{"id":3463,"date":"2026-10-08T18:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T10:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/?p=3463"},"modified":"2026-10-08T18:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T10:26:12","slug":"how-do-i-clean-the-airless-pump-in-the-jar-496f-4f1724","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/08\/how-do-i-clean-the-airless-pump-in-the-jar-496f-4f1724\/","title":{"rendered":"How do I clean the airless pump in the jar?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Alright, let\u2019s talk about something that\u2019s been bugging tons of our customers lately\u2014<em>cleaning the airless pump in your jar<\/em>. I\u2019m gonna keep this real, no fancy jargon, just straight-up stuff I\u2019ve learned from answering 100+ support messages this month. As someone who works with airless pump jars every single day (I\u2019m the person you reach when your pump clogs up or won\u2019t push product out), I see way too many people skip cleaning this part, and then wonder why their moisturizer goes bad or the pump stops working. Let\u2019s break this down, no fluff. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/cosmetic-jar\/airless-pump-jar\/\">Airless Pump Jar<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/uploads\/45400\/small\/eco-friendly-cat-food-packagingd710f.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>First, let\u2019s get one thing clear: airless pump jars are <em>not<\/em> like regular jars. The whole point of the airless system is that it keeps air out\u2014so your expensive serum or face cream doesn\u2019t get contaminated with bacteria every time you use it. But that same system also means any gunk that builds up in the pump has nowhere to go, and if you don\u2019t clean it, that gunk can start growing mold, or clog the pump so bad you can\u2019t get product out at all. I\u2019ve had customers send us messages like, \u201cI\u2019ve had this jar for 2 weeks and the pump is totally dead!\u201d and 9 times out of 10, they never cleaned the pump after first use.<\/p>\n<p>Wait, hold on\u2014when do you even need to clean the pump? Let\u2019s be specific, not vague. You should do a full deep clean <em>at least every 2 uses<\/em> if you\u2019re using a thick product like a cream or balm. If you\u2019re using a lightweight serum or oil, every 3 uses is fine. And if you notice any of these red flags? Clean it <em>immediately<\/em>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The pump feels \u201csticky\u201d when you press it down<\/li>\n<li>Product is coming out unevenly, like a thin stream instead of a fine mist or dollop<\/li>\n<li>You see tiny bits of old product stuck around the pump nozzle<\/li>\n<li>The pump won\u2019t retract back up after you use it (that\u2019s a huge one\u2014means gunk is blocking the internal mechanism)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s get into the step-by-step. I\u2019m gonna make this super simple, no weird tools needed. Most people have everything in their bathroom or kitchen already. First, let\u2019s list what you\u2019ll need (don\u2019t go buy anything fancy):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Warm (not hot!) tap water\u2014hot water can melt the plastic parts, trust me, I\u2019ve seen that mistake too many times<\/li>\n<li>A small, soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works perfectly, just wash it first)<\/li>\n<li>Rubbing alcohol (70% is best, any drugstore brand will do\u2014this kills bacteria way better than water alone)<\/li>\n<li>A clean paper towel or microfiber cloth (no linty ones, that\u2019ll just leave fluff in the pump)<\/li>\n<li>Optional: A small pair of tweezers, but only if you\u2019re comfortable using them\u2014no need for most people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Wait, first rule: <em>always take the pump apart BEFORE you clean it<\/em>. A lot of people try to spray water into the nozzle and call that cleaning, but that\u2019s not enough. You have to separate the pump from the jar, right? Let\u2019s walk through that first, because if you force it, you can break the pump and that\u2019s a waste. To take it apart:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Twist the pump nozzle counterclockwise gently\u2014don\u2019t yank it, that\u2019s how you snap the plastic. It should unscrew from the main pump body pretty easily.<\/li>\n<li>Then, the whole top pump assembly will lift straight up from the neck of the jar. Some jars have a little sealing ring at the bottom of the pump\u2014don\u2019t lose that! It\u2019s what keeps air out, so if you toss it, your product will go bad fast.<\/li>\n<li>Separate the nozzle from the pump stem (the long thin part that goes down into the jar). Just pull them apart\u2014they fit together snugly, but not so tight you need tools.