Babies need to be fed frequently. And the most critical component of infant feeding is the baby bottle. So ya’ll bottle-feeders need to roll your sleeves up because there will be a lot of cleaning ahead before every meal.
Have you ever had a hungry baby scream at you while you’re scrambling to hand wash baby bottles with a good ol’ bottle brush? Clean baby bottles and bottle-feeding go hand in hand but Cleaning baby bottles thoroughly by hand isn’t always doable because life gets in the way, right! So what if we find you a shortcut hm… Our solution doesn’t involve buying expensive gear like a bottle sterilizer or a particular bottle cleaner.
How to deep clean baby bottles in 7 easy steps?
Yup, you searched it up, folks! And it’s in the title anyway. It’s both easy and fast, and you’ll be free to take on other tasks instead of scrubbing your life away when you hand wash baby bottles with a mere bottle brush. That’s right!
We will tell you how to clean baby bottles and bottle parts in the dishwasher!
STEP 1: Dishwasher safe
This step is crucial. Dishwashers are excellent cleaners when it comes to washing baby items. However, not everything that babies require can withstand the high temperatures of dishwashing. You can both hand wash baby bottles or use the dishwasher only if labeled as dishwasher safe.
If you aren’t sure whether something is dishwasher safe or not, it’s better to hand wash it with a bottle brush rather than risk melting your baby bottle.
STEP 2: Disassemble
To begin the washing process, split the bottles into separate components such as caps, nipples, sealing rings, valves, and so on. Disassembly is the basic procedure while you clean baby bottles, whether in the dishwasher or hand wash baby bottles.
STEP 3: Initial rinse
So far, the steps are similar to how you’d use a regular dishwasher, and this step is no different. Before loading them into the dishwasher, properly rinse each part of the baby bottle under running water with a bottle brush. Milk or milk residue will readily become trapped, and the dishwasher may not remove them.
It would help if you clean baby bottles with a bottle brush as soon as possible after every use; allowing milk to curdle in the baby’s bottles makes cleaning considerably more complex and not to mention nastier.
STEP 4: Loading up the washer
Don’t put the baby products in the dishwasher with other cutlery or utensils that have sauce or food bits on them. The nasty bits will come off during the wash, and We don’t want dirty dishwater or soap residue collecting in our baby’s bottle.
Additionally, Always remember to keep baby bottles and other plastic bottle parts face down on the top rack, away from the heat source, to avoid melting. For the water to reach all sides of every bottle part, there must be enough space between them. You’ll likely notice dirty soap residue if you put your baby’s bottle parts too tightly together. Most dishwasher models come with specific loading instructions, so double-check yours to ensure you’re stacking dishes properly.
Some dishwashers also provide clamps that keep the nipple upright and keep smaller bottle parts falling to the bottom. If the one you have doesn’t include this feature, using a dishwasher basket or a mesh laundry bag can prevent small bottle parts from slipping between the gaps in the dishwasher tray and being ruined. Place the baby bottle parts to not topple over during the wash cycle.
STEP 5: Settings
Activate both the hot-water and heated-drying cycles. This heat is why we asked you to make sure your baby bottles are dishwasher safe to resist the sanitation cycle. The dishwashing machine uses a hot water cycle to eliminate germs on washed items; after completing the washing cycle, set your dishwasher to the most extended dry process to ensure no moisture remains in the baby bottles.
STEP 6: Unloading the baby items
If the baby bottles are still wet during assembly, they can retain moisture and flourish microbial growth. Thus After completing the washing cycle, allow your baby bottles to dry completely inside the dishwasher before removing them for storage, or air-dry them after shaking off the excess water.
It’s crucial to wash your hands before taking the baby bottles out of the dishwasher too. Towels or other cloths can also transfer germs to the baby bottles during the drying process so avoid using those.
STEP 7: Proper drying
Finally, each item must be set aside on a clean towel or a specific mat to air dry. Remember to rinse and dry baby bottles by regularly cleaning or drying brush or pad.
And we’re done. So now you know how you can wash your baby bottles efficiently in a dishwasher. But aren’t we forgetting one of the crucial elements of cleaning baby products? We’re talking about soap. When you clean baby bottles in dishwashers, the solution you use is just as critical as the quality of the baby bottles you’re cleaning.
What’s the best dish soap to use for cleaning bottles?
While soap is typically beneficial in many aspects of cleaning, they are also known to include certain potentially dangerous compounds. Given the delicate nature, you need to clean baby bottles properly, evaluate and review the detergents you’re using.
Picking the suitable solution for baby bottles can be difficult because you want to avoid unwanted smells and harsh chemicals such as:
- Perfumes
- Synthetic Fragrance
- Phosphates
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Chlorine bleach
- Petrochemicals
- Triclosan
- Animal by-products
- Dyes
- Phthalates
- Caustics
Alternatively, the best dish soap for baby bottles in the dishwasher is naturally made and free of the ingredients listed above. These detergents are created from hypoallergenic, safe, non-toxic components specially formulated for baby bottles.
Any foaming dish soap that lacks these properties (non-toxic and residue-free) can leave potentially detrimental traces to a newborn. As a result, The best dish soaps are manufactured typically with plant-based enzymes that leave no traces of food/milk odors or the detergent used behind.
So it is critical to read labels and conduct additional research before purchasing the best foaming dish soap.
Common problems faced by bottle feeders
Even though using the dishwasher to wash your baby bottles makes things a lot easier and more convenient for you, there are a few problems that bottle feeders need to take care of to maintain healthy and safe mealtime for your baby.
