{"id":21727,"date":"2022-09-22T22:38:39","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T22:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/?p=21727"},"modified":"2024-08-05T17:55:10","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T17:55:10","slug":"how-to-clean-baby-bottles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecos.com\/live-cleaner\/how-to-clean-baby-bottles\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean Baby Bottles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Becoming a parent comes with loads of questions. <\/span>How long until the baby giggles? When will they say my name? Is it too soon to introduce them to buffalo mac and cheese?<\/span><\/i> Among the many responsibilities on your plate, however, there\u2019s one thing that can confuse first-time parents.<\/span><\/p>\n

How exactly am I supposed to clean baby bottles?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

As your little one grows along with their appetite, so might the mountain of baby bottles in your sink. Knowing how to properly clean baby bottles can be a big relief for any parent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cleaning Baby Bottles: Best Practices<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Between feeding, naptime, tummy time, feeding again, a video chat with Grandpa, snuggles, and of course another feeding, our baby\u2019s schedule can rival our own busiest days. It\u2019s no wonder they need to eat so often\u2014but the accompanying cleanup can quickly pile up, especially if you\u2019re in the newborn stage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike learning <\/span>how to clean baby toys <\/span><\/a>to help keep your little one germ-free, it’s important to understand how to clean baby bottles, and how often.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Hand Wash Baby Bottles<\/strong><\/h4>\n

We find that one of the best and most effective ways to clean baby bottles is to hand wash them. If you\u2019re discouraged by how time-consuming that sounds, don\u2019t worry\u2014there are some steps you can take to make things a little easier and more efficient.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Then, follow these steps to clean your baby bottles by hand:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Gather the right supplies<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 In addition to your dish soap, we suggest using a sponge or a soft dishcloth to wipe and scrub. A bottle brush can also help you get into every nook and cranny. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Rinse the bottle<\/b> \u2013 Swish and rinse the bottle under warm water to remove some of the immediate residues<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Fill a clean sink<\/strong> \u2013 Use hot water and add in a littl<\/span>e bit of our <\/span>plant-powered dish soap<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Separate the components<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 The bottle\u2019s contents can get stuck in the nipple and between the bottle and the ring. To avoid any surprise buildup in hard-to-reach areas, we recommend separating these smaller bottle parts and components and cleaning them individually.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Wash<\/strong> \u2013 Put each part into the soapy water and give them a wash.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Rinse again <\/b>\u2013 Run a little bit of water and thoroughly rinse each part, so there\u2019s no soapy residue left behind.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Dry <\/b>\u2013 Now that you\u2019ve thoroughly cleaned your baby bottles, you just need to place the parts on a drying rack.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to Wash Baby Bottles in a Dishwasher<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Sometimes, our baby bottles seem to stack up even faster than our tiny tots grow\u2014in other words, lightning fast. If you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed by your washing duties, the dishwasher can help you save some time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Stay on top of bottle buildup with these easy steps for dishwasher bottle cleaning:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Rinse<\/b> \u2013 Before putting them in the dishwasher, rinse the caps, nipples, bottles, and any other components with warm water.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Soak<\/b> \u2013 After you rinse, soak the components in dish soap and warm water to loosen any grime or buildup.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Put them into the dishwasher<\/b> \u2013 Make sure you rinse off the components one more time before placing them on the top rack.<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Use a hot water cycle<\/b> \u2013 Hot water is another effective method to help clean off bacteria, and a heated drying cycle is equally important.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Dry<\/b> \u2013 Take the components out of the dishwasher and place them on a dish drying rack, allowing them to dry off completely.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Our ECOS tip:<\/b> I<\/span>f you decide to use your dishwasher to clean baby bottles, try to run the cycle with a full load and during off-peak hours to help reduce energy use and costs. <\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Do You Have to Sanitize Baby Bottles After Every Use?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Knowing how sensitive our little ones can be, it\u2019s easy to let our imaginations run wild with visions of dangerous germs making homes in even freshly washed bottles. As long as you\u2019re washing them after each feeding, you usually don\u2019t need to sanitize baby bottles after every use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      With that said, we recommend that you sanitize bottles before you use them for the first time and continue to wash them after every feeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

      However, it can be important to give the bottles<\/span> a deep clean every couple of weeks since your little bundle of joy hasn\u2019t fully developed their immune system. There are also few instances where your baby bottles could require more regular sanitization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      For instance, if your baby was born prematurely, is younger than 3 months old, or has a weakened or compromised immune system, then sanitizing is essential to keeping them safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Other Reasons to Sanitize Baby Bottles<\/strong><\/h4>\n

      There are times when sanitizing more frequently can be necessary for health reasons. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n