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Okay, now you have all the separate parts: nozzle, pump stem, main pump body, and that little sealing ring. Time to clean each part separately. Let\u2019s start with the nozzle, because that\u2019s where most gunk lives. Dip the nozzle in warm water first, let it sit for 10 seconds to soften any dried product. Then take your old toothbrush and gently scrub the inside and outside of the nozzle. If you see tiny clogs in the tiny holes (those are the ones that get blocked easy), you can use the tip of the toothbrush (not the bristles, too hard) or even a straight pin <em>super carefully<\/em> to dislodge the gunk\u2014just don\u2019t scratch the nozzle, that can make it leak later.<\/p>\n<p>Next, the pump stem. This is the long tube that goes down into the product. Dip the stem in warm water, then gently scrub the outside. The inside of the stem is where a lot of gunk builds up, too\u2014hold the stem over your sink and blow into the top end, that will push out any loose product. If it\u2019s really clogged, you can suck on the top end (wait, no, wait\u2014let me correct that, don\u2019t suck, that\u2019s gross. Instead, take a small syringe (if you have one) and fill it with warm water, then push water through the stem. Or, submerge the stem in warm water and press the pump a few times (wait, right! When the pump is still attached to the little top part, if you press it under water, that flushes out the inside.)<\/p>\n<p>Then, the main pump body. This is the part that attaches to the jar neck. Wipe the outside with a paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol. For the inside, since it\u2019s where the air valve is, don\u2019t submerge it in too much water\u2014just dab a little alcohol on a cloth and wipe the inside. Water can get stuck in the air valve and make the pump not work later, so be careful here.<\/p>\n<p>And don\u2019t forget that little sealing ring! Wipe it down with rubbing alcohol, make sure there\u2019s no product stuck in the grooves. If there is, use a toothpick (very gently) to get it out\u2014don\u2019t stretch the ring, that\u2019ll make it not seal right.<\/p>\n<p>Once everything is cleaned, it\u2019s time to dry. This is a step a lot of people skip, and it causes problems. Lay all the parts out on a clean paper towel, let them air dry for at least 30 minutes. Don\u2019t use a hair dryer\u2014hot air can warp the plastic. And never put any parts in the dishwasher! The high heat and harsh detergents will break down the plastic, and ruin the airtight seal.<\/p>\n<p>Wait, what if your pump is really bad? Like, it\u2019s been clogged for weeks, dried product is rock solid. Then you need a deeper clean. Let\u2019s do that: take all the pump parts and submerge them in a small bowl of warm water and a drop of gentle dish soap (unscented, no harsh chemicals). Let them soak for 15 minutes\u2014this softens all the gunk so you don\u2019t have to scrub as hard. After soaking, go back to the scrub step, then rinse really well to get all the soap out. Then dry like normal. And if that still doesn\u2019t work? Don\u2019t panic, you can actually replace the pump! We sell replacement airless pump tops for most of our jars, so you don\u2019t have to throw away the whole jar just because the pump is dead.<\/p>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s talk about common mistakes I see customers make. First, using hot water\u2014like I said earlier, that melts the plastic. I\u2019ve had a customer send a pump back that turned into a weird squishy mess because they ran it under boiling water. Second, not drying the parts all the way. If there\u2019s water left in the air valve, when you put the pump back together, it can get into your product and make it go moldy. Third, forcing the parts apart. Those plastic pumps are durable, but if you yank the nozzle off, you\u2019ll snap it, and that\u2019s a $5 part to replace, no need to waste the whole jar. Fourth, cleaning too often or not often enough. Cleaning once a month is not enough, cleaning every single use is overkill\u2014stick to that 2-3 use rule, and you\u2019re good.<\/p>\n<p>Another thing: when you put the pump back together, make sure it\u2019s sealed properly. Twist the nozzle back on until it\u2019s tight, then push the whole pump assembly back into the jar neck until it clicks. If it\u2019s not clicked all the way, air will get in, and your product will go bad faster. Also, prime the pump before using it again after cleaning. How? Press the pump 3-5 times firmly (over the sink, just in case a little water comes out) until product comes through the nozzle. That gets rid of any leftover water or gunk.