Baby bottles are in different sizes and made of different materials. Cleaning these bottles requires techniques to make sure it is thoroughly clean and safe to use again. While it is best that you clean baby bottles with your hands, some mothers prefer to get it done with the help of dishwashers. But can you put baby bottles in the dishwasher? If you have just transitioned from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding, you must learn the basics of keeping the bottles clean.
Cleaning and Sterilizing Bottles
Babies are sensitive to any germs and bacteria. Their bodies are not immune to any form of infections, making them highly vulnerable to sickness when they get to contact with germs. That is why the things baby used should be cleaned thoroughly to make sure they are safe.
To be able to sterilize baby bottles, you need to boil the water to 100 degrees Celsius. This is the required temperature to make sure you have killed the sickness causing germs and bacteria. So, can you put baby bottles in the dishwasher? You could. But it is not a sterilizing alternative. The dishwasher does not reach the required temperature, even on a hot wash or sterilize setting.
What a Dishwasher can do to Baby Bottles
In every household, a dishwasher is the most trusted appliance that can quickly clean your dishes in just a few minutes. Most of the dishwasher has the sanitizing features which use hot water for rinsing and killing germs. So, can you put baby bottles in the dishwasher? Before you do that, you need to make sure that the baby bottle is made of materials that are dishwasher safe. You need to check the label.
If you plan to use the dishwasher for your baby’s feeding equipment, you have to choose the hottest setting instead of the usual eco-wash. Some dishwasher has the baby cycle option. You can use that once you loaded the feeding bottles into the machine.
Cleaning Feeding Bottles in the Dishwashers
Can you put baby bottles in the dishwasher? One of the ways to clean baby bottles is by the use of a dishwasher. However, not all baby bottles and feeders are dishwasher safe. You have to check this with the manufacturer or read the label carefully. Here are the steps in cleaning feeding bottles in the dishwasher:
- Separate the parts: Disassemble the parts of the baby bottles. That is removing the nipples, caps, valves, and rings. You have to make sure everything is removed and separated. This will make the feeder thoroughly clean.
- Rinse: Before putting the parts into the dishwasher, rinse the bottle and its parts first. Hold them under running water. You need to remove all traces of milk or other food.
- Loading the Bottles and Part: Place the bottles and their parts in the dishwasher. Place small items securely into a closed top basket so they won’t end up at the bottom. If you have silicone nipples, secure them in a basket or into a container and place them on the top of the dishwasher away from the heat. Use warm water or use the sanitizing setting to make sure you kill the germs.
- Unloading from the Dishwasher: Wash your hands first with soap and water before removing the items. Once done, you can get the pieces one by one and transfer it to a clean container. If there are items that are not completely dry, get a clean towel and place the parts on top of it. Allow it to air-dry.
Storing
After you have cleaned and sterilized the bottles, make sure you store them in the right place, away from dust and germs. To maintain the cleanliness of the baby bottles, choose an enclosed container.
- Kitchen Cabinet: You can dedicate one cabinet for that purpose. But before placing the bottles into the cabinet, make sure it is also clean.
- Sealed Cabinet: One way to keep the bottles clean is to place it into a sealed container in the refrigerator. In this way, you can ensure they will not be exposed to germs and other bacteria. Also, the low temperature will keep any bacteria and prevent molds from growing.
- Leave it into the Sterilizer: After you are done sterilizing the baby bottles, you can leave it there until you need to use them. This is a safe place for the bottle feeders. As the equipment sterilizes the bottles, it is also sterilizing itself. So, you don’t have to worry about it exposing to dust or germs.
Conclusion
Feeding bottles or baby bottles must be thoroughly cleaned all the time to keep babies away from bacteria and germs that can cause sickness. The baby’s body is sensitive to germs, so everything the baby used must be cleaned before reusing it. Most parents sterilize the bottles to make it free from germs and bacteria. Others use a dishwasher to clean the baby bottles. But can you put baby bottles in the dishwasher? Dishwashers have sterilizing feature that makes it suitable for cleaning and sterilizing at the same time. So, there can be no problem when you want to clean the bottles and their parts using a dishwasher. Get more tips on baby bottles.