To sterilize a Haakaa, boil it in water for 2 to 3 minutes or use a microwave steam bag. These are the two main methods recommended by the manufacturer, and both are safe for the food-grade silicone the pump is made from. The process takes just a few minutes once you know the basics, but there are a couple of things to avoid that could damage your pump over time.
Boiling Method
Boiling is the simplest option and requires no extra equipment. Bring a pot of water to a full, rolling boil, then submerge the Haakaa for 2 to 3 minutes. Use tongs to remove it and place it on a clean towel or drying rack to air dry completely.
A few practical tips: make sure the pump is fully submerged so steam doesn’t leave part of it unsanitized. Don’t let it sit on the bottom of the pot where direct contact with the metal surface could cause uneven heating. And don’t boil it for significantly longer than 3 minutes. Food-grade silicone handles temperatures up to about 240 to 260°C (464 to 500°F), so the 100°C of boiling water is well within its safe range, but there’s no benefit to extended boiling and it can shorten the pump’s lifespan over time.
Microwave Steam Bags
Haakaa sells its own microwave sterilizer bag, but any microwave steam bag designed for baby products works the same way. You add water to the fill line (typically around 100 ml), place the washed pump inside, seal the bag with the vent unobstructed, and microwave according to the bag’s instructions.
The key detail people miss is the water level. Too much or too little water means the steam may not sterilize effectively, or the contents could warp. Always check for the fill line marked on the bag. When you remove the bag from the microwave, use a towel or oven mitts. It’s full of hot water and steam, and tipping it can cause serious burns.
Electric Steam Sterilizers
Any electric steam sterilizer designed for baby bottles and pump parts will work with the Haakaa. Follow the sterilizer manufacturer’s instructions for water amounts and cycle times. This is the most hands-off method, since you load it, press a button, and walk away.
What Not to Use
Haakaa specifically warns against three things: bleach-based cleaning agents, sterilizing tablets, and UV sterilizers. Bleach and sterilizing tablets can cloud the silicone and affect its clarity. While cloudy silicone is still safe (the material doesn’t leach chemicals), it’s cosmetically irreversible. Silicone is absorbent, so once it picks up discoloration from harsh chemicals, it doesn’t come back.
UV sterilizers are the less obvious one. UV light degrades silicone over time through a process involving moisture-assisted breakdown of the material’s molecular structure. The pump won’t fall apart after one cycle, but repeated UV exposure makes the silicone brittle and shortens the product’s usable life. Haakaa explicitly states that UV sterilizers may impact the lifespan of your pump.
How Often to Sterilize
The CDC recommends sanitizing pump parts at least once daily for extra germ removal. This is especially important if your baby is younger than 2 months, was born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system. For older, healthy babies, daily sterilization may not be necessary as long as you’re washing the pump thoroughly with warm, soapy water after every single use.
Washing and sterilizing are two separate steps. Every time you use the Haakaa, wash it with warm water and dish soap first. Sterilization (boiling or steaming) is the second step that kills bacteria the soap didn’t get. Don’t skip the soap wash and go straight to boiling, since dried milk residue can protect bacteria from heat.
Drying and Storage
After sterilizing, place the Haakaa on a clean, dry surface with the opening facing down so water drains out. A clean dish rack or a fresh towel works well. Let it air dry completely before storing it. Putting a damp pump into a closed cabinet or zip-top bag creates exactly the warm, moist environment where mold thrives.
Once it’s fully dry, store it in a clean, dry spot with the flange open rather than compressed. Storing silicone in a squished position for long periods can cause it to lose its shape, which affects the suction seal that makes the Haakaa work in the first place.
Dealing With Cloudiness and Odor
Silicone naturally absorbs colors and smells from whatever it contacts, so some cloudiness or a faint milk smell over time is normal and doesn’t mean the pump is dirty or unsafe. Regular dish soap can contribute to cloudiness too, but the material remains completely safe.
If your Haakaa develops a stubborn smell, try boiling it for the full 3 minutes with a splash of white vinegar in the water. Some parents also leave the pump in direct sunlight for a short time to help with discoloration, though prolonged UV exposure (as with UV sterilizers) should be avoided. A brief stint in natural light is different from repeated cycles in a UV device.