If you need to sterilize bottles for baby feeding or other drinking purposes, there are a few easy methods you can follow to keep your bottles germ-free. The most popular techniques include: using boiling water, a sanitized-certified dishwasher, or a microwave. You can also use bleach if you don't have these tools. Use the cleaning methods in this article for a wide variety of reusable bottles. However, if you are using a plastic bottle, make sure it has a “BPA-free” label on the bottle before you clean it with a heat source. For best results, sterilize bottles when they are purchased or borrowed, when used by someone who is sick, after a buildup of dirt or dust has occurred, or if you are unable to obtain safe drinking water.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Boiling Water
Step 1. Remove all bottle components
To ensure all parts of the bottle are sterilized, remove each component from the bottle. Otherwise, germs will still stick to the small crevices that enter your or your little one's mouth.
Step 2. Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil on the stove
Choose a pot that is the right size to accommodate all the components of the bottle you want to clean. Fill a pot with enough water and place it on the stove, but don't jump into the bottle components at this point. Turn on the stove over high heat and let the water boil.
In order for the water to boil quickly, put a lid with the right size on the pot. Do not add salt or other ingredients to the water
Step 3. Put all the components of the bottle into boiling water and let stand for 5 minutes
After the water boils, add all the parts of the bottle. To avoid getting splashed by water, try to carefully dip parts of the bottle into the water with a spoon, or drop each part by hand from a height slightly above the water's surface.
After 5 minutes, turn off the stove
Step 4. Remove all components of the bottle using clean tongs and air dry
Do not immediately take the bottle components by hand after it is finished heating so that your fingers or hands do not burn. Use clean tongs or other equipment to remove bottle parts from the water. Place it on a clean towel or dish rack, in a place free of dust and dirt and allow the bottle to dry.
Do not wipe the bottle with a towel to dry it because germs can be transferred again. Simply place the bottle components in a clean place until they are ready to use. Make sure your hands are clean when you want to reassemble the components of the bottle before using it
Method 2 of 2: Sterilizing Bottles Using a Dishwasher
Step 1. Check the machine manual for the 184 NSF/ANSI standard certification
NSF/ANSI stands for National Sanitation Foundation / American National Standards Institute. Standard 184 is defined for dishwashers designed with a hot water rinse feature to kill 99.99 percent of bacteria when the machine is set to a sterilization or “sanitizing” cycle. Read the user manual again to make sure your machine is certified and has a sanitizing or sterilizing feature.
If the machine does not have these certifications and sterilization features, it is possible that the machine cannot kill many germs and is not suitable for sterilizing bottles
Step 2.
Remove the bottle components.
Remove all parts of the bottle. Remove the cap, nipple, and other parts. Make sure the germs don't get left behind and stick to any crevices or small spaces in the bottle.
Place the bottle on the top rack of the machine, and the smaller parts in the basket. Place the bottle upside down on the top rack of the machine. Place small items such as lids or teats in the baskets at the top or bottom of the shelf.
Do not place small parts outside the basket. Otherwise, the component may fall onto the heating element at the base of the machine and be damaged
Run the machine with the sterilization or “sanitary” setting. Add detergent or dish soap as usual. Press the “sanitize” button on the front of the machine, then select the “Start” button. Allow the machine to run a sterilization cycle before you remove all bottle components.
The sterilization cycle sometimes takes several hours. Don't stop the round early. If not, it's possible that the bottle hasn't been sterilized yet
Aerate all parts of the bottle to dry it. You can place the bottle and its components in the machine until they are cool enough to touch. If you want to leave it alone, don't open the machine door until the bottle is ready to be removed. If you want to take it out right away, use clean tweezers to remove the bottle and all parts of it so you don't scald your fingers.
Place sterilized bottles and parts on a clean towel, or on a dish rack in a place free of dust and dirt until ready to use
Using the Microwave
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Check that the bottle is microwave safe if it is made of plastic. Glass bottles can usually be microwaved, but you should read the label on the plastic bottle you are using before sterilizing it in the microwave. The label on the package must display the text “microwave-safe”, or at least the product is equipped with instructions for sterilizing bottles using a microwave.
