What to wash baby bottles with

How to Clean Baby Bottles

We know babies require a lot of stuff. And by a lot, we mean, a lot! All of those bottles, bottle parts, nipples, pacifiers, and sippy cups need to be cleaned. Over and over. Day after day. Here’s everything you need to know on how to clean baby bottles and parts, so you can worry less about all the “stuff” and spend more time with your little duckling!

How to Hand Wash Baby Bottles

It can seem daunting to have to hand wash your baby bottles, nipples, caps, and sippy cups after every use, but with the right steps you’ll find that scrubbing right away isn’t always necessary. So, you can pay more attention to tummy time and less on cleaning.

Here’s how to wash baby items by hand:

1. Things You’ll Need.

In addition to a sponge, we recommend purchasing a dedicated bottle brush with a nipple brush to clean all the hard-to-reach spots inside your baby’s bottles. For a gentle clean that’s free of dyes, use Dawn® Free and Clear.

2. Rinse Directly After Use.

As soon as you have finished feeding your baby, give your bottle a quick rinse with warm water, just to get rid of most leftover residue. You can come back to thoroughly wash a full day’s worth of bottles when you have more time.

3. Fill A Bowl with Hot Soapy Water.

Apply a squirt of Dawn® to a bowl of hot water. Dawn® works great for cleaning baby items because it does not leave a soapy residue on bottles when rinsed appropriately.

4. Separate the Bottle Parts.

It’s important to take apart every part of the bottle. Old milk can build up between the bottle, the ring, and the nipple.

5. Wash Bottle Parts Separately.

Place all of the bottle parts into hot, soapy water and wash them individually. Use a soapy bottle brush for the bottle and the nipple brush for the plastic nipples and rings. Next, gently squeeze soapy water through the nipple hole to flush out any trapped milk.

6. Rinse Bottle and Bottle Parts.

Rinse off the bottle and bottle parts thoroughly under running water to remove any remaining soap residue.

7. Dry Bottles and Attachments.

Place bottles and nipples upside down in the dish rack to dry. Your baby items are now clean and ready for another feeding. Prepare to do this several hundred more times, even in your sleep.

Handwashing Versus Dishwashing Baby Bottles

Baby bottles can pile up, especially with a newborn! It’s recommended to wash baby bottles after each use, especially during the infancy stage—but don’t worry! You do have a few options when it comes to protecting all those bottles from messes, so you can be more confident with every feeding. You can wash baby bottles and attachments in the dishwasher every few days, but make sure they’re dishwasher-safe before running the cycle. *

To clean baby bottles in the dishwasher:

• Rinse baby bottles, nipples, caps, sippy cups and other attachments with warm water

• Soak with warm water and a gentle dish soap like Dawn® Free and Clear, which is free of dyes

• Rinse off bottles and attachments with warm water

• Load into the top rack of your dishwasher

• Set to a hot water washing cycle and heated drying cycle

• Remove from dishwasher and place on a clean surface or baby bottle drying rack

In cases where your baby bottles aren’t dishwasher safe or your dishwasher is full, handwashing is also a great go-to when it comes to keeping bottles clean and safe for your little bundle.

How to Sterilize Baby Bottles

You’ll also want to consider using a baby bottle sterilizer during the early days. Sterilizing baby bottles and attachments helps remove germs and bacteria—especially if your little duckling is primarily bottle fed. If you’re using a bottle for the first time, you should always hand wash and sterilize it before giving it to baby. This helps ensure you’re starting off with a clean and sanitary bottle, every time.

• Allow the baby bottle and parts to soak in warm, soapy water

• Rinse off with warm water

• Place in baby bottle sterilizer and follow the instructions provided for your particular brand of sterilizer

• Once complete, store on a clean drying rack before use

You can also sterilize your baby bottles by placing them in boiling water—but be careful to not damage the nipple or any other attachments.

Can I Reuse My Old Baby Bottles?

When kept in good condition and thoroughly washed, you may be able to reuse your baby bottles with your next baby. However, it’s best to get new bottle attachments, such as nipples, as these can undergo wear and tear over time.

Whether new or used, always be sure to soak your baby bottles in warm, soapy water and sterilize before using.

Best Dish Soap for Baby Bottles

When it comes to ensuring your baby is getting the best, we understand that same notion extends to the dish soap you use as well. Here are our recommendations for top dishwashing liquids to use when cleaning baby bottles, bottle attachments, and first utensils:

• For Soaking: Before sterilizing or running your baby’s bottles through a dishwasher, use a foaming dish soap like Dawn® Platinum Dishwashing Foam. Just one pump creates more than enough soapy foam to penetrate leftover formula and milk residue.

