Brenda, some hospitals here say use Ivory dishwashing soap but I do not 
know of any research that says this.

I find that may soaps are highly perfumed, too highly perfumed. Moms may 
also be using too much soap or layering it on.

Here is what mothers have taught me that works very well. Immediately 
after pumping, pour milk into container and put in freezer or 
refrigerate as per hospital instructions. Then use a big bowl, or 
similar small plastic bucket or container, and fill with (fresh) hot 
soapy water. Put pump parts into the hot soapy water. Let soak for a few 
minutes. Rinse twice with clean water, shake out excess water and dry on 
paper towel or clean cloth. I like a bowl big enough that all parts fall 
into the water not stick up above the water line.

If mom hand washes the parts with a lot of soap (meaning soaps up her 
fingers or the brush and thickly soaps the plastic pieces this way), she 
may use too much soap and it may not rinse well. If mom lets her pieces 
sit out and the milk hardens, briefly soaking in a bowl of hot water 
will not clean it well enough.

Those pink square "buckets" that come with the water container and cup 
are perfect for washing pump parts. Perfect size and perfect fit for the 
kitchen sink.

What I see is moms using a ton of soap -- if a little is good, a lot is 
better. I use just what I would for dishes, which is enough to make a 
lather and not a thick coating. Pump pieces are really very easy to 
clean if you do it immediately after pumping.

I work with WIC moms and they often have very little money to buy 
sterilizer bags or special soaps. We use what they have. I use whatever 
soap they have at the kitchen sink and I do not find the pieces smell of 
perfume or look cloudy because I do not use a ton of soap. I wash parts 
if mom needs help after I loan her a pump for her NICU baby or if we are 
in the clinic and she is not going home immediately. So I have washed 
literally hundreds of pump parts. If we don't have a big bowl, I use 
only a couple of drops of soap to hand wash the pieces, and find they 
come shiny clean and have no soap smell or residue.

I would try my suggestion of a few drops of soap in a big bowl of hot 
water, with a double rinse, and see if you still have the same problem.

Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC

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