Mould !

I only use my breast pump every now and then. When I've uses it, I rinse it with running water and leave it to drip dry...

I went to use it yesterday and it's got mould! The mould isn't actually where the milk travels through.

It's a medela mini electric. If you have one, or other medela similar, you'll know(hopefully) where I'm talking about.

Where the milk drips out into the bottle- if you take the valve off, the mould is up there, but in behind the plastic, so it doesn't actually come into contact with the mould.

How can I clean it out? The gap to get in there is too small for me to get in there with a (clean) dishcloth .

I have no idea how to clean it out, if I should use it (I haven't since discovering it), where I'd get a replacement, how much that would cost and a million other questions...

Any ideas?

they have replacement parts on the medela website if that helps, sorry i cant be of any greater help

If it's not in the electrical bit I would try putting it in the dishwasher.
And then rinsing it really well.

Can you get at it with an old toothbrush?

Sometimes you can bottle brushes that have that really tiny little extra brush on them would that be small enough? I'm gonna go check my pump out now but thinking that maybe you packed it away before it was fully dried or do you live in an area that is pretty muggy and humid?

Personally I wouldn't use it until you've been able to clean it out. I agree with finding a brush that can get in there. When you rinse it and leave it to dry do you take it all the way to pieces? If not, that might be an idea for next time. Mould grows so easily in Brissy, it must be so hard for people who live further north!

Can get a ear cleaner (you know, the double ended cotton tip thing) up there, but there's not enough cotton.

What I've done, and don't judge me ... It went through the dishwasher, which got rid if a fair bit. Then i sprayed mould cleaner spray up there... It worked in 5 mins. I left it today, have rinsed it out and will be in the sun tomorrow. Then it's going to go through the dishwasher again, and finally in the steam sterilizer... Wish me luck!