Cleaning expressing equipment

If your baby is full term and healthy, keeping expressing equipment clean is simple.  There is no need to disinfect or sterilise your own expressing equipment.  

If your baby is sick or premature, or you have a breast or nipple infections, follow the advice of your doctor or child health nurse about cleaning your equipment. 

You need to clean all your expressing equipment. This includes: 

• the milk collection parts of your pump
• all containers used to collect or store your breastmilk.

Equipment needs to be thoroughly at least once every 24 hours. If you're only expressing once a day or less, clean your equipment after each use. If you’re expressing several times a day, store unrinsed expressing equipment in the fridge in a clean, closed container or plastic bag until next use. If you don’t have access to a fridge, rinse the parts in cold water before storing in a closed container.

The tubing on electric breast pumps does not come in contact with breastmilk and does not need to be cleaned unless directed by the manufacturer. 

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water. Dry them on a paper towel or a clean, unused cloth towel. 

2. Take apart the breast pump collection kit and all storage containers so every part can be cleaned well.
3. Rinse everything in cold water to remove milk from all the parts. If you have different water supplies for drinking and washing, use drinking water.
4. Wash all parts with a small amount of dishwashing liquid and hot water. Take care to remove all traces of milk. Use a brush kept just for this purpose.
5. Rinse at least twice in hot water.
6. Drain bottles and containers upside-down on clean paper towel or a clean cloth towel. Cover while they air dry. Before putting away, ensure no water droplets remain in the containers or on any parts. If any water remains, dry carefully.
7. Store the dry kit in a clean, covered container or bag. 

© Australian Breastfeeding Association June 2025