OMG - MOLD in my breast pump horns

[Ellien C]

ugh! Behind the valve in my PIS horns (the yellow piece) I found MOLD growing. There is no way I can clean in there. I have one extra horn that I'm using, but now I need to go out and buy new horns. I'm apalled! the mold count here is really, really high. For my first I was religious about cleaning and sterilizing everything but I thought I'd calmed down with my second. I wish I had washed the horns every night now in the dishwasher. My older horns never molded. this is SO gross. My kid has a stuffy nose, too. What if it's from the mold? I have like NO stash of milk either. I'm going day-day here.

[Adaline'sMama]

Im right there with you. Ive had mold in my PIS horns twice due to my laziness of not cleaning them every time I use them (which is just not often). I filled my sink with very very hot water and vinegar. I soaked them overnight and in the morning I was able to get the mold out by allowing the water to pool inside the horn, and shaking really hard.

[Ellien C]

Thanks for that. I feel like the worst mother in the world. My house is pretty grody, too!

[Super~Single~Mama]

I use a bottle brush to wash my horns out (or I did when I was pumping alot). I like the "munchkin" ones b/c they have a detachable 'nipple' brush and I can get into the small places (I don't have a dishwasher, and this works great).

[sparklett]

Do you have a local WIC office? They will often give you a free set of pumping attachments for PIS, even if you don't qualify for WIC. Look for the breastfeeding support arm of your local WIC office and see if you can get some free horns.

[lilyka]

I used to get it in my tubes. (I would fall asleep while pumping in the mornings and would wake up to the sound of milk getting sucked into my breast pump from overflowing bottles) Also between pumping I would store my horns in the fridge to inhibit any growth of whatever.

[One_Girl]

You can get extra parts from the manufacturer and possibly from the place that sold it to you. I called the store where I got my pump when I needed a replacement part because one broke and they referred me to a lady that sells those types of supplies out of her home so that may be possible in your area. I was able to get my replacement piece the same day because she had some in stock.

[Ellien C]

Thanks. I went to Target to try and buy new pieces but the "2-piece" horns are apparently sold in 3 pieces, but the packaging doesn't say that and target only stocks the 2 pieces. That little yellow piece is apparently sold separately, but Target doesn't sell it and there's NO indication on the packaging that it's available separately. I was able to pull that piece off of ONE of the horns, so at least I can clean it. It's stuck on the other one. I have some older 1-piece horns (which target also sells) which appear to be just fine, so I'm using them for now. They don't fit as well in the bag, which is the only reason I preferred the 2 piece horns.

This is so disgusting - any my baby has the sniffles - and my house is gross - and day care is closed and I have a sitter in my house today --- I'm just SO down on things.

I CANNOT get control of the house. I'm so easily overwhelme and DH and DD have hoarding issues.

[cchrissyy]

Link for medela replacement parts


I know just what you mean, and those parts are avialable individually, just not at big-box stores.

[fireHC11]

I've had mold in the yellow parts, behind the white membrane. I soaked the parts in 3% bleach-to-water solution, then rinsed like mad, then boiled, then laid out in the sun to dry. Good luck!

[MeepyCat]

I've gone at the insides of those with toothpicks. Break up the gunge, then rinse, repeat, repeat, STERILIZE, let dry.

They can get so gross.

[akind1]

Babies R Us has been the best (local) place for me to find spare parts. I had to buy new membranes b/c one of mine tore. The spare parts kit for the PIS should come with the horn (all in one piece) valve, and membrane. I had to run to the store once to buy one because silly me had left my pump parts at home one day! If you have a Burlington Coat Factory they also actually have a surprising amount of Medela stuff.

[Ellien C]

so - for anyone who needs to know - the yellow pieces DO come a part from the clear "connectors," and you can get in from the other side and clean them. I pulled one off and DH got the other one off. Mine were still grody and I just decided to throw them out and I'm using my older 1-piece horns. I will order new connectors and valves from an online place. I need to make some returns to Target anyway so they are getting the connectors back. They really need to stock All THREE parts to the horns, not just 2 parts.

[JudiAU]

I can't tell by your post but... each part of the horn is supposed to be cleaned as its own piece. The white seal comes off from the yellow piece which comes off from the clear connector which comes off the horns. You can refrigerate them as one unit during the day but they should be washed every night. They are all dishwasher safe so I just throw them in the dishwasher and try not to loose the non-dishwasher safe seals. I find it really useful to have a couple of sets otherwise I forget them at work.

[lunarlady]

Originally Posted by JudiAU

I can't tell by your post but... each part of the horn is supposed to be cleaned as its own piece. The white seal comes off from the yellow piece which comes off from the clear connector which comes off the horns. You can refrigerate them as one unit during the day but they should be washed every night. They are all dishwasher safe so I just throw them in the dishwasher and try not to loose the non-dishwasher safe seals. I find it really useful to have a couple of sets otherwise I forget them at work.

The white seals aren't dishwasher safe? Maybe this explains why I have to replace mine all the time!

[Ellien C]

Originally Posted by JudiAU

The white seal comes off from the yellow piece which comes off from the clear connector which comes off the horns. You can refrigerate them as one unit during the day but they should be washed every night. They are all dishwasher safe so I just throw them in the dishwasher and try not to loose the non-dishwasher safe seals. I find it really useful to have a couple of sets otherwise I forget them at work.

That was the part I had NO idea was removeable. I'm on my second child here! Anyway I had some older 1 piece horns that I used and I mail ordered myself a whole new set of valves, horns, and connectors. I had some extra white membranes. I threw all of the other parts out. The horns were probably OK, but I actually went down a size to the smalls.

[JudiAU]

Originally Posted by lunarlady

The white seals aren't dishwasher safe? Maybe this explains why I have to replace mine all the time!

I just the checked the manual and it doesn't specify. I've always assumed they weren't because the get lost easily and end up in our drain at the bottom. I go through seals like crazy so that is my safety measure.

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com...d-shoulder-bag

[hakeber]

I had this problem. I took apart the horns and plopped them in a BIG pot of boiling water and let them boil for about 3-5 minutes each and the mold just fell right out. I did have a little bit that I could see it the uppermost crevices and I got a q-tip and was able to get it out.

Is it a Medela? The yellow part does come off, and you can clean it with a q-tip, but just boil until the mold falls off.

I rinse after each use, but I do not have a dish washer, so mine need boiling about once a week.

[Ellien C]

Yes - it was a Medela. I'm happy now with all new parts, but finding the mold was absolutely traumatic. I was at work and had finished pumping. I have literally 4 oz of frozen milk.

[lunarlady]

I love, love, love the steam sterilizer bags. I would rinse the parts, pop them in to the bag, zap them in the work microwave, and be all set for the next day. It really saved my tush a couple of times when I knew there was no way I was filling, running, and emptying a dishwasher.