• For Everyday Handwashing: Dawn® Free & Clear is powerful enough to tackle any leftover messes, including baby food and milk residue, and gentle enough to use on delicate items, while also being free of dyes and phosphates.

With Dawn® dish soap it’s So Dawn Easy to keep all your baby items clean, so you can feel more confident when feeding your cooing little duckling!

How to Wash Baby Bottles

Wondering how to clean a baby bottle? You’re definitely not alone! In addition to ensuring the most effective cleaning process, our guide outlines why choosing baby safe dishwasher detergent and dish soap is so important.

How Often Should I Wash Baby Bottles?

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises washing baby bottles after each feeding. As parents, we know you’re going to be busy, but at the very least, rinse them out immediately to help prevent caked-on residue.

Don’t Forget About Washing Your Baby Bottle Cleaner Tools

It’s best to run your cleaning tools (like brushes) through the dishwasher every few days or spray them with our hydrogen peroxide-based Disinfecting Surface Cleaner. Families with infants under three months old, premature babies, or babies with weakened immune systems should wash cleaning tools after every use.

When Should I Sterilize Baby Bottles?

If you have a newborn, premature baby, or an infant with a weakened immune system, it may be wise to consider sterilizing bottles every day.

Always check the bottle manufacturer's instructions to ensure that bottles and parts are safe to be sterilized with our technique: Boil the bottles in a clean pot of water for 5 minutes, remove with a clean pair of tongs, and lay them out to dry on a clean surface.

We recommend sterilizing new bottles using the same methods.

Can You Wash Baby Bottles with Soap?

You don’t need a dishwasher – you can absolutely wash baby bottles with dish soap.

1. Wash your hands.
2. Fill a small wash basin with hot water, adding enough Natural Dish Soap to make a thick foam.
3. Separate each component (e.g. nipples, caps, rings) and rinse them with fresh water.
4. Submerge them in the soapy water and use a brush to scrub the insides until they’re thoroughly clean.
5. Rinse with fresh water, shake off excess, and dry upside-down on a baby bottle rack in an area that’s protected from dirt and dust.

Pro Tip: A designated nylon-bristle brush should be used to wash bottle nipples. They’re notoriously hard to get clean, so it’s often helpful to squeeze water through them.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Baby Bottle Smells

Cleaning bottles isn’t always possible – life has a habit of getting in the way! It’s totally normal for bottles to have a residual smell, but a few natural remedies work to eliminate them.

Shake hot water and a tablespoon of white vinegar in the bottles before your normal cleaning process. Ensure that they’re totally rinsed, then wash them with a natural dish soap.

How to Clean Baby Bottles While Traveling

If you’re traveling with your baby, simply follow the same cleaning instructions above. Just make sure you have a clean container (we love this collapsible dish tub), dish soap, and a bottle brush with you.

Can You Wash Baby Bottles in the Dishwasher?

If your baby bottles are made of glass or dishwasher-safe plastic, they can be run through the dishwasher. To load baby bottles in the dishwasher, use the internal basket to clip the nipples upright during the full cycle, then place all remaining bottle parts on the top rack. Choose a hot water and heated drying cycle.

What’s the Best Dishwasher Detergent for Baby Bottles?

Our 99.5% Natural Dishwasher Detergent Packs were created with plant-based enzymes (like manannase and protease) that safely break down milk and formula proteins. It was painstakingly formulated to fully rinse away, leaving zero residue.

Do I Need a Safe Dishwasher Detergent for Baby Bottles?

Many dish cleaning products contain potentially harmful ingredients. It was actually these competitor ingredient lists that pushed us to develop our products with the help of physicians and Ph. D. chemists.

That’s why our baby safe dishwasher detergent is free of:

• Perfumes
• Synthetic Fragrance
• Phosphates
• Sulfates
• Parabens
• Chlorine bleach
• Petrochemicals
• Triclosan
• Animal by-products
• Dyes
• Phthalates
• Caustics

Pro-Tip: Always let bottles completely dry before reassembling.

Many parents reassemble baby bottles when moisture is still inside the bottle – which can cause mildew and mold growth. Shake out any loose water droplets and allow bottles to completely air dry on a clean towel or bottle drying rack.

From Bottles to Burps, Here’s to Health and Happiness!

Having clean, ready-to-use bottles on hand will help you focus on bonding during mealtimes. That’s why we developed the most effective plant-based cleaning products.

From our family to yours, we wish you (and your newest bundle of joy) all the best.

What and how to wash baby bottles