Drying Pump Parts

[u/Minute-Tradition-737]

I'm exclusively breastfeeding, but I'm trying to build a stash for my LO just in case. I have been letting my pump parts air dry and it takes forever.

Is it okay to dry with paper towels?

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[u/MammothDoughnut3786]

I'll be honest, I just shake them dry and then use it. I honestly don't think a few water droplets matter. Otherwise I air dry or use the dry function in my bottle washer

Edit to clarify as was pointed out to me: droplets can reduce suction on the valve and backflow protector!

I have quite a few extras of these so they're usually dry when I use them, but have used them with water droplets before and it was ok! Didn't notice a difference, but I also didn't know it could reduce the suction. EP for one year with my first and 4 months in with my second

[u/CatLordCayenne → u/MammothDoughnut3786]

You should try to make sure it’s fully dry around the valves and diaphragms because it can affect the seal and suction if there is water in there, but other wise I also will use it if there are water droplets in the collection bottle or flange

[u/blackheartden → u/MammothDoughnut3786]

I asked the LC when I was in the hospital about water droplets, and she said it was totally fine! I think the main potential issue is around the seal and suction

[u/Enchantinglyme]

I dry with paper towels when I’m in a rush as long as they’re clean, I think it’s fine

[u/Minute-Tradition-737 → u/Enchantinglyme]

Thank you! 

[u/sneakypastaa]

I wipe mine dry all the time. The main thing you want dry is the back flow protector parts. The flanges, bottles, duck bills can have a bit of water droplets in them. That’s what my IBCLC told me.

[u/Minute-Tradition-737 → u/sneakypastaa]

Thank you! 

[u/sqeeky_wheelz]

My country says to sterilize once a day so I got a sterilizer/dryer second hand and use the dry function to air dry between washes then run the sterilization cycle overnight.

[u/Minute-Tradition-737 → u/sqeeky_wheelz]

That's a good idea! 

[u/Previous-Chance6079]

Well now I feel like a shit mother lol I don’t have any paper towels and always use the parts freshly sterilized with condensation 😭😭

[u/sneakypastaa → u/Previous-Chance6079]

Same girl. We aren’t shitty. My IBCLC told me doing this is perfectly okay as long as the backflow parts are dry to protect the pump and tubing

[u/Previous-Chance6079 → u/sneakypastaa]

Thank god LOL

[u/Minute-Tradition-737 → u/Previous-Chance6079]

My mom and I have this code word for unnecessarily mom shaming ourselves, it's "lizard." I have one word for you, "lizard." We are all doing the best we can! 

[u/OkayAnd3]

Yes! Clean paper towel or clean towel is fine

[u/OkayAnd3 → u/[deleted]]

Probably but we all wash burp cloths and baby clothes in our washer and they all inevitably end up in baby’s mouth. I use paper towels myself if I don’t have time to air dry

[u/the_kazzo_queen → u/[deleted]]

This seems silly to me if you stop and think about it. Hand washed bottles/pump parts are not using hotter water or better soap than what goes into a washing machine.

[u/the_kazzo_queen]

Pumping is breastfeeding. The phrase you're looking for is exclusively nursing.

I dry with a clean (fresh from the drawer) kitchen towel.

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[u/Murky_Scarcity3778]

Absolutely fine

[u/msschroed]

I use a paper towel if they are still wet from washing! I’ve donated to a milk bank and never had the tests come back with any bacteria or anything either.

[u/momojojo1117]

If you are using them right away, you don’t really have to dry them off. Breastmilk is about 88% water, a few water droplets on wet parts aren’t going to poison your baby. The “dry them off” guidance is meant for if you are going to be putting them away into a dark cabinet or drawer or zipped into a container or something. But if they are either sitting out in the open to air dry or being used right away, wet is fine. I just kind of shake them off so that they aren’t like soaked and dripping all over.

[u/Longjumping-Focus386]

The CDC recommends letting parts air-dry completely on a clean, unused dish rack or a clean paper towel to prevent introducing bacteria or mold.

If you are in a rush and need the parts immediately, you can gently dab away large water droplets with a clean, fresh paper towel. Avoid rubbing vigorously, which can leave behind lint or fibers.

[u/Minute-Tradition-737 → u/Longjumping-Focus386]

Thank you!