Sterilize Bottles Step 10 -
Separate all components of the bottle. Remove caps, nipples, and other parts to prevent germs from sticking in the crevices of the bottle. This is the safest way to ensure the bottles can be thoroughly sterilized and you or your little one won't ingest any harmful bacteria.
Sterilize Bottles Step 11 -
Fill the bottle halfway with cold water. Use cold water from a clean source (eg gallons of water) to fill half the volume of the bottle. The water in the bottle will then create steam when the microwave is turned on. The steam is used to sterilize bottles.
Image It's best to use water from a clean source (eg gallons of water or a faucet with a filter) every time you want to heat the water because lead and other chemicals that stick to the pipes won't be carried away by the water and stuck to the filter in the faucet
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Put the small parts of the bottle in a special microwave bowl filled with water. Gather small parts such as lids or teats and put them in a bowl. Fill the bowl with enough cold water to cover all the components.
Sterilize Bottles Step 13 -
Microwave all components of the bottle over high heat for 1 minutes. Place the bottles and bowls containing the bottle components in the microwave. Press the high heat option and set the warm-up time to 1 minute 30 seconds. Press the “Start” button and wait for the heating process to complete.
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Dry the bottle and its parts by aerating it. Make sure your hands are clean, then remove the bottle and all parts of it from the microwave. Remove the water from the bottles and bowls, then place the bottle and all its components on a clean towel, or dish rack in a place free of dust and dirt until ready to use.
Image Sterilizing Bottles with Bleach
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Add 5 ml of bleach without perfume to 4 liters of water in a clean basin or bucket. Use a basin large enough to contain and completely submerge the bottle and all its components. Use a measuring cup to measure the amount of bleach and water to add to the bowl.
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Remove the cap, nipple, and other components from the bottle. Remove all parts of the bottle. By separating all the components, germs will not be trapped in the small gaps in the bottle components.
Sterilize Bottles Step 17 -
Soak all parts of the bottle in bleach water for 2 minutes. Dip the bottle into the bleach mixture while making sure all parts are completely submerged and that no air bubbles are trapped inside the components. If you want to sterilize a baby bottle, squeeze or press the teat to allow the mixture to enter.
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Remove the bottle using clean hands or tongs and let it air dry. Place all parts of the bottle on a clean towel or dish rack in a place free of dirt and dust until ready to use. Don't rinse it right away at this stage as rinsing will actually transfer dirt and germs back to the bottle. The remaining bleach on the bottle and its components will disintegrate as it dries and will not harm you or your little one.
Image Tips
- This cleaning method can also be followed for objects that enter the baby's mouth, such as pacifiers, biting toys, and others.
- If you are using a steam sterilizer or chemical sterilizer tablet, follow the instructions in the appliance or product manual.
Warning
- This method can only be followed for reusable bottles. Do not try to sterilize single-use plastic bottles (eg plastic bottles used for coke). Heat or bleach can destroy chemicals in the plastic that can be swallowed when you reuse the bottle.
- Do not hold hot bottles with your hands after they have been sterilized to prevent scalding your hands.
- Stop the sterilization process and throw away the bottle if you start to see signs of damage. Melted, deformed, or scratched plastic bottles, or cracked glass bottles should be discarded immediately.
- Sterilize bottles when you first get them, when a family member is sick, or if they are very dirty. Outside of that situation, you can simply clean it as usual. Do not sterilize plastic bottles too often because the chemicals in the plastic can eventually break down.
- Sterilize bottles before use if you cannot get safe drinking water. Try using glass bottles as you should not expose plastic bottles to high heat sources too often.
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://momlovesbest.com/feeding/bottles/sterilize-baby-bottles
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
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https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/healthychildcare/infantfeeding/cleansanitize.html
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