How big of a pain is cleanup and maintenance? I am concerned about the parts being high maintenance and afraid they will grow mold easily.
322179
It's much easier than the cleanup for my Ameda. There are less little parts to deal with and I think easier to clean. The only thing I don't like is that it's not a closed system so it is possible for milk to get in the tubes. That shouldn't really happen but I do get condensation so will probably flush with rubbing alcohol and water every month and replace the tubing every few months (not expensive).
322180
Super easy to use and clean. As long as you follow the instructions of care you recieve with the Medela Pump you will be fine.
322181
If you make sure after pumping that the tube lines are dry, clean up consists only of the bottles, valves, etc. Easy. The pump comes with a button to push after pumping that increases the rate of suction on the tubes to dry them of humidity. Milk should not be able to get up into the tubes.
322182
It's super easy. The only thing with the tubing is to let it keep pumping after you're done to get rid of any fluid in the lines. Otherwise, that's the only issue I have with mine.
322183
There are several parts that should be cleaned after every use, but I didn't disassemble them completely, it's really not that bad. It isn't any different than cleaning bottle parts. The product is great!
797259
I have this, and the top part does come off. I have had no issue with cleaning it. I simply put water and white vinegar in the bottom of it and let it sit for 20-30 min. It's not moldy, and I've used it almost every night this winter. It's cool mist.
1207885
I don't have that problem. I clean everything at least once a week. Breaking down the entire unit.
89412
We just changed ours after 4-5 years and it was dirty. The machine did seem to work well all that time, so it's not like it lost air flow from being overly dirty. Make sure to vacuum the outside periodically (it will get dusty) so that air can flow in.
2229399
ours has started having issues this season as well, ( less than a year old) I plan to open it up and see if there may be debris or chemical buildup restricting the moving parts..... not sure if there is a fix? would like to hear what problems/fixes others have had as well
914800
It is very easy to clean if you do so right away. If your fruit/veggie residue stays on the parts for too long, the cones are hard to clean. There are several parts (6-8) but they come apart easily and clean up nice.
1127455
I used bleach to clean mine. You have to rinse about 100 times to make sure to get it all out but it worked. All mold gone. I left overnite. Only use enough bleach to cover the bottom
431434
First you need to determine the cause of the mold then eliminate it. The machine will take care of it from there.
1202428
There is no need to clean the unit after every use if you do not choose to, though I would reccomend cleaning intermittently to maintain cleanliness and maintaining the unit. I am not clear on why some find it so difficult as I have no issues cleaning mine.
1763409
Absolutely. The parts assemble and reassemble easily. The only issue with cleaning is making sure you avoid the very sharp blades. :-)
2092487
It is not difficult to clean and comes with a small brush to help. There are chemical you can get to break down mineral deposits it that is a problem. Most parts are easy just to rinse off or wipe with a cloth.
1928524
They clean up very well, just do not use CLR or the like on them. It will ruin the finish. Instructions for care and maintenance are inc. with product.
70630
its not hard to clean. I use it everyday and I just throw the parts in the dishwasher and wipe the outside of the motor housing. The 'extra large" feed shute is bigger than the last one that I had which doesnt tell you much, but it has been sufficient for me, and I use mine at work where we feed about 50 people a day and it does the job very well. Im happy with it so far
2104971
It's built pretty well and may hold up to that kind of use, but ultimately it's a home machine. It's a calculated risk. It may hold up for years. It may not. Regular cleaning and de-liming should improve your odds.
1274563
I have never cleaned one of these. I just installed them. your method sounds like a good one though
1328745
Easy! Just lift the main unit off the base and the base unit is exposed for easy cleaning. Just lift the cage out off the base that contains the wick and go for it. The instructions recommend weekly cleaning and sterilizing. Two of the 3 units I have purchased this season have reached 750 hours of operation when "CF" check filter) appears on the readout. I opened both units and determined that there was no reason to do a deep cleaning at that time. I add a few caps full of bacteriostat to every other filling to keep mold and mildew out of the unit. If you have hard water, the wicks will harden with mineral deposits quickly and will need to be replaced. I have hard water and have not yet felt it necessary to replace these wicks. They are fairly cheap at around $13 each (1 per unit). I am hoping to get a full season out a wick. Hope this helps.
5629
Thank you for your inquiry. Happen to have one at home and have only used it twice but I have had no issues with getting the unit completely cleaned. Hope that helps. Thank you