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! One way to make it easier is to wash your breast pump parts in the dishwasher.

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How to wash pump parts in the dishwasher
Putting breast pump parts in the dishwasher on their own isn’t workable because they are too small and will fall through the top rack. You need something to put them in so that this doesn’t happen, but also lets the water and soap in so that the pump parts actually get clean.
All you need to do is put your pump parts in a dishwasher bag or basket on the top rack, and then you can safely and easily wash and sterilize them. Make sure you take all of the pieces apart before putting them in the basket.
Here’s a story showing more in depth how to wash pump parts in the dishwasher:
Best dishwasher baskets for washing pump parts
Here are some great options if you’re in the market for a basket to put your pump parts in!
Green Sprouts Dishwasher Bag
This Green Spouts mesh bag looks small, but it’s big enough to hold your pump parts (this is the bag I used in the above story):

Be careful not to overfill it. One thing to note is that it may not dry even with a heated drying cycle, so you should hang the bag to air dry after use.
Munchkin High Capacity Dishwasher Basket

The Munchkin Dishwasher Basket is another great option for holding everything together. You might need more than one if you have a lot of sets of pump parts.
Are all breast pump parts dishwasher-safe?
You should always check with the pump manufacturer to determine whether the pump parts that come with your pump are dishwasher safe.
If you no longer have the instruction manual, they are usually available online in PDF format if you search.
Below is the answer for a few popular pumps.
Can you put Medela breast pump parts in the dishwasher?
Yes. Medela says:
You can wash the pump parts in the top rack of your dishwasher using your usual detergent. Smaller parts can be placed in the cutlery section. Make sure breast milk bottles, breast shields and teats are facing downwards.
Are Spectra pump parts dishwasher-safe?
Yes, but without a heated/sanitizing cycle. Spectra says:
If using a dishwasher, place items on wash cycle on the top rack and air dry. Do not use heat dry.
How to sterilize breast pump parts in the dishwasher
When you wash your pump parts in to the dishwasher, if you use hot water and a heated drying cycle/sanitizing setting, that will take care of sterilizing your pump parts, too.

The CDC recommends sterilizing pump parts before first use and once per day if you have a baby that:
- is less than three months old,
- was born prematurely, or
- is currently sick.
If your baby doesn’t fit into any of those categories than sterilizing daily “may not be necessary.”
(As noted above, Spectra does not recommend using a heated drying cycle on Spectra pump parts.)
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Creating a system for washing pump parts in the dishwasher

If you’re going to regularly wash pump parts in the dishwasher, you might want to have a system or a routine for doing this. It might look something like this:
- Get enough sets of pump parts so that you have one for each pumping session of the day (depending on how often you pump, this could be two sets or eight sets).
- After you pump, put your used pump parts in a wash basin, wet bag, or dishwasher basket.
- At the end of the day, run the dishwasher.
- Once the dishwasher has finished running, unload the clean pump parts and store them in a covered container. If any of the pump parts are still wet or damp, let them air dry before putting them away.

Obviously, you’ll have to find a system that works for you, but that’s one way to do it!
Do you wash your breast pump parts in the dishwasher? Tell us your system and which dishwasher basket you use in the comments below!

Comments & Chitchat
Still using the ziplock too! Would love to win!
What an awesome idea! I would love to try it!
I’ve been using a ziplock bag and the refrigerator bag would be great!
Great idea! Anything to make pumping life easier is a plus!
These would be amazing. Thanks for the chance!
Would love to win and get back an hour or so of my day to spend with my little guy!!!
This seems awesome! My current strategy of putting pump parts in my salad spinner in the dishwasher isn’t working very well 🙂
This would be amazing! I am 4 months in to EP and hand washing is so time consuming.
What a convenient idea! So much better than my ziploc bags covering each flange!
I’d love to try one!
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!
The dishwasher bag would make life so much easier!
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 🙂
using a ziplock bag inside a cooler to store parts currently! Would be so much easier at work to use the pumpie!
Wow…I didn’t even know something like this existed! Sure beats cleaning my pump parts every night! Definitely will have to get one.
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!
This would be a game changer for me!
This is such a neat idea!
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 !! ?
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!
The pumpie sounds amazing!
Love these innovative products!
Would love to win! I have a toddler and newborn twins and anything that saves time would help!
Wow! I didn’t even know these things existed! How AWESOME!!!
The dishwasher bagsoynds like an excellent idea 🙂 I would love to use it!
This looks like it would be really handy for at work! Working twelve hours shifts means multiple pumping sessions at work!
This pumpie sounds great for EPers! I pump 7+ times a day, and washing parts is the bane of my life.
I would love to use a Pumpie instead of a Ziploc!
Have been exclusively pumping for 7 months and am just now finding this awesome product! Would love to try it!
First time EP here! Both of these items would make my life easier!
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!
I’ve been using ziplocs. What a waste! This would be so much better!
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.
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.
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!
I’m 4 months into exclusively pumping and these both seem like they would be great products to have!
Yay I’d like to win a Pumpie
I would love to have a pumpie bag. A new baby, being a student and being in the military keeps me busy.
This would be awesome!!!
Before reading your post last time I didn’t even know it was an option to leave things in the fridge between pumps.
I’ve had a part melt in the dishwasher because it fell on the coil! This would prevent a repeat!!
Anything to make the pump life easier! Thanks for all your tips and reviews.
Just heard about wetbags last week. I have been using zip loc bags. Would be great to have something reuseable. Thanks.
I am currently using a ziplock bag and Pumpie looks interesting. Would love to use it!
This is my first time exclusively pumping, I would love to try anything that makes it easier!
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).
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!!
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.
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.
I’m still using a ziplock bag! I’d love to use a Pumpie instead!