Damaged and discolored baby bottles
Plastic baby bottles can become yellow after a few months of use. Various variables could be blamed, including fat deposits, food residue, temperature, cleaning products, burnt milk lipids, hot water during the cleaning and watering procedure, soap residue, or heat damage on baby bottles damaging baby bottles.
Using a better grade plastic that is BPA and EA-free initially will ensure that your baby bottles will be more miniature-like to discolor, more resilient, and easier to clean without the risk of abrasions and scratches. However, there are a variety of DIY bottle cleaning treatments available, but not all of them are safe. As a result, it’s best to make an informed decision regarding the materials or best dish soap to employ to remove discoloration from your baby bottles.
Baby bottles smell bad
Baby bottles with a foul odor can have an awful feeling. Your baby’s bottles face a lot of wear and tear, so they’re bound to stink at some time, especially if they’re plastic. People complain that their baby bottles smell soap, sour milk, milk residue, burnt plastic, bleach, plastic, and formula.
The easiest solution is To soak the baby bottle parts with hot water and a tablespoon of white vinegar before cleaning. Ensure you rinse them thoroughly before you hand wash baby bottles or use a dishwasher as you’d typically do. This method is quick and straightforward though there are ways you can avoid the residual smell all along.
We’d recommend Avoiding milk residue with proper washing that could sour or grow bacteria, rinse your baby bottles immediately after each feeding. Baby bottles left with milk residue at room temperature for a prolonged period, especially when moist or unwashed, are more likely to grow bacteria which can be the reason behind the scents in your baby bottles.
Bottle nipples
The nipples are bottle parts that are a common source of bacterial exposure. These bottle parts are either latex or silicone, making them quite delicate. They also crack or tear if they’re roughly handled.
Even though bottle nipples are dishwasher safe, We recommend to hand wash baby bottle nipples with a nipple brush because they can be damaged if washed in the dishwasher regularly. It would be best to clean bottle nipples with a special nylon-bristle nipple brush. Because nipples are complicate to clean, squeezing the water through these bottle parts can be an effective way to wash them.
Another problem can be washing cloudy baby bottle nipples because lactating fat residue might sometimes stick to them regardless of how much time you spend cleaning them. Soaking the nipples in water with a few drops of vinegar can help reduce the cloudiness though there are several more effective ways to get rid of cloudy baby bottle nipples.
Summing up…
Infants are vulnerable to harmful germs and bacteria that is why you need to be extra vigilant with their hygiene. We hope you’re relieved to know that there are other ways to get your baby’s bottles squeaky clean than hand-washing your baby’s feeding bottle parts or having to invest in expensive machinery. Using a dishwasher is quick, effective, and safe if you follow our instructions carefully.
While the dishwasher has some drawbacks, we believe that you can get the most out of everything with proper caution and technique. And as a parent working smart and not hard can make your life ten times easier.
Parents Also Ask
Is it necessary to wash baby bottles regularly?
Cleaning baby bottles thoroughly should follow each meal. No questions asked. Throw away any unfinished formula if your infant does not finish a bottle within 2 hours.
If you introduce breast milk or formula to a partially used bottle, or if used bottle parts are just rinsed rather than washed, germs will multiply promptly. Also, make sure your baby’s bottle parts are dry as a desert before putting them away. You don’t need to sterilize baby bottles that often, but you have to wash baby bottles every day.
How to clean a baby bottle when the baby has thrush?
You’ll need to sterilize after cleaning baby bottles every day if your baby has thrush and use a nipple brush to clean the nipples extra well. If you don’t know what thrush is, because there is yeast on the skin, mothers might pass on Candida to their baby when they give birth causing oral thrush, lasting anywhere from 2 hours to 2-4 months.
Another cause of oral thrush can be filthy formula bottle parts or pacifiers. So if your baby has thrush, you need to be extra careful while washing their bottles. After each usage, sterilize the baby bottle and use a nipple brush. Place the nipples in boiling water for 10 minutes or use the sanitizing mode in the dishwasher.
Allow the nipples to cool before using. If your child needs a pacifier, invest in a few extras that you can sanitize in between usage.
Is it safe to wash a baby bottle in the dishwasher?
Many health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommend this method because it ensures that everything from the bottle cap to the sucking teats to the rings and the actual bottle is squeaky clean, primarily when you use the dishwasher’s sanitization feature.
We won’t say it is the most effective way to wash the baby’s bottle and kill germs, but it is entirely safe. Remember to follow our guide, and you’re good to go.
When should I wash baby bottles before birth?
You can store your baby’s bottles and feeding items once you sterilize baby bottles, and they’ll stay sterile for up to 24 hours.
Go through the basic procedure we’ve listed above and use a nipple brush to make sure the nipple is super clean because your baby will have it in their mouth, and an unclean nipple can result in oral thrush.
How often should I sterilize baby bottles?
If you have a newborn, a premature baby, or an infant with a weaker immune system, it will be a good idea to sterilize baby bottles every day. You don’t have to do it often once your kid gets older.
You can Boil the bottle parts for 5 minutes in a clean saucepan of hot water, remove them with tongs, and lay them out to dry on a clean surface. This procedure to sterilize baby bottles is effective unless the instructions on the box say otherwise.
Can I use dish soap for baby bottles?
Definitely! Foaming dish soap for baby bottles works wonders on the guck and gunk that can accumulate if a bottle is misplaced. It’s also concentrated, so you won’t need as much, which is better for the environment. It rinses clean with no milk residue or odors that could contaminate the contents inside.