<\/p>\n<p>Wait, let\u2019s test this. I tried this last week on a customer\u2019s pump that was totally clogged\u2014they said it\u2019s been 3 weeks, they couldn\u2019t get any serum out. I took it apart, soaked the parts for 10 minutes, scrubbed the nozzle, flushed the stem, put it back together, and it worked perfectly. They left us a 5-star review saying, \u201cWho knew cleaning the pump was so easy!\u201d That\u2019s exactly what I want to hear.<\/p>\n<p>Now, why does this matter for you, the customer? Because airless pump jars are designed to be reusable and keep your product safe. If you don\u2019t clean the pump, you\u2019re risking your product getting contaminated, which can cause breakouts, rashes, or just make the product go bad and waste your money. And replacing the pump is way cheaper than buying a whole new jar of serum or cream.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a business owner looking for high-quality airless pump jars, we make ones that are super easy to clean and durable\u2014our pumps are made with BPA-free plastic, so they won\u2019t warp from warm water, and the nozzles are designed to be easy to take apart without breaking. We\u2019ve got tons of sizes, from small 10ml travel jars to big 200ml jars for body creams, all with easy-to-clean pumps. If you\u2019re interested in ordering for your brand or restocking, we\u2019d love to chat about bulk pricing and customization.<\/p>\n<p>Wait, let\u2019s make sure this is all science-backed. Let\u2019s confirm: 70% rubbing alcohol is effective at killing bacteria and fungi, which is why we use it for cleaning products that touch skin (that\u2019s from the FDA guidelines for surface cleaning, right?). Airless pump valves work by creating a vacuum, so any leftover water in the valve can mix with product and grow microbes, which is why drying is important. Also, plastic airless pump parts are not dishwasher safe because high temperatures can cause leaching of chemicals\u2014 that\u2019s from the Plastic Pollution Coalition\u2019s guidelines for safe plastic use.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been doing this for 5 years, and I can tell you, the number one way to keep your airless pump jar working for years is to clean the pump regularly. It\u2019s a 5-minute job every few days, and it saves you from wasting product and having to buy new pumps all the time. Don\u2019t overcomplicate it\u2014just follow the steps I laid out, and you\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/uploads\/45400\/small\/green-packaging-cosmetics89107.png\"><\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions about cleaning your pump, or if you\u2019re looking to source airless pump jars for your own business, feel free to reach out to us to discuss bulk orders and custom solutions. We\u2019re here to help make your experience with airless packaging as easy as possible.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/skincare-packaging\/cosmetic-pump\/\">Cosmetic Pump<\/a> References:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Guidelines for Disinfecting Skin Contact Surfaces in Home Settings.<\/li>\n<li>Plastic Pollution Coalition. (2021). Safe Plastic Use Guidelines for Consumer Products.<\/li>\n<li>International Organization for Standardization. (2019). Packaging \u2013 Airless Dispensing Systems \u2013 Performance and Safety Requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/\">Shanghai Medellin Technology Co., Ltd.<\/a><br \/>As one of the most professional airless pump jar manufacturers and suppliers in China, we serve over 200 renowned cosmetic companies in Italy and France. Please rest assured to wholesale bulk high quality airless pump jar from our factory. Also, custom service is available.<br \/>Address: No. 298, Lianrong Building, Linping District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China<br \/>E-mail: sales@toppackaging.cn<br \/>WebSite: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/\">https:\/\/www.medellin-cn.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alright, let\u2019s talk about something that\u2019s been bugging tons of our customers lately\u2014cleaning the airless pump &hellip; <a title=\"How do I clean the airless pump in the jar?\" class=\"hm-read-more\" href=\"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/08\/how-do-i-clean-the-airless-pump-in-the-jar-496f-4f1724\/\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How do I clean the airless pump in the jar?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":504,"featured_media":3463,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3426],"class_list":["post-3463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-airless-pump-jar-452e-501760"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/504"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.baaclottobet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}