by hand multiple times a day sounds like heaven!!

  57. I use a glad container to put my parts in the fridge or cooler. It can be bulky and annoying when I go places. I have used a zip loc bag as well. I would love to have something more convenient and simple.

  59. I’m a first time mom and now first time pumper after trying to breastfeed the first 3 months:( getting the hang of it all and these products would be great to have. I’ve already spent so much ha!

  61. 8.5 months strong Eping and using ziploc bags. Would love something reusable and helpful on the go!

  62. I would love this! I love how companies are making exclusively pumping more convenient for working moms!

  63. I’m using a ziplock bag but still end up washing a ton of parts since I pump at work and at home. This bag sounds like an amazing accessory to have!

  64. Loved this article! My midwife sent me the link for your website and I’m so thankful for all the information and easy tips you bring. My daughter wouldn’t latch and I fell into deep depression thinking I failed because I had to switch to formula, this time with my son, I’ve been pumping exclusively for 2 weeks, my son will be a month old on Friday. Last week I completely dried up but pumping to your times, and taking fenugreek and eating oatmeal has helped me produce now 1.5 to 3 oz a pumping session. I would love to be considered for this giveaway, nice to not have to wash your pumping supplies every time (which I have been doing). Thank you again for all the info from your site!

  67. Like maby of these amazing mamma’s I am using zip lock bags! Would love to
    Simplify. Am an exclusive pumper with 2 others (4 and 2) at home.

  69. I would love to have this! Yesterday was my first day back to work and this would be such a time saver when I get home to my little one!

  70. I’d love a pumpie!! I am going back to work on Thursday and can use all the help I can get since I’ll be pumping there.

  72. Thanks for all of your suggestions and reviews! EP is hard but makes it easier to hear others success stories.
    Would love to win!

  76. This would be wonderful!
    Love this site gave me a lot of hope and encouragement.

  77. I would love to have this! Im exclusively pumping my 2 month old due to latch problems from her being in the NICU for 2 weeks and being bottle fed my breast milk. What a great idea